Michael J. Fox facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael J. Fox OC
Fox in 2020
Born	Michael Andrew Fox (1961-06-09) June 9, 1961 (age 64) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Citizenship	Canada US (2000–present)
Occupation	Actor activist TV producer
Years active	1978–present
Spouse(s)	Tracy Pollan ​ (m. 1988)​
Children	4
Awards	Full list
Signature

Michael Andrew Fox (born June 9, 1961), known as Michael J. Fox, is a famous Canadian and American actor. He is also an activist who works to help others.

Michael started acting when he was a child in the 1970s. He became very well-known for playing Alex P. Keaton in the TV show Family Ties (1982–1989). He also starred as Marty McFly in the Back to the Future movies (1985–1990).

He appeared in other popular films like Teen Wolf (1985) and The Secret of My Success (1987). Later, he returned to TV in the show Spin City (1996–2000).

In 1998, Michael shared that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991. He then became a strong supporter of finding a cure. In 2000, he started The Michael J. Fox Foundation to help fund research. Because of his health, he slowly reduced his acting work.

Michael also lent his voice to lead characters in the Stuart Little films (1999–2005). He was also the voice of Milo in Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001). He made guest appearances on TV shows like Rescue Me (2009) and The Good Wife (2010–2016). His last main acting role was in The Michael J. Fox Show (2013–2014). He officially retired from acting in 2020 due to his health.

Michael J. Fox has won many awards for his acting. These include five Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards. He also received special honors for his work to find a cure for Parkinson's disease. This includes the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2022 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025.

Early Life and First Roles

Michael Fox was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on June 9, 1961. His mother, Phyllis, worked as a payroll clerk and actress. His father, William, was a soldier in the Canadian army.

The Fox family moved often because of his father's military career. In 1971, they settled in Burnaby, a city near Vancouver. Michael went to Burnaby Central Secondary School. There is even a theater named after him at Burnaby South Secondary.

When he was 16, Michael starred in a Canadian TV series called Leo and Me. In 1979, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting dreams.

When Michael tried to register as an actor, he found another actor named Michael Fox already existed. He chose to add the "J." to his name. He said it was inspired by actor Michael J. Pollard.

Acting Career Highlights

Early TV and Film Roles

Michael J. Fox in 1985

Michael's first movie roles were in Midnight Madness (1980) and Class of 1984 (1982). Soon after, he got the role of Alex P. Keaton in the TV show Family Ties. This show was very popular and ran from 1982 to 1989.

He got the role after another actor, Matthew Broderick, was not available. At first, the show was supposed to be about the parents. But Michael's performance as Alex was so good that his character became the main focus.

One of the show's producers, Brandon Tartikoff, thought Michael was too short. He even tried to replace him. After Michael became a big star, he gave Tartikoff a special lunchbox. It had a message about how wrong Tartikoff had been.

Back to the Future and Becoming a Star

Michael J. Fox at the 40th Primetime Emmy Awards in August 1988

In 1985, Michael was chosen to play Marty McFly in Back to the Future. This movie is about a teenager who accidentally travels back in time. The director, Robert Zemeckis, always wanted Michael for the role. However, Michael was busy with Family Ties.

Another actor was cast first, but Zemeckis felt his performance was not right. So, Michael was brought in. He had a very busy schedule, filming Family Ties during the day and Back to the Future at night. This went on for two months.

Back to the Future was a huge success. It was the number one movie for eight weekends in 1985. It earned over $381 million worldwide. Critics praised Michael's acting. He was even nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

The movie led to two successful sequels: Back to the Future Part II (1989) and Back to the Future Part III (1990). While filming a scene in Part III, Michael almost choked during a stunt. He accidentally put his hand in the wrong place on a noose.

Michael J. Fox at the 39th Primetime Emmy Awards in September 1987

Because of Family Ties and the Back to the Future movies, Michael became a teen idol. He was named one of the "50 Greatest Teen Idols" by VH1.

During this time, he also starred in Teen Wolf (1985) and The Secret of My Success (1987). In The Secret of My Success, he played a young man dealing with the business world in New York City. The film made $110 million worldwide.

He also appeared in Bright Lights, Big City (1988). In this movie, he played a fact-checker who spent his nights partying. Michael won three Emmy Awards for Family Ties between 1986 and 1988. He also won a Golden Globe Award in 1989.

Michael then starred in Casualties of War (1989). This was a serious war drama about the Vietnam War. Critics praised his performance in this film.

Later Films and Voice Acting

In 1991, Michael starred in Doc Hollywood. This was a romantic comedy about a doctor who ends up working in a small town. He also appeared in The Hard Way that year.

After being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991, he continued to act. He appeared in films like For Love or Money (1993) and Greedy (1994). In the mid-1990s, he had smaller roles in The American President (1995) and Mars Attacks! (1996).

His last big film role was in The Frighteners (1996), directed by Peter Jackson. Michael's acting in this movie was highly praised.

Michael also became a successful voice actor. He voiced Chance, an American Bulldog, in Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey and its sequel. He was the voice of the main character in Stuart Little and its sequels. He also voiced Milo James Thatch in Disney's animated film Atlantis: The Lost Empire.

Return to Television and Retirement

Hand prints of Michael J. Fox in front of The Great Movie Ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park

From 1996 to 2002, Michael starred in the TV show Spin City. He played Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty in a fictional New York City government. Michael was also an executive producer for the show. He won an Emmy Award and three Golden Globe Awards for Spin City.

During the show's third season, Michael told the cast and crew about his Parkinson's disease. In the fourth season, he announced he would be leaving the show. Another actor, Charlie Sheen, took over his role.

In 2004, Michael guest-starred in two episodes of Scrubs. He played a surgeon with obsessive-compulsive disorder. In 2006, he appeared in six episodes of Boston Legal. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his guest appearance.

Michael J. Fox speaking at Lotusphere 2012

In 2009, Michael appeared in five episodes of Rescue Me, winning another Emmy. From 2010 to 2016, he had a recurring role in The Good Wife as a clever lawyer. He also played himself in two episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

In 2012, NBC announced that Michael would star in The Michael J. Fox Show. This show was loosely based on his own life. It premiered in 2013 but was later canceled.

Michael also made appearances at special events. At the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony in Vancouver, he performed comedy. In 2011, he lent his likeness to the Back to the Future: The Game video game. He also made a special guest appearance in the game's final episode.

In 2018, Michael appeared in five episodes of the TV drama Designated Survivor. He played a character investigating the president.

Michael J. Fox playing the guitar with Coldplay at the Glastonbury Festival in 2024

In 2020, Michael officially retired from acting. He explained that it was becoming too difficult to speak reliably and remember lines. He wrote in his memoir, No Time Like the Future, that it was time for a "second retirement."

In 2021, Michael appeared in an episode of Expedition: Back to the Future. He also voiced a character in the animated film Back Home Again. On May 12, 2023, a documentary called Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie was released. It followed his career and his journey with Parkinson's disease. The film was highly praised and won four Emmy Awards.

On June 29, 2024, Michael joined the band Coldplay on stage at the Glastonbury Festival. He played guitar with them on two songs. Coldplay's lead singer, Chris Martin, said that Back to the Future was a main reason they formed their band.

In May 2025, it was announced that Michael would make a brief return to acting. He was cast in the third season of the comedy-drama Shrinking. In June 2025, he also appeared in a video for the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins. The video was a parody of Back to the Future to promote new team uniforms.

Activism for Parkinson's Disease

Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991. Since then, he has become a dedicated activist. He started The Michael J. Fox Foundation to support research to find a cure.

He has written several books about his experiences. His first book, Lucky Man, shared how he came to terms with his disease. It also explained how he started his foundation and became an advocate.

The Michael J. Fox Theatre at Burnaby South Secondary School

In 2006, Michael appeared in a campaign ad for Claire McCaskill. She was running for the U.S. Senate. In the ad, he spoke about his support for stem cell research. He visibly showed the effects of his Parkinson's disease. The New York Times called it a very powerful political advertisement.

His second book, Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist, describes his life from 1999 to 2009. Much of the book focuses on his work campaigning for stem cell research.

In 2007, Time magazine named him one of the "100 people whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world." In 2010, he received an honorary doctorate in medicine for his contributions to Parkinson's research. He also received an honorary law degree from the University of British Columbia. His third book, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future, was released in 2010.

In 2012, he received another honorary degree from the Justice Institute of British Columbia. This was to recognize his acting and his efforts to raise money and awareness for Parkinson's disease.

In 2016, his foundation worked with Nike, Inc. to raise money for Parkinson's research. They held auctions that raised $6.75 million. In 2020, his fourth book, No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality, was released.

At the 2022 Governors Awards, Michael received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. This award recognized his efforts in fighting Parkinson's disease. He has helped raise over $1 billion for research.

In a 2023 interview, Michael shared that living with Parkinson's is getting harder. He mentioned having spinal surgery and breaking bones from falls. In 2024, he was named in Time Magazine's list of influential people in health.

Personal Life

Michael J. Fox with Tracy Pollan at the 40th Primetime Emmy Awards in August 1988, shortly after they were married

Marriage and Family

Michael met his wife, Tracy Pollan, when she played his girlfriend on Family Ties. They married on July 16, 1988. They have four children: one son and three daughters.

The family has lived in various places, including Vermont, New York City, Connecticut, and Quogue, New York. In 2021, they moved to Santa Barbara, California, and later to Malibu.

Citizenship

Michael became a U.S. citizen in 2000, but he is still a Canadian citizen. At the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony, he proudly spoke about being Canadian. In 2010, the city of Burnaby gave him the "Freedom of the City" honor.

Living with Parkinson's Disease

Michael started showing symptoms of early-onset Parkinson's disease in 1991. He was diagnosed shortly after. His first symptoms were a twitching little finger and a sore shoulder. He was told he might not be able to work in a few years.

The causes of Parkinson's disease are not fully understood. They might include genetics and environmental factors. Michael is one of several people from the TV show Leo and Me who developed early-onset Parkinson's. He has wondered if things like fishing near paper mills or being on farms could have played a role.

After his diagnosis, Michael sought help and stopped drinking. He went public with his Parkinson's disease in 1998. He has since become a strong advocate for research. His foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, works to find a cure. Since 2010, he has led a $100-million study to find biological markers for Parkinson's.

Michael manages his Parkinson's symptoms with medication. In 1998, he had a brain surgery called a thalamotomy.

In his book Lucky Man, Michael wrote that he chose not to take his medication before speaking to a U.S. Senate committee in 1999. He wanted them to see the effects of the disease. He felt it would show the urgency of finding a cure.

He explained in an interview that the movements people sometimes see are a side effect of his medication. He prefers these movements to the symptoms of Parkinson's itself.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video Games

Web

Awards and Honors

Michael J. Fox's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture – 7021 Hollywood Blvd.

Michael J. Fox has received many awards and honors throughout his career. He won five Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards. He also won two Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Grammy Award.

• 2000: Honored by the Family Television Awards for Acting.
• 2000: Inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto, Ontario. This recognizes the achievements of successful Canadians.
• December 16, 2002: Received the 2209th Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This was for his contributions to the movie industry.
• 2005: Received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
• 2010: Appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. This honor recognizes national service or achievement.
• 2010: Received the National Association of Broadcasters Distinguished Service Award.
• 2010: Received an honorary doctorate from the Karolinska Institute.
• 2013: Honored with the Golden Apple Award by the Casting Society of America.
• 2021: Received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Simon Fraser University.
• 2022: Received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 95th Academy Awards.
• 2025: Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden.

Books

• Lucky Man (2002)
• Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist (2009)
• A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned (2010)
• No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality (2020)

Images for kids

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  Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali in 2002, speaking to a U.S. Senate committee about funding for Parkinson's research.

See also

In Spanish: Michael J. Fox para niños