Michael J. Fox

Family Ties cast

Michael J Fox 1988-cropped1

Michael J. Fox (cropped)

Michael J. Fox Hand Prints

Michael J. Fox 2012 (cropped)

Michael J Fox Tracy Pollan2

Michael J. Fox is a Canadian-American actor, author, producer, and activist, widely known for his role as Marty McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy. Born on June 9, 1961, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Fox has had a prolific career in television and film, earning numerous awards including five Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy Award.

Early Life

Michael Andrew Fox was born to William and Phyllis Fox. His family moved to Burnaby, British Columbia, when he was 10. Showing an early interest in acting, Fox starred in several school plays. He adopted the middle initial "J" to differentiate himself from another actor named Michael Fox, paying homage to actor Michael J. Pollard.

Career

Fox's acting career began with roles in Canadian television shows before moving to Los Angeles at 18. He gained prominence with his role as Alex P. Keaton on the NBC sitcom Family Ties (1982–1989), for which he won three Emmy Awards. His portrayal of Marty McFly in Back to the Future (1985) catapulted him to international fame.

Fox continued to work in both television and film throughout the 1980s and 1990s, starring in successful films like Teen Wolf (1985), The Secret of My Success (1987), and Doc Hollywood (1991). He returned to television in the lead role of Mike Flaherty in Spin City (1996–2000), earning him another Emmy and three Golden Globes.

Personal Life

Fox married actress Tracy Pollan in 1988, and they have four children. In 1991, at the age of 29, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder. He disclosed his condition to the public in 1998 and has since become an advocate for Parkinson's disease research.

Activism

In 2000, Fox founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which has become the leading Parkinson's organization in the United States, funding over $1 billion in research projects. He has written several books about his experiences with the disease and his career, including Lucky Man (2002) and No Time Like the Future (2020).

Legacy

Michael J. Fox's impact on the entertainment industry and his work in Parkinson's disease research have made him an influential figure. Despite his diagnosis, he has continued to act, write, and engage in activism, inspiring many with his resilience and dedication to making a difference.