Last Updated on September 26, 2023
Michael Andrew Fox OC, better known professionally as Michael J. Fox, is a Canadian-American retired actor and producer.
Fox’s professional acting career began with small roles in the 1970s. His big break came in the early ‘80s when he began portraying Alex P. Keaton on the award-winning NBC sitcom Family Ties. His acting star shone even brighter when he appeared as Marty McFly in the film trilogy Back to the Future (1985 – 1990).
Michael Fox has dozens of other film and television credits to his name. He starred in the films Teen Wolf (1985), The Secret of My Success (1987), and Casualties of War (1989), before landing subsequent lead roles in Doc Hollywood (1991) and The Frighteners (1996).
Fox also made a comeback to television by starring as Mike Flaherty on ABC’s sitcom Spin City (1996 – 2000), among other noteworthy roles.
Outside the film and television industry, Michael J. Fox has made a name for himself as an activist. He has centered much of his activism on advocating for a cure for Parkinson’s disease, which he suffers from.
Michael Fox is also an acclaimed author and has written a few bestsellers. Besides, his life has been the inspiration behind several television documentaries and video games.
Michael J. Fox Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Michael Andrew Fox |
| Popular Name: | Michael J. Fox |
| Nicknames: | N/A |
| Birth Date: | June 9, 1961 |
| Age: | 62 Years |
| Parents: | William Fox and Phyllis Piper Fox |
| Siblings: | Sisters – Kelli Fox, Karen Fox, and Jackie Fox, and Brother – Steven Fox |
| Birth Place: | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Nationality: | Canadian and American |
| Ethnicity: | Irish |
| Religion: | Judaism |
| Education: | Burnaby Central Secondary School |
| Marital Status: | Married to Tracy Jo Pollan (since 1988) |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Children: | Sam Michael Fox, Aquinnah Kathleen Fox, Schuyler Frances Fox, and Esmé Annabelle Fox |
| Net Worth: | USD 70 million (as at September 1, 2023) |
| Source of Wealth: | Acting, Film & Television Production, Book Royalties, Brand Endorsements, and Other Ventures |
| Height: | 5′ 4″ (1.63 m) |
| Weight: | In kilograms: 56 kg; In pounds: 124 lbs. |
Early Life and Career Information
Early Life
Michael Andrew Fox was born on June 9, 1961, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to William Fox and Phyllis Piper Fox. His father served in the Canadian Forces for 25 years before becoming a police dispatcher, whereas his mother worked as a payroll clerk while also dabbling in acting.
Fox has three sisters and a brother, namely Kelli Fox, Karen Fox, Jackie Fox, and Steven Fox.
Education Background and Career Beginnings
Michael J. Fox attended Burnaby Central Secondary School, where he began to display a propensity for acting. His first major acting role came at the age of 16 when he starred in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation television series ‘Leo and Me.’
Two years after landing his debut television role, Michael Fox moved to Los Angeles in a bid to further his acting career. He was later discovered by television producer Ronald Shedlo and subsequently appeared in the American television film ‘Letters from Frank.’
Career Breakthrough
After accepting minor roles in a few television programs, Michael J. Fox eventually starred in his debut feature film in 1980’s ‘Midnight Madness.’ He quickly followed with another major role in 1982’s movie ‘Class of 1984.’
The same year, Michael Fox began starring as “Young Republican” Alex P. Keaton in NBC’s television series ‘Family Ties.’ He starred in all the series’ seven seasons, which aired from 1982 to 1989.
Family Ties was America’s most popular television program at some point. At its peak, the series commanded an audience of at least one-third of America’s households. It also earned Fox three Emmy Awards (1986, 1987, and 1988) and a Golden Globe Award in 1989.
Michael Fox accepted various film and television roles while starring in Family Ties. Most notable was his portrayal of Marty McFly in the film ‘Back to the Future’ in January 1985. He later starred in the movie’s 1989 and 1990 sequels – Back to the Future Part II and Back to the Future Part III.
Fox also starred in Teen Wolf (1985), The Secret of My Success (1987), and Bright Lights, Big City (1988). His other film gigs during the same period were in Light of Day (1987) and Casualties of War (1989).
Michael Fox’s next major acting role was in the 1991 movies ‘Doc Hollywood’ and ‘The Hard Way.’ He followed up with ‘For Love or Money’ and ‘Life With Mikey,’ both in 1993.
Fox’s last starring film roles were in Greedy (1994) and The Frighteners (1996). However, he continued making numerous television appearances, including in the Spin City series (1996 – 2000) and The Good Wife (2010 – 2016). Others include Curb Your Enthusiasm (2011, 2017), Designated Survivor (2018), The Good Fight (2020), and his very own show – The Michael J. Fox Show ((2013–2014).
Michael Fox’s acting career also includes voice acting. Fox has lent his voice to numerous films, including Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993), and its 1996 sequel Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco.
In 1999, Fox hosted the titular character in Stuart Little. He reprised his role in the movie’s two sequels – Stuart Little 2 (2002) and Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild (2005).
Other famous films that Michael Fox has lent his voice to include Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) and Back Home Again (2021).
Other Ventures
Michael J. Fox has lent his voice to at least two video games. They include Back to the Future: The Game (2011) and Lego Dimensions (2015).
Fox has also authored several books, many of which focus on his acting career and battle with Parkinson’s disease. The books are;
• Lucky Man: A Memoir (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)
Awards and Recognitions
Michael J. Fox has received tons of awards and recognitions over his acting career. They include;
• 1 Grammy Award
• 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards
• 4 Golden Globe Awards
• 5 Emmy Awards
• The Golden Plate Award
• The National Association of Broadcasters Distinguished Service Award
• The Golden Camera Award for Lifetime Achievement – International
• The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
Michael J Fox’s Net Worth
As at September 1, 2023, Michael J Fox had a net worth of $70 million. The majority of his wealth comes from acting.
Back to the Future is arguably Fox’s highest-grossing film to date. The movie’s first installment alone grossed $381.11 million worldwide. And while there are no official records on how much Fox made from Back to the Future, his role in the franchise suggests that he took home some millions of dollars.
Many other films starring Michael J. Fox have also performed exceptionally well at the box office. That’s not to mention television series like Family Ties.
Outside of the entertainment industry, Michael J. Fox also makes money from brand endorsements, book royalties, and real estate. The Fox family lives in their primary residence in Manhattan but owns an additional home in The Hamptons, which they acquired in October 2007 for $6.3 million.
Fox and his wife also owned a home in Sharon, Connecticut. The couple custom-built the 5,000 square-foot property in 1997 and sold it in October 2017 for $3.9 million.
Private Life
Michael J Fox is married to American actress Tracy Jo Pollan. Pollan co-starred alongside Fox in Family Ties. The couple has four children – Sam Michael Fox, Aquinnah Kathleen Fox, Schuyler Frances Fox, and Esmé Annabelle Fox.
Fox has been battling Parkinson’s disease for over three decades. He was diagnosed with the disease in 1991 and informed that he would be unable to work in about ten years.
Shortly after his diagnosis, Fox became a heavy drinker and slipped into depression. However, he eventually accepted his new reality and went public in 1998.
The ‘Family Ties’ superstar has been a staunch advocate for Parkinson’s research since then. He undertakes much of his advocacy through his own eponymous foundation, which has fundraised over $100 million over the years.
Lessons from Michael J Fox
1. Every cloud has a silver lining
Michael J. Fox’s diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease came as a shocker. But it also emboldened his resolve to further his acting career. After he was informed that he had about ten working years left, Fox decided to utilize each opportunity to release even more scintillating films.
2. Happiness is a choice
Fox believes that happiness doesn’t consist in your possessions or accomplishments. Rather, it depends on your ability to appreciate the little things that life throws your way.
3. Great things don’t come on a silver platter
Michael J. Fox reportedly juggled his time between rehearsing for the Family Ties series and the Back to the Future film. The fact that he put up a stellar performance in both underscores the significance of hard work.
Famous Quotes by Michael J Fox
• Acceptance doesn’t mean resignation; it means understanding that something is what it is and that there’s got to be a way through it.
• Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.
• One’s dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but cannot be taken away unless it is surrendered.
• Our challenges don’t define us, our actions do.
• The more I expect, the more unhappy I am going to be. The more I accept, the more serene I am.
Conclusion
Michael J Fox is a Canadian-American actor with dozens of film and television credits to his name. Although his career has slowed down due to his struggle with Parkinson’s disease, Fox remains an idol for many film lovers worldwide.
