Born on June 9, 1961, Michael Andrew Fox OC, better known by his stage as Michael J. Fox, is a former actor and activist from both Canada and the United States. He started out as a child actor in the 1970s and became well-known for his role as Alex P. Keaton in the NBC comedy Family Ties. He later starred in movies like Teen Wolf and Spin City before making a comeback to television in the 1990s.
Fox revealed in 1999 that he was suffering from Parkinson’s disease. In 2000, he left Spin City to start the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and devote himself to his family. He then made cameo appearances on television series including Scrubs, Boston Legal, and The Good Wife.
Michael J. Fox Quick Facts
- Birth Name: Michael Andrew Fox OC
- Birth Date: June 9, 1961
- Birth Place: Alberta, Canada
- Gender: Male
- Career: Actor, Activist, Producer
- Most Known For: Michael J. Fox gained popularity as the star of the Back to the Future movies, while being best recognized for his work on Family Ties. The actor established a nonprofit to search for a Parkinson’s disease cure after receiving a diagnosis.
Early Life
On June 9, 1961, Fox—the son of Phyllis and William Nelson Fox—was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Phyllis worked as an actress and payroll clerk, while William served in the Canadian Forces for 25 years before becoming a police dispatcher.
As a result of his father’s work, Fox’s family resided in several Canadian cities and communities. In 1971, his father retired, and they made the move to Burnaby, a community outside of Vancouver. On January 6, 1990, his father died from a cardiac arrest and in September 2022, his mother passed away.
Fox was a student at Burnaby Central Secondary School and is honoured with a theatre at Burnaby South Secondary. Fox began his acting career at the age of sixteen, appearing in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation-produced television series Leo and Me. In 1979, at the age of eighteen, he relocated to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career.
Early Career in Family Ties
Following his role in the Canadian-filmed CBS film Letters from Frank, Fox left high school and took a car to Los Angeles, California, with his father. He was cast as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties which ran from 1982–1989, where he would captivate audiences with his self-assured charisma and flawless comic timing for the following seven years. Before this breakthrough role, he landed a part on the television series Palmerstown, U.S.A.
In addition to battling his sisters Mallory and Jennifer (Justine Bateman and Tina Yothers) and taking on a nurturing role for younger brother Andy (Brian Bonsall), the character Keaton was a young conservative who frequently expressed opinions that were at variance with those of his progressive parents Elyse and Steven (Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross). One of TV’s most enduring sitcoms is Family Ties, for which Fox received three straight Emmys and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Keaton.
In between the years he featured on Family Ties, Fox had roles in other movies. Alongside Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, and Christopher Lloyd, Fox played Marty McFly in Robert Zemeckis’ outrageous comedy Back to the Future (1985), which saw him achieve great popularity as well. The pop cultural phenomenon, ‘Back to the Future’ made over $380 million worldwide and was praised for its compassionate humanism by both critics and viewers. It also had the number one Huey Lewis & the News track.
Soon after, Fox landed another humorous part with wonderful themes in Teen Wolf (1985), a far less successful film at the box office than Back to the Future. The actor’s next big-screen appearances were in the 1987 comedies The Secret of My Success, which made $110 million worldwide, and the rock-themed Light of Day, in which Joan Jett costarred.
In the movies that followed, Fox embraced serious parts. He portrayed a factory worker in Light of Day (1987) and a fact-checker who snorted cocaine in Bright Lights, Big City (1988). He later won praise for his leading part in the Vietnam drama Casualties of War (1989), costarring with Sean Penn. Fox displayed a lighter side when he voiced a bulldog named Chance in the 1993 Disney family picture Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.
Roles in the Late 90’s and early 2000’s
For the second and third films in the series, which were released in 1989 and 1990, respectively, audiences enthusiastically welcomed Fox’s return to the Back to the Future universe. Fox received praise for his flawless portrayal of a George Stephanopoulos-type character in The American President (1995), which starred Michael Douglas and Annette Bening.
However, it was his ceremonial return to prime-time TV with a role on the sitcom Spin City, which debuted in 1996, that truly put Fox back in his element—wowing audiences every week while allowing him more time to spend with his family. Fox portrayed deputy mayor Mike Flaherty in the series, opposing Barry Bostwick and Connie Britton.
In 1999, Fox played the titular role in the film adaptation of Stuart Little by E.B. White, lending his signature voice and sense of humour to the role. December 2002 saw the actor get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as a mark of appreciation.
Fox made a cameo appearance as Dr. Kevin Casey, an OCD-afflicted surgeon, on the television sitcom Scrubs in 2004. He played a lung cancer sufferer in four episodes of Boston Legal in 2006. He was nominated for an Emmy for best guest appearance in 2006 for his recurring role on the drama Boston Legal.
Fox then had an appearance in the dark drama Rescue Me in 2009. He received an Emmy for Best Guest Actor in a Dramatic Series for his appearances in five episodes of the television series Rescue Me. Based on his best-selling book of the same name, the ‘Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist’ debuted on television that same year.
Battling Parkinson’ Disease
Fox shockingly revealed in late 1998 that he had been suffering with Parkinson’s disease since 1991 and that he had even had brain surgery to reduce the tremors the illness was causing. Fox revealed in early 2000 that he would be departing Spin City, which he also executive produced, despite the show’s extraordinary popularity and a slew of Emmy and Golden Globe trophies. He wanted to spend more time with his family and focus on raising funds and awareness for Parkinson’s disease.
After his fourth season on the show—and his 100th episode—Fox departed from Spin City. For his last season on Spin City, Fox received the honors and backing of the Hollywood community in addition to an Emmy and a Golden Globe.
In May 2000, he established the nonprofit Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, whose goals are to ensure the advancement of better therapies for Parkinson’s patients currently on the disease and to find a cure through a vigorously funded research agenda. As of right now, the organization is recognized as the biggest nonprofit sponsor of Parkinson’s disease treatment development globally.
Following his diagnosis, Fox developed depression and started drinking excessively. Eventually, he quit drinking completely and sought assistance. Fox had a thalamotomy in 1998 and uses the medication carbidopa/levodopa to control his Parkinson’s disease symptoms.
In his first book, Lucky Man, he described how he founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation, gave up alcohol, and started advocating for those who had Parkinson’s disease after denying the illness for seven years.
‘The Good Wife,’ ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ ‘Designated Survivor,’ and Retirement from the Movie Industry
Fox received three Emmy nominations in a row while playing cunning lawyer Louis Canning in the US drama The Good Wife, which she started in 2010. In the eighth season of Curb Your Enthusiasm with Larry David, which aired in 2011, Fox played himself. David’s fictionalized version of himself moves in next door and accuses Fox of taking advantage of his Parkinson’s disease. In 2017, Fox made a brief comeback to the show, alluding to his previous performance.
NBC said in August 2012 that Fox will play the lead role in The Michael J. Fox Show, which was inspired by his life. The network committed to 22 episodes, and it debuted in September 2013; however, after airing for just 15 episodes, it was cancelled.
Fox has appeared in several different media outlets. Along with William Shatner and Catherine O’Hara, he performed comedic monologues during the “I am Canadian” segment of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
In the recurrent character of Ethan West, Fox made five appearances in the second season of the ABC political drama Designated Survivor, when he conducted an investigation into the president’s suitability to remain in office.
Fox stepped away from acting in 2020 as a result of his speech becoming more and more inconsistent. That November, Fox’s autobiography, No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality, was published. In the book, Fox acknowledged that he was going through memory loss and said, “Not being able to speak reliably is a game-breaker for an actor.”
Fox then made appearances in two animated films in 2021, Back Home Again and one episode of the television series Expedition: Back to the Future.
Personal Life
Tracy Pollan, Fox’s wife, first came into his life when she appeared on Family Ties as his girlfriend Ellen. On July 16, 1988, they were joined in marriage in Arlington, Vermont’s West Mountain Inn. Son Sam Michael (1989), twin girls Aquinnah Kathleen and Schuyler Frances (1995), and daughter Esmé Annabelle (2001) are the couple’s four children. Fox is a dual citizen of the US and Canada. The primary residence of Fox and his family is Manhattan.
Conclusion
Michael J. Foxs journey, in the entertainment world is truly remarkable showcasing his talent, perseverance and unwavering spirit. Starting as an actor and portraying the iconic characters of Alex P. Keaton in “Family Ties” and Marty McFly in “Back to the Future ” Fox has made a lasting impact on audiences. His brave fight against Parkinsons disease and his advocacy efforts through the Michael J. Fox Foundation have served as sources of inspiration for individuals. Despite the obstacles he faced he continued to charm viewers with guest appearances on TV programs. Michael J. Foxs legacy extends beyond acting prowess to encompass his dedication as an advocate and beacon of hope, for those confronting lifes challenges.
