Paving the way for future generations
Michael J. Fox was born Michael Andrew Fox on June 9, 1961, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
In 1982, the actor landed the role that would make him famous: Alex P. Keaton in the show ‘Family Ties.’
Fox’s father was a police officer and Canadian Armed Forces member, so his family moved a lot during his childhood.
Michael J. Fox was just 15 when he landed his acting debut in the Canadian television sitcom ‘Leo and Me.’
Before his big break on TV, the actor starred in ‘Midnight Madness’ (1980) and ‘Class of 1984’ (1982).
He had to change his name to Michael “J” Fox because there was already an actor registered with the Screen Actors Guild under the name Michael Fox.
The actor had his American television debut in the 1979 TV movie ‘Letters from Frank.’
Reportedly, he didn’t like the “A” in the middle as it sounded too Canadian (Eh!). So instead, he went with “J,” which was a tribute to actor Michael J. Pollard.
The movie was such a hit that two more were done. ‘Back to the Future Part II’ (1989) and ‘Back to the Future Part III’ (1990) completed the trilogy.
During and between the ‘Back to the Future’ movies, Fox starred in numerous other films, including ‘Teen Wolf’ (1985) and ‘Light of Day’ (1987).
He also starred in ‘The Secret of My Success’ (1987), ‘Bright Lights, Big City’ (1988), and ‘Casualties of War’ (1989).
The show ran until 1989 and was a huge success. In total, Fox won three Emmys and a Golden Globe for his performance.
Fox starred in the TV show ‘Spin City,' which ran from 1996 to 2002. The actor was awarded an Emmy, three Golden Globes, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for his role as Mike Flaherty. Fox actually left the show in 2000, due to symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
By the early 1990s, Michael J. Fox was no longer just a teen idol, but had established himself as a respected actor in Hollywood.
During this decade, the actor starred in numerous movies, including ‘Doc Hollywood’ (1991).
Fox also starred in ‘The Hard Way’ (1991), ‘For Love or Money’ (1993), ‘Life with Mikey’ (1993), ‘Greedy’ (1994), ‘The American President’ (1995), and ‘Mars Attacks!’ (1996), among others.
In 2000, the actor founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation, which focuses on research to cure Parkinson's disease.
After the diagnosis, the actor struggled with alcohol abuse and depression, but managed to stop and focus his efforts in advocating for research about the disease.
The actor was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991, but it was not until 1998 that Fox went public about his disease.
The actor had previously revealed, in 1997 that he had Lyme disease, during an interview on the ‘Late Show with David Letterman.’
Fox has continued to appear in numerous TV shows, including ‘Scrubs,’ ‘Boston Legal,’ ‘Rescue Me,’ ‘The Good Wife,’ ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ and ‘The Good Fight,’ among others.
In 2013, this sitcom vaguely inspired by Michael J. Fox’s life, aired on NBC. The show was eventually canceled after just one season.
More recently, in 2020, Michael J. Fox published ‘No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality.’
The couple have four children in total, including twin daughters.
See also: The best time-travel movies ever made
Fox has written four books, including ‘Lucky Man: A Memoir’ (2002), ‘Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist’ (2009), and ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned’ (2010).
The actor has been married to Tracy Pollan since 1988. The couple met while filming ‘Family Ties.’
You probably remember him as Marty McFly from 'Back to the Future,' but Michael J. Fox is much more than his iconic movie character. An accomplished actor, Fox has found great success in both film and TV. He's famously a sufferer of Parkinson's disease, and has been an a active voice in raising awareness about the illness for decades. But how well do you really know Michael J. Fox?
Click through the following gallery and learn more about the Hollywood star.
Meet the marvelous Michael J. Fox
The actor turns 63 this June 9
CELEBRITY Actors
You probably remember him as Marty McFly from 'Back to the Future,' but Michael J. Fox is much more than his iconic movie character. An accomplished actor, Fox has found great success in both film and TV. He's famously a sufferer of Parkinson's disease, and has been an a active voice in raising awareness about the illness for decades. But how well do you really know Michael J. Fox?
Click through the following gallery and learn more about the Hollywood star.