Michael J. Fox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael J. Fox
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Michael J. Fox in 2020
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Michael Andrew Fox
June 9, 1961 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Michael Andrew Fox (born June 9, 1961), known professionally as Michael J. Fox, is a famous Canadian and American actor. He is also a leading health activist and author. He is most famous for playing Marty McFly in the classic movie trilogy Back to the Future. He also starred as Alex P. Keaton on the television sitcom Family Ties. During his long career, he earned many major honors. These include five Primetime Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy Award. He earned two Actor Awards as well.
He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2010. He joined Canada's Walk of Fame in 2000. He earned a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2002. Later, he earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025. He also received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. In addition to acting, he created The Michael J. Fox Foundation. His charity helps scientists find a cure for Parkinson's disease.
Contents
Early Life and Childhood Journey
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Michael Fox was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on June 9, 1961. His mother was Phyllis Evelyn Piper, who worked as a payroll clerk and actress. His father was William Nelson "Bill" Fox. William served as a regular soldier in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals. The couple met in Ladner, Delta, British Columbia. Phyllis worked at a local newspaper called The Ladner Optimist. Bill worked at the Vancouver Wireless Station nearby. They married in 1950 and raised a large family. Fox grew up as the fifth of six children. He has three sisters and two brothers.
His family moved around Canada often because of his father's military career. William Fox served twenty-five years in the army before retiring in 1971. That same year, the family settled down in Burnaby, British Columbia. His father worked as a dispatcher for the Delta Police Department until 1985. Fox went to school at Burnaby Central Secondary School. He discovered a great love for drama and the arts there. Today, Burnaby South Secondary School honors him with a school theatre carrying his name.
Fox started his career as a talented child actor in Canada. At age sixteen, he starred in a comedy television show named Leo and Me. The show was produced by the famous Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He quickly realized that he wanted to act for the rest of his life. In 1979, he moved to Los Angeles, California, to follow his dream.
Producer Ronald Shedlo discovered Fox and cast him in a television film titled Letters from Frank. When signing up with the Screen Actors Guild, another actor was already using the name Michael Fox. The union rules did not allow two performers to share an identical stage name. Fox did not want to be called Andrew or Andy Fox. He also disliked how the name "Michael A. Fox" sounded out loud. He chose the letter "J" to honor the respected character actor Michael J. Pollard. He joked that the letter stood for either "Jenuine" or "Jenius."
Rise to Stardom and Famous Roles
Breakthrough on Family Ties
Fox landed his first movie roles in Midnight Madness and Class of 1984. His true big break arrived on television in late 1982. He won the part of ambitious student Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties. The series was broadcast on the major American network NBC. Fox negotiated for the role using a public payphone outside a Pioneer Chicken restaurant. Producers first wanted actor Matthew Broderick, but he was busy with other projects.
The original television pitch focused on hip parents dealing with square kids. Writers planned for the parents to remain the true stars of the story. Audiences fell in love with Fox's funny performance after only four episodes. His character immediately became the main focus of the entire television show.
NBC television executive Brandon Tartikoff initially worried that Fox was too short for the part. Tartikoff thought Fox would never have a face seen on lunchboxes. The show became an enormous hit, and Fox became a huge star. Fox sent Tartikoff a lunchbox saying he proved him completely wrong. Tartikoff kept that humorous gift in his executive office for many years. Fox won three consecutive Emmy Award honors for playing Alex in 1986, 1987, and 1988. He also received a prestigious Golden Globe Award for the show in 1989.
The Back to the Future Phenomenon
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In early 1985, Fox received the role that changed his life completely. Filmmaker Robert Zemeckis wanted him to star as Marty McFly in Back to the Future. The fun story followed a high schooler who uses time travel to reach 1955. At first, Family Ties creator Gary David Goldberg refused to let Fox leave. Co-star Meredith Baxter was on leave, so Fox carried the sitcom alone.
Director Zemeckis originally started filming the time-travel adventures with actor Eric Stoltz. Zemeckis realized after five weeks that Stoltz did not bring enough comedy. Baxter returned to the sitcom, which opened up Fox's busy work schedule. Fox took over the role of Marty McFly and worked day and night. He filmed Family Ties during the day and the movie at night. He rarely slept more than a few hours each night for months.
Back to the Future arrived in theaters and became a massive hit worldwide. It earned over 381 million dollars and dominated the box office for weeks. The entertainment magazine Variety praised the fun chemistry between Fox and co-star Christopher Lloyd. Lloyd played the eccentric inventor Doc Brown, creating a partnership like King Arthur and Merlin. Fox received a big nomination at the 43rd Golden Globe Awards for his performance.
The studio produced two popular follow-ups, Back to the Future Part II and Back to the Future Part III. While filming the western town scenes in the third movie, Fox performed stunts. Fox accidentally slipped during a difficult scene where villain Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen attacks Marty. Zemeckis noticed that Fox was in danger and rescued him immediately. The three films formed one of the most loved adventure franchises ever made.
Box Office Successes in Hollywood
Fox became a global teen idol during the middle of the 1980s. The music channel VH1 placed him on their list of "50 Greatest Teen Idols". Fox starred as a high school werewolf in the hit comedy Teen Wolf. In 1987, he starred in the hit comedy film The Secret of My Success. He portrayed a young college graduate from Kansas State University working in business. The movie made 110 million dollars worldwide and showed his comedic talent. Film critic Roger Ebert praised Fox's energy and strong screen presence in the Chicago Sun-Times.
Fox also tried dramatic parts to show his versatility as a performer. He played a serious rock musician alongside Joan Jett in the movie Light of Day. He played a struggling young magazine worker in Bright Lights, Big City. Actress Tracy Pollan, his future real-life wife, appeared as his co-star in that film. Fox acted in the intense historical drama Casualties of War alongside Sean Penn. The drama showed the emotional struggles faced by soldiers during the Vietnam War. Critic Don Willmott noted that Fox handled serious dramatic acting with great skill.
Major Projects and Memorable Performances
Movies and Voice Acting in the 1990s
Fox began the 1991 movie season starring in the comedy Doc Hollywood. He played a big-city doctor stranded in a small southern town. Magazine reviewer Michael Caton-Jones in Time Out praised Fox's energetic charm. He also teamed with actor James Woods in the action-comedy The Hard Way.
Fox received challenging news about his health from medical doctors in 1991. Doctors warned him that he might have only ten good working years left. He chose to stay active by signing a contract for three movies. He acted in For Love or Money and Life with Mikey. He also starred in the family comedy Greedy. Fox played key supporting roles in The American President and Mars Attacks!. Director Peter Jackson directed Fox in the supernatural ghost adventure The Frighteners. Writer Kenneth Turan in the Los Angeles Times praised Fox's lively performance.
Fox became a beloved voice actor for children across the entire globe. He voiced the adventurous young dog Chance in the animal film Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey. He returned to play Chance again in Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco. He voiced the brave mouse hero in the family movie Stuart Little. He reprised his role in Stuart Little 2 and Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild. He also provided the voice for explorer Milo Thatch in Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
Return to Television on Spin City
In 1996, Fox returned to television by starring in the comedy Spin City. The program aired on the major American network ABC. Fox played Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty, who solved problems in New York City. Fox served as executive producer alongside Gary David Goldberg and Bill Lawrence. The series was an enormous success with television viewers and industry critics alike. Fox earned an Emmy Award for his acting on the show in 2000. He also won three Golden Globe Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Fox shared with the show's cast that he had a movement disorder. By the fourth season, he chose to retire from the demanding weekly show. Actor Charlie Sheen joined the television cast to take over leading duties. The final episodes of Fox's character made fun references to his time on Family Ties. Actor Michael Gross appeared as Mike's therapist, and Meredith Baxter played his mother. Fox's character even took an environmental job meeting a politician from Ohio named Alex P. Keaton.
Health Journey and Global Activism
Facing a Medical Diagnosis
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Fox noticed an unusual twitch in his pinky finger in early 1991. He was working on the film Doc Hollywood when his shoulder began aching. Doctors officially diagnosed him with early-onset Parkinson's disease later that year. He was only thirty years old when he received the medical diagnosis. Parkinson's disease affects the human nervous system and makes physical movement very difficult. Causes may include complex genetic traits and environmental conditions around an individual.
Several coworkers from his early Canadian television program Leo and Me developed the disease. Fox wondered if water near paper factories or farming chemicals played any part. Scientists still work hard today to uncover what causes the condition to appear. At first, dealing with the diagnosis felt overwhelming and frightening for Fox. He chose to look forward with determination, hope, and an optimistic mindset. He kept his health private until he was ready to tell the world. In 1998, he shared his medical story openly to help educate the public.
Leading The Michael J. Fox Foundation
Fox created The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in 2000. He wanted to fund smart scientific projects that search for medical treatments. Since its start, the foundation has raised over one billion dollars for research. Fox testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee in 1999. Legendary sports star Muhammad Ali joined him to ask Congress for scientific funding.
Fox uses medications like carbidopa/levodopa to manage his daily physical symptoms. These medications help patients move smoothly, but they can cause involuntary movements called dyskinesia. Without medicine, a patient might experience muscle stiffness or a cluttering of speech. In 1998, Fox underwent a brain operation called a thalamotomy to help reduce shaking. In 2010, his foundation launched a major observational study to find biological markers. Today, his foundation remains the largest non-profit funder of Parkinson's drug development.
Fox became a prominent national voice supporting research for new medical treatments. In 2006, he filmed an important campaign message for politician Claire McCaskill. She ran for the United States Senate in Missouri against politician Jim Talent. The advertisement explained the great value of funding advanced scientific research. Respected newspaper The New York Times called it a very powerful message. In 2007, Time magazine named Fox one of the world's most influential people. He later received honorary doctorates from the Karolinska Institute and the University of British Columbia. The Justice Institute of British Columbia also awarded him an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.
Later Acting Roles and Life Memoirs
Guest Stars and Creative Work
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Fox continued to act in memorable television guest roles whenever he felt healthy. In 2004, he appeared in two episodes of the comedy show Scrubs. He played Dr. Kevin Casey, a brilliant surgeon managing obsessive behaviors. In 2006, he appeared on Boston Legal, earning an Emmy Award nomination. He won another Emmy Award in 2009 for guest-starring on the series Rescue Me.
Beginning in 2010, he played clever lawyer Louis Canning on The Good Wife. He returned to play the same legal character on The Good Fight. He also appeared as an exaggerated version of himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm. In 2013, he starred in the family comedy The Michael J. Fox Show on NBC. In 2018, he played investigator Ethan West on the drama Designated Survivor.
Fox also shared his voice and likeness for fun video game adventures. In 2011, he voiced characters for Back to the Future: The Game. In 2015, he recorded Marty McFly's voice for the video game Lego Dimensions. In 2020, he made a fun surprise appearance in a video with musician Lil Nas X for his holiday song.
He stepped on stage at the famous Glastonbury Festival in 2024. British rock group Coldplay invited Fox to play electric guitar with them on stage. Lead singer Chris Martin told the crowd that Fox inspired him to start a band. In 2025, Fox appeared in a promotional comedy video for the Boston Bruins hockey team. Team leader Cam Neely joined his longtime friend Fox in the fun video. Fox also provided a playful voice cameo for the Disney animated movie Zootopia 2. In 2026, he returned to screen acting in the comedy series Shrinking.
Inspiring Books and Personal Stories
Fox has written several bestselling books that share his life lessons with readers. His first autobiography was titled Lucky Man, published in 2002. The book explained how he accepted his illness and found new life purpose. In 2009, he published Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist. He discussed that book during an interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show. In 2010, he released A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future. His fourth book, No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality, arrived in 2020. In 2025, he released Future Boy, describing his adventures filming the famous time-travel movies.
Director Davis Guggenheim made an acclaimed documentary film about Fox in 2023. The project, titled Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, streamed worldwide on Apple TV+. Film reviewer Stephanie Zacharek in Time praised the documentary for its honest and joyful spirit. Critic Mark Kermode of The Guardian called it an uplifting look at an amazing life. The documentary won four major honors during the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards.
Personal Life, Family, and Honors
Family Life and Homes
Fox married his former co-star Tracy Pollan on July 16, 1988. Their lovely wedding took place at the West Mountain Inn in Arlington, Vermont. They have been happily married for many decades and have four wonderful children. Their family includes one son and three daughters.
The family lived on a beautiful farm property located in South Woodstock, Vermont. They also kept an apartment on Fifth Avenue in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. They enjoyed a quiet home in Sharon, Connecticut, and later lived in Quogue, New York. During recent years, Fox and his wife moved out west to Santa Barbara, California. Later, the couple settled into a home in sunny Malibu. Fox became an official United States citizen in 2000 while remaining a Canadian citizen. He appeared at the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony in Vancouver to celebrate Canada. Fox later showed political support for leader Pete Buttigieg in 2020.
Historic Honors and Global Legacy
Fox has received some of the highest honors given to civilians around the world. In 2010, he received the National Association of Broadcasters Distinguished Service Award. In 2021, Simon Fraser University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree. In 2022, actor Woody Harrelson presented Fox with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. The prestigious honor celebrated his tireless effort to raise over one billion dollars for science. In 2025, President Joe Biden awarded him the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom. Canada promoted him to Companion of the Order of Canada in early 2026. He also received the Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award for his leadership in patient health. Fox continues to inspire millions of people around the world through his cheerful resilience.
Screen and Media Credits
Selected Film Roles
- Midnight Madness (1980) – Scott Larson
- Class of 1984 (1982) – Arthur Summers
- Back to the Future (1985) – Marty McFly
- Teen Wolf (1985) – Scott Howard
- Light of Day (1987) – Joe Rasnick
- The Secret of My Success (1987) – Brantley Foster
- Bright Lights, Big City (1988) – Jamie Conway
- Casualties of War (1989) – Max Eriksson
- Back to the Future Part II (1989) – Marty McFly
- Back to the Future Part III (1990) – Marty McFly
- The Hard Way (1991) – Nick Lang
- Doc Hollywood (1991) – Dr. Benjamin Stone
- Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) – Voice of Chance
- Life with Mikey (1993) – Michael Chapman
- For Love or Money (1993) – Doug Ireland
- Where the Rivers Flow North (1994) – Clayton Farnsworth
- Greedy (1994) – Danny McTeague
- The American President (1995) – Lewis Rothschild
- Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996) – Voice of Chance
- The Frighteners (1996) – Frank Bannister
- Mars Attacks! (1996) – Jason Stone
- Stuart Little (1999) – Voice of Stuart Little
- Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) – Voice of Milo Thatch
- Stuart Little 2 (2002) – Voice of Stuart Little
- Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild (2006) – Voice of Stuart Little
- Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (2023) – Himself
- Zootopia 2 (2025) – Voice of Michael J. the fox
Selected Television Roles
- Leo and Me (1978) – Jamie Romano
- Family Ties (1982–1989) – Alex P. Keaton
- Spin City (1996–2000) – Mike Flaherty
- Scrubs (2004) – Dr. Kevin Casey
- Boston Legal (2006) – Daniel Post
- Rescue Me (2009) – Dwight
- The Good Wife (2010–2016) – Louis Canning
- Curb Your Enthusiasm (2011, 2017) – Himself
- The Michael J. Fox Show (2013–2014) – Mike Henry
- Designated Survivor (2018) – Ethan West
- The Good Fight (2020) – Louis Canning
- Shrinking (2026) – Gerry
Images for kids
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Hand prints of Fox in front of The Great Movie Ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park
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Fox playing the guitar with Coldplay at the Glastonbury Festival in 2024
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The Michael J. Fox Theatre at Burnaby South Secondary School
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Fox's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture
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See also
In Spanish: Michael J. Fox para niños
