Michael J. Fox

Michael Andrew Fox, known professionally as Michael J. Fox, is a Canadian and American actor and activist. Born on June 9, 1961, in Edmonton, Alberta, he was the fifth of six children. His mother worked as a payroll clerk and actress, while his father served as a soldier in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals. The family moved frequently across Canada due to his father’s military career, eventually settling in Burnaby, British Columbia, after his father’s retirement in 1971. Fox attended Burnaby Central Secondary School and began acting as a child in the 1970s, starring in the Canadian television series *Leo and Me* at age 16. He moved to Los Angeles in 1979 to pursue acting further.

Fox made his American debut in the television film *Letters from Frank*, initially using the name “Michael Fox.” However, because a veteran actor already held that name with the Screen Actors Guild, he added the middle initial “J.” His early film roles included *Midnight Madness* (1980) and *Class of 1984* (1982). He rose to fame playing Alex P. Keaton, a young Republican, on the NBC sitcom *Family Ties* from 1982 to 1989. The show was originally pitched as “Hip parents, square kids,” with the parents as leads, but Fox’s performance shifted the focus to his character after the fourth episode. Producer Brandon Tartikoff initially doubted Fox’s suitability due to his height, but Fox later presented Tartikoff with a custom lunchbox after his success.

In 1985, Fox was cast as Marty McFly in *Back to the Future* after original actor Eric Stoltz was replaced. Director Robert Zemeckis had wanted Fox from the start, but *Family Ties* creator Gary David Goldberg initially blocked the move. During filming, Fox worked grueling hours, rehearsing for *Family Ties* from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and then shooting *Back to the Future* until 2:30 a.m. for two months. The film became a major success, leading to two sequels. Fox went on to star in films such as *Teen Wolf* (1985), *The Secret of My Success* (1987), *Casualties of War* (1989), *Doc Hollywood* (1991), and *The Frighteners* (1996). He returned to television as the lead in the ABC sitcom *Spin City* from 1996 to 2000.

In 1998, Fox disclosed his 1991 diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. He became an advocate for a cure and founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000. Worsening symptoms reduced his acting work, though he voiced lead roles in