Michael J.

Fox - Canada’s Son

Born on June 9, 1961, Fox was raised in Edmonton, Alberta and the suburbs of Vancouver,
British Columbia. He was always interested in the arts, learning to play guitar at the age of
eight which led to teenage band gigs and an interest in stage acting, as well. His first
acting job came at the age of only 15, where his boyish face landed him the role of a
10-year-old in the CBC series, "Leo and Me" (1976). Fox became more and more active in
regional theater as well as appeared in an ABC TV-movie shot in Vancouver, "Letters from
Frank" (1979). Encouraged to pursue his dreams by the film’s star, TV icon Art Carney, Fox
dropped out of high school and moved to Los Angeles where he relatively quickly landed a
regular part on "Palmerstown, U.S.A." (CBS, 1980-81). But after a small movie role in
"Midnight Madness" (1980), things dried up – enough that the actor was forced to sell off
sections of his couch as finances necessitated it. The actor was ready to cash it in and
return to Canada when the he auditioned for a new TV sitcom, "Family Ties." Beginning the
show as a no-name teen actor billed below the show’s adult stars, Meredith Baxter-Birney and
Michael Gross, Fox quickly stole the show as the couple’s Reagan-era yuppie son, Alex P.
Keaton. He may have been playing a greedy, self-serving conservative, but his charming manner
and ruffled straight man routine made him almost impossible to dislike. It would be the first
of two monumental and defining roles, catapulting him to international fame as the ultimate
Republican groupie. And it would be his role of Alex that would change the course of his
personal life, as he met his future wife, actress Tracy Pollan, after she played his onscreen
girlfriend, Ellen. The couple would go on to marry in 1988 and have four children – as well
as the distinction of having one of the more happy and devoted of Hollywood marriages.

With two long-running sitcoms, multiple Emmy Awards and a

top-grossing film series to his name, actor Michael J. Fox might have
spent the rest of his life at the forefront of Hollywood’s A-list. However,
the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease limited the actor’s
screen career and, at the age of 39, he embarked on a new mission to
help find a cure. The Canadian actor was one of the biggest stars of the
1980s, first embodying the Reagan-era culture clash with his role as an
aspiring yuppie teen on the sitcom “Family Ties” (NBC, 1982-89). He parlayed his flawless
comic timing and clean-cut good looks into a successful film career as amiable
boys-next-door, including one with access to a havoc-wreaking time machine in the mega
blockbuster “Back to the Future” franchise. Fox challenged his image with grittier roles in
films like “Bright Lights Big City” (1988), but more consistently scored as officious young
professionals, like his starring role as deputy mayor of New York on the sitcom “Spin City”
(ABC, 1996-2002). In 1998, Fox disclosed that he had been diagnosed with the neurological
disorder, Parkinson’s disease, and semi-retired from acting in 2000, occasionally surfacing
as a sitcom guest and in voiced-animated family films including the “Stuart Little” (1999)
series. But with this new calling, Fox dedicated himself to publicizing the need for increased
stem cell research for his disease as well as many other afflictions. While Fox’s presence
was missed on primetime, his inspirational advocacy on behalf of Parkinson’s sufferers
ultimately left a more important legacy than his roster of popular comedies.
 Fox earned three Emmy Awards during the course his "nice boy" image, Fox attempted to broaden his
of “Family Ties.” Only three years into the sitcom’s range, slowly but surely, beginning with Paul
run, the actor launched his career as movie star du Schrader's "Light of Day" (1987), a misguided rock
jour with his role as the time-traveling, guitar-playing, 'n' roll drama co-starring Joan Jett as his renegade
boy-next-door, Marty McFly, in Robert Zemeckis' sister. Critics and fans alike reacted negatively to his
wildly successful "Back to the Future" (1985). This atypical lack of intensity as the brooding factory
second career-making role earned Fox a Golden worker-band member, enabling Jett to steal the
Globe nomination for his energetic performance mostly lackluster flick with her compelling
which hit all the right comedic notes. However, the performance. As for James Bridges' adaptation of
same year he hit “Back to the Future” paydirt, Fox Jay McInerney's "Bright Lights, Big City" (1988), the
also starred in the anemic "Teen Wolf" (1985), which studio was as adamant as the public about not
cast him as a student werewolf who parlays his wanting to see Fox as a coke-snorting magazine fact
condition into high school popularity. It was due checker. As expected, the troubled production failed
largely to his Marty McFly appeal that “Teen Wolf” to mark a new career direction for the actor, who for
made any money at all. With high expectations better or worse, typified the All American man-boy. It
resting heavily on his shoulders, Fox’s next film – was a credit to the actor that despite substantial
"The Secret of My Success" (1987) – featured an success on the big screen, Fox refused to bail on the
appealing performance from the actor as a naive but sitcom that made him famous, riding Alex P. Keaton
ambitious kid who hustles his way into the corporate into the sunset when the show wrapped in 1989.
world of New York City, but it was hardly the
audience pleaser many expected. Dissatisfied with

Still Trying To Make A Go Of Edgier Dramas, Fox Played The Conscience-stricken G.I. Squaring Off
Against An Over-the-top Sergeant (Sean Penn) In Brian De Palma's Disturbing Vietnam Saga "Casualties
Of War" (1989). The Ticket-buying Public And Critics Alike Welcomed His Return To Light Comic Capers,
"Back To The Future Ii" (1989) And "Back To The Future Iii" (1990). Shot Back-to-back By Zemeckis,
These Films Allowed Fox To Play Multiple Characters, Including An Aged Marty, Marty's Daughter, And
His Ancient Irish Relative, Seamus Mcfly. He Followed Up With The Cop Buddy Picture "The Hard Way"
(1991) With James Woods And The Fish-out-of-water Comedy "Doc Hollywood" (1991) – Neither Coming
Close To The Box Office Pyrotechnics Of The "Future" Franchise. Fox Discovered Another Outlet For His
Talent When He Lent His Voice To The Disney Animal Adventure Remake "Homeward Bound: The
Incredible Journey" (1993), But The Tepid Response To His Child Talent Agent In "Life With Mikey"
(1993), His Beleaguered Hotel Concierge In "For Love Or Money" (1993), And His Turn As Kirk Douglas'
Nephew In "Greedy" (1994) Led To A Career Reassessment.

However, just as Fox was settling into his second successful series run, the actor was forced to publicly
disclose he had been fighting Parkinson's disease since 1991, after the shakes and tremors were becoming more
and more obvious to viewers. Audiences were saddened, but that sympathy quickly turned to admiration when
Fox transformed into a tireless activist for research into the disease. He testified in Washington about the need to
further research, and allowed his symptoms to be clearly visible in public appearances in order to put a human
face on a mysterious disease which could make certain people uncomfortable.

2
In 2006, Fox’s Parkinson’s advocacy efforts were in the spotlight once again when the actor stepped forward to
publicly endorse Senatorial candidates who supported federally funded stem cell research – a promising
avenue of medical research that was ultimately vetoed by president George W. Bush over objections to its
use of embryonic tissues. Fox carried on his with his efforts even after the bill was nixed and right- wing
commentator Rush Limbaugh accused Fox of exaggerating his symptoms in a PSA to win over public
support of the controversial bill. Nonplussed by the insensitivity of the Right, the actor continued his stem
cell advocacy and reprised his voice role of Stuart Little in the third installment of the series, “Stuart Little
3,” which was released direct-to-DVD in 2009. Meanwhile, he landed a four-episode arc on the popular
comedy-drama, “Rescue Me” (FX, 2004- ), playing an abrasive paraplegic and new boyfriend to Janet
(Andrea Roth), who runs afoul of Tommy (Denis Leary) when they first meet. Fox earned another Emmy
nomination for his work on the show – the eleventh of his career – this time for Outstanding Guest Actor
in a Drama Series, which he would go on to win.

Year Movie Minutes

1990 Back to the future - Part 3 118

1989 Back to the future - Part 2 108

1985 Back to the future 116

Michael J. Fox - Foundation for Parkinson’s Research