Who is Michael J. Fox? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Michael Andrew Fox

Age: 63 Years, 63 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Tracy Pollan (m. 1988)

father: William Fox

mother: Phyllis Fox (née Piper)

children: Aquinnah Kathleen Fox, Esmé Annabelle Fox, Sam Michael Fox, Schuyler Frances Fox

Born Country: Canada

Actors Directors

Height: 5'4" (163 cm), 5'4" Males

Personality: ESTP

Ancestry: Irish American, British American, Canadian American, English Canadian, Irish Canadian, Scottish Canadian

City: Edmonton, Canada

Diseases & Disabilities: Parkinson's Disease

Recommended For You

1

What role did Michael J. Fox play in the TV series "Family Ties?"

Michael J. Fox played the role of Alex P. Keaton in the TV series "Family Ties."
2

In which movie did Michael J. Fox play a time-traveling teenager?

Michael J. Fox played the role of Marty McFly in the movie "Back to the Future."
3

What neurological condition does Michael J. Fox have?

Michael J. Fox has Parkinson's disease.
4

Which charity foundation did Michael J. Fox establish to fund research on Parkinson's disease?

Michael J. Fox established the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
5

Has Michael J. Fox written any books?

Yes, Michael J. Fox has written several books, including his memoir "Lucky Man" and "Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist."

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Childhood & Early Life

Michael Andrew Fox was born on June 9, 1961 in Alberta (Canada) to William Fox, a police officer and Canadian Forces member, and Phyllis, an actress and a payroll clerk. He had a big family which included a brother and three sisters, and he was the fourth sibling.

Owing to his father’s career in the army, the family kept moving from one city to another, till they finally settled in Burnaby, British Columbia (Vancouver) in 1971 post his father’s retirement.

As a child, he loved ice hockey and wanted to carve a niche for himself in the National Hockey League; however his small stature was proving to be a hindrance. During his teens, he started developing an affinity towards art, music (played guitar) and acting.

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Career

Michael Andrew Fox’s love for acting was so strong that at the age of 15 he auditioned for a Canadian television series ‘Leo and Me’ produced by Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC), and got the part as well. He continued to do roles in local theatre and sitcoms along with roles in American movie shootings in Canada for the next three years.

At the age of 18, he moved to Los Angeles and dabbled in small roles before getting his major break in NBC’s popular TV series ‘Family Ties’ as Alex P.Keaton (1982-1989). He continued to be a popular name during his seven-year stint with the series which led him to three Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe. At around this time, he adopted the screen name “Michael J. Fox.”

On the big screen too, he created a mark for himself, and was much appreciated for his role as Marty McFly in Robert Zemeckis’s film ‘Back to the Future’ (1985). It was a huge success and led to the making of its sequels in 1989 and 1990.

Fox went on to become a teen icon with his continuous streak of roles in other movies like ‘Teen Wolf’(1985) , the rock-oriented ‘Light of Day’ (1987), and the comedy ‘The Secret of my Success’ (1987). He also earned praise and acclaim in the Vietnam saga ‘Casualties of War’ (1989).

He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease around this time. However he continued to act and starred in ‘Doc Hollywood’ (1991), ‘For Love or Money’ (1993), ‘Life with Mikey’ (1993) and ‘Greedy’ (1994) after his diagnosis.

Gary David Goldberg, the creator and executive producer of ‘Family Ties’ continued his collaboration with Fox and started a show called ‘Spin City’ starring him in 1996, delighting the audience with the return of its favorite TV actor to primetime.

Fox’s role as Frank Bannister in Peter Jackson’s ‘The Frighteners’ (1996) was his last major film role and received much critical praise.

He did voiceovers for various movies including ‘Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey’ and its sequel ‘Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco’, ‘Stuart Little’ and ‘Atlantis: the Lost Empire’.

Over the years Michael J. Fox has done guest appearance in the TV Series ‘Scrubs’ (2004), ‘Boston Legal’ (2006), ‘Rescue Me’ (2009) , and ‘The Good Wife’ (2002), earning him numerous Emmy nominations and wins.

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He has authored three books, ‘Lucky Man: A Memoir’ (2002), ‘Always Looking Up’ (2009) and ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future’ (2010) depicting his struggles with Parkinson’s disease and how to cope with it.

Major Works

Michael J. Fox is best known for his role in the popular series ‘Family Ties’ (1982-89) and ‘Spin City’ (1996–2000). While the former established him as an actor with versatile gifts, the latter led him to massive fame and success.

His role as Marty McFly in Robert Zemeckis’s ‘Back to the Future’ movie trilogy was also much appreciated by the audience and also won him several accolades.

He has been an active member of the society and has become an iconic model for the fight against Parkinson’ disease. He established the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research for finding a cure for the disease and to enable those suffering from it to live a dignified life.

Awards & Achievements

Michael J. Fox won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series thrice for ‘Family Ties’ (1986, 1987, and 1988) and once for ‘Spin City’ in 2000.

He won the Golden Globe award for Best Actor in a TV-Series — Comedy/Musical for ‘Family Ties’ (1989), and ‘Spin City’ (1998, 1999, and 2000).

In 2002, he was honored with a star on the 7021 Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Personal Life & Legacy

Michael J. Fox married his ‘Family Ties’ co-star Tracy Pollan on July 16, 1988 and has four kids.

In 1991, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. In 1998, he went public with his diagnosis and founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Facts About Michael J. Fox

Fox's middle initial "J" doesn't actually stand for anything. He chose to include it in his stage name to differentiate himself from another actor with the same name.

In addition to his acting talents, Michael J. Fox is also a skilled musician. He plays both the guitar and the harmonica, and has been known to jam with famous musicians at charity events.

Despite his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, Michael J. Fox has maintained a positive attitude and sense of humor. He often incorporates his Parkinson's symptoms into his acting roles, showing resilience and grace in the face of adversity.

Fox is an avid advocate for medical research and has established the Michael J. Fox Foundation to help find a cure for Parkinson's disease. Through his foundation, he has raised millions of dollars for research and awareness.

In addition to his successful acting career, Michael J. Fox is also a best-selling author. He has written several books, including memoirs and inspirational works, sharing his experiences and insights with readers around the world.

2000	Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical	Spin City (1996)
1999	Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical	Spin City (1996)
1998	Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical	Spin City (1996)
1989	Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical	Family Ties (1982)

2009	Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series	Rescue Me (2004)
2000	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series	Spin City (1996)
1988	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series	Family Ties (1982)
1987	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series	Family Ties (1982)
1986	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series	Family Ties (1982)

Michael J. Fox Biography

You wanted to know

What role did Michael J. Fox play in the TV series "Family Ties?"

In which movie did Michael J. Fox play a time-traveling teenager?

What neurological condition does Michael J. Fox have?

Which charity foundation did Michael J. Fox establish to fund research on Parkinson's disease?

Has Michael J. Fox written any books?