Michael J. Fox: From Back to the Future to Spin City

Biography: Michael J. Fox Life and Career

He was born Michael Andrew Fox on June 9th, 1961 in Edmonton, Alberta. As the son of a member of the Canadian Forces, he and his family moved a lot in his youth before finally settling in Burnaby, British Columbia by the 1970s. As a youth, Fox dreamed of playing professional hockey before he finally set his sights on acting.

Early Work

After starring in the Canadian TV series “Leo and Me” at the age of 15, he moved to Los Angeles to chase his new dream of becoming an actor in 1979. It was around this time he was forced to change his stage name to Michael J. Fox because of another actor named Michael Fox. He decided not to choose his own middle initial to avoid headlines like “Michael’s A. Fox.”

Family Ties

His first feature film appearance came in the 1980 film “Midnight Madness.” Just two years later, he began playing one of the most important roles of his career: young Republican Alex P. Keaton on the NBC sitcom “Family Ties.” He went on to win three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for his work on the show, and met his future wife Tracy Pollan while filming.

1985: Back to the Future and Teen Wolf

His television success quickly led to many film roles. 1985 was one of the biggest years of his career, with the release of “Teen Wolf” following his iconic role as Marty McFly in the first film of the immensely popular “Back to the Future” trilogy. While Fox had always been the first choice to star in the film, his commitment to “Family Ties” almost prevented him from appearing in the time travel comedy. However, after it was decided that Eric Stoltz was not appropriate for the film, Fox worked out a deal with his NBC bosses and the rest is history.

1980s

Fox spent the remainder of the 1980s filming his sitcom and appearing in a number of movies. These films included the 1987 comedy “The Secret of My Success,” where he played a small town boy who moves to New York to make it big; the 1988 drama “Bright Lights, Big City,” where he spends many drug- and alcohol-filled evenings partying with his best friend, and the 1989 film “Casualties of War,” where he played a Private serving in the Vietnam war.

1990s Films

He kept up his big screen appearances leading in to the ‘90s, with such films as “Doc Hollywood,” “The Hard Way,” “For Love or Money” and “Greedy.” He also had smaller roles in “The American President,” and “Mars Attacks!”

Voice Acting

1996, however, saw Fox take on his last major film role in “The Frighteners.” However he continued to lend his voice to such films as “Stuart Little,” “Homeward Bound,” and “Atlantis: The Lost Empire.”

TV Comeback and Semi-Retirement

He also made his TV comeback in 1996 with his role as the Deputy Mayor of New York in “Spin City.” This was another critically acclaimed role for the actor, as he won three Golden Globes and an Emmy during its run. However, it was also during this show that he publicly announced he was suffering from Parkison’s Disease, and had been since the filming of “Doc Hollywood.” The degenerative disease forced the energetic actor into semi-retirement, and in 2000 he was replaced by Charlie Sheen on “Spin City.”

Parkinson's Disease

Since then, Fox has focused much of his time on finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease by starting and promoting his Michael J. Fox Foundation. His vocal support of stem cell studies has helped raise awareness and funds for research into the disease, as well. In 2010, he was awarded the Order of Canada for his outstanding achievements.

Guest-Starring TV Roles

He remains a sought-after actor, and has made a number of successful guest-starring roles on television in recent years, including stints on “Scrubs,” “Boston Legal,” “Rescue Me,” “The Good Wife,” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Fox has also become a best-selling author, telling his story in writing on more than one occasion.

While he is best known for his smart-alecky teenaged characters, Michael J. Fox has grown into a respected actor and an icon in the fight for a cure for Parkinson’s disease.