Justin Long Credits Michael J. Fox as the 'Reason I Became an Actor' (Exclusive)

"He's just a brilliant man," Long told PEOPLE during a Michael J. Fox Foundation benefit event over the weekend

Justin Long is giving credit where credit is due.

The Goosebumps star, 45, called Michael J. Fox a "brilliant man" during Saturday night's red carpet for the A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s event in New York City, which raised funds for The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

While speaking with PEOPLE, Long explained that the 62-year-old Family Ties alum inspired him to pursue a career as an actor.

"His humor and timing. And his comedy is, he's just brilliant," Long said of some of his favorite things about Fox. "He really is the reason I became an actor."

"I so admired him growing up, and I admire him exponentially now as a man," he added.

Related: Justin Long Reveals He Lost His Wedding Ring Just Months After Marrying Kate Bosworth

Long attended the benefit at Casa Cipriani with his wife, Kate Bosworth, who told PEOPLE that the best element of being a supportive partner is "laughter."

The actress, 40, also referenced the relationship between both Fox and his own wife, Tracy Pollan, and how watching them in the documentary Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie showed that "their love is so much at the forefront."

"Just to see how they support each other and laugh through the hard stuff. The hardest, I mean, the hardest," Bosworth said. "I's inspiring to see, and it's moving. That was one of my favorite moments of so many great moments of his documentary."

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Earlier this week, Fox shared a candid interview with CBS Mornings about the impact of living with Parkinson's disease since he was diagnosed in 1991. When co-host Nate Burleson asked the actor if he ever has feelings of depression or doubt, Fox replied, "Yesterday at 3:57 in the afternoon."

"Positivity is really sincere and I really feel it, and it's genuine, but it's hard fought, and it's hard won," he added.

The actor — who created the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 — added that people should "give ourselves credit for getting through life on life's terms."

Fox also opened up about his relationship with Pollan, 63, who he said "was able to get me through it, and go through it with me. And she has for 35 years."

"We knew the bus was coming and we knew it was going to hit, but we didn't know how far away it was or how fast it was going,” Fox added. "At any time she would have been forgiven to say, 'I'm just gonna step out.' But, she didn't do that.”

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