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Michael J. Fox: 20 Unforgettable Roles and Milestones in His Iconic Career 

I am about to tell you 20 facts and unforgettable roles about an actor who has been in the spotlight for close to half a century. Michael J. Fox is a legendary and charming Canadian actor who has worn the hearts of millions of fans across the globe.

Throughout his incredible journey, Fox鈥檚 hard work, resilience, and determination have earned him numerous accolades and awards. However, there is much more than meets the eye when it comes to this iconic actor. Let us delve deeper into his life, including his personal life, extraordinary career, and philanthropy with this 20 facts. 

1. Michael J Fox Was Born in Edmonton, Canada

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Michael J. Fox whose actual name is Michael Andrew Fox was born on June 9, 1961, in Edmonton, Canada in a humble household. His parents are Phyllis and William Fox. His father William, was a 25-year veteran of the Canadian Forces who later became a police dispatcher while his mother was a payroll clerk and actress. Fox followed his mother鈥檚 footsteps and went on to become one of the most beloved actors of his generation. Fox is also Irish, as his maternal grandmother was from Belfast, Northern Ireland. His father died in January 1990 of a heart attack while his mother Phyllis died in September 2022.

2. Michael J. Fox Has Four Siblings 

Fox is the fourth child of his parents鈥� five children. He has three sisters named Karen, Kelli, and Jackie as well as a brother named Steven Fox. Karen works at an office and enjoys working in a stress-free environment which allows her to spend quality time with her family.

Kelli, like her brother, is a Canadian stage and television actress, well known for The Commish comedy TV series, the movies Timecop and Life with Mikey, and has appeared in shows like The Good Doctor. Jackie is also an office worker and keeps her life away from the public鈥檚 eye. Steven, Michael鈥檚 only brother works as an illusionist and has also appeared in The New Addams Family back in 1998.

3. Michael J. Fox Has a Theatre Named After Him

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In recognition of his achievements in acting and his contribution to society, Fox has a theatre named after him. He attended Burnaby Central Secondary School which is where the theatre was built and opened in 1993. The Michael J. Fox theatre is overseen by an independent non-profit society and is committed to developing skilled, talented individuals in the Burnaby community and the lower mainland. The community-style theatre is an open space for amateurs, and professionals alike and it is also a creative space for dance, theatre, music, and multicultural performances. 

4. He Has Parkinson’s Disease

In 1991 Michael J. Fox was devastatingly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. His diagnosis came after he noticed his finger was twitching and his shoulder was sore, as he was filming Doc Hollywood (1991). 

He was only 29 years old at the time. Fox kept his illness private for the ensuing years and continued working in movies like The American President, For Love or Money, and Frighteners, often putting his hand in his pocket.

At some point, Fox had a hard time accepting his diagnosis, began drinking heavily, and became very depressed. Eventually, he had enough and sought help, became sober, and went public with the disease in 1998. Since then, he has become an advocate for Parkinson鈥檚 disease and also emerged as a leading proponent for the disease鈥檚 research and raising public awareness. 

5. Michael J. Fox Started a Foundation for Parkinson鈥檚 Research

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Fox acknowledges the challenges that come with Parkinson鈥檚 disease and remains resilient in overcoming the disease. He hopes to make a positive impact by finding a cure for the disease and educating the public about it. He created The Michael J. Fox Foundation to facilitate a research program for the disease. He is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson鈥檚 disease and improving therapies for those affected by the condition.

Today, the foundation is the world鈥檚 largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s drug development. The research program also aims to discover the biological markers of Parkinson’s disease with the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI). The foundation has raised over $1.75 billion and is a step closer to finding the cure for Parkinson鈥檚 disease.

6. Michael J. Fox Negotiated a Deal Over a Phone Booth 

When Fox arrived in Hollywood at 18 years old, he managed to land some minor roles but he was so broke that he ignored letters from collection agencies. As he was waiting to hear back from NBC about family ties (1982), he told them he would only be home between the hours of four and five. This was because he did not have a phone and had to use a public phone booth. He patiently waited for the call and NBC called to say he had the part. After landing the gig he called his agent at the phone booth in front of Pioneer Chicken restaurant. 

7. He Married His On-Screen Girlfriend in Real Life

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Fox met his wife, Tracy Pollan, in his situation comedy Family Ties in 1982. The show not only launched his acting career but also landed him the opportunity to meet his wife. In the fourth season of the show, Tracy played Alex鈥檚 girlfriend Ellen Reed. They first dated other people but got together after a chance meeting a few years later.

They started dating and Fox proposed to Tracy after dating for seven months. These two got married on 16th July 1988 at West Mountain Inn in Arlington, Vermont. They became parents to four children; their firstborn son Sam Michael, twin daughters Schuyler Frances, and Aquinnah Kathleen, and their last-born daughter Esm茅 Annabelle. Fox and his wife have been happily married for over 35 years. 

8. A Stalker Tried to Break Fox and His Wife Apart

Soon after their marriage in 1998, Fox and Pollan faced significant threats from a stalker. The stalker was Tina Marie Ledbetter, who was upset that Fox had split up with a previous girlfriend Nancy McKeon, an actress. Ledbetter was also upset about Fox marrying and getting pregnant with his wife Pollan. The stalker sent Fox over a dozen letters a day, threatening to harm Pollan and their unborn baby. Ledbetter went a step further and even sent packages with rabbit droppings. She was later convicted and sentenced to counseling and probation. 

9. He Has Made Appearances in Various TV Shows

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Fox鈥檚 talented acting skills have made him a fan favorite both in movies and TV shows. He became famous after his role in the TV show Family Ties in the 1980s. After his immense success in the show, Fox made guest appearances in TV shows like The Good Wife, Designated Survivor, and the short-lived NBC sitcom The Michael J. Fox Show.

Despite his challenges with Parkinson鈥檚 disease, Fox was able to deliver outstanding performances in every show. In 2019, he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with his wife Pollan, where they discussed World Parkinson鈥檚 Day. In 2019, Fox resumed his movie career by featuring in a small role in the Netflix sci-fi film See You Yesterday. In 2020 he also reprised his character Louis Canning, from an episode of The Good Wife. 

10. He Changed His Name

When Fox attempted to join the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in Hollywood, there was another actor named 鈥淢ichael Fox鈥� who was already a SAG member. Fox had to add a middle initial to avoid confusion. He replaced his middle initial with a 鈥淛鈥�- an homage to his favorite character, actor Michael J. Pollard. He also did not like the sound of Michael A. Fox and wanted to avoid teen magazines using headlines such as “Michael, A Fox!” for obvious reasons.

11. Fox Was Pictured On Canadian Postage Stamps

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In May 2012, Fox was pictured on one of a set of four non-denominated Canadian postage stamps commemorating the Difference Makers issue. Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Rick Hansen, and Louise Arbour were also honored in the issue. They were all highly-regarded Canadian humanitarians and activists.

The stamp designer, Alain Leduc paid attention to detail, ensuring even the color had to be right to make the stamps beautiful. The colors were chosen to set apart the different fields in which those people are recognized as an individual personality.”

12. Fox is a High School Dropout

Fox dropped out of high school in Burnaby, British Columbia before graduating. His father supported his move and drove him from Canada to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. He did mention it was a 鈥測outhful mistake鈥� and studied to get his GED when he was 32. In 1984, he also received an honorary high school diploma from Brooklyn’s John Dewey High School. Fox has forbidden his children from following in his footsteps, demanding that they at least graduate from high school and maybe attend 1-2 years of college.

13. Fox鈥檚 Teacher Discouraged Him from Quitting School for A Movie Career

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Fox told his history teacher about his plans to quit education to pursue acting and the teacher responded by saying “Fox, you’re not going to be cute forever”, to which Fox responded, “Maybe just long enough, sir”. Turns out they were both right as Fox became one of the biggest stars in Hollywood to date.

14. He Is a Canadian and American Citizen 

Fox proudly holds dual Canadian and US citizenship. Before he became an American citizen he admits there was a period when he was working and living in the US illegally. He eventually hired an immigration lawyer to sort things out. During the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony in Vancouver, he said how proud he is to be Canadian. He lives with his family primarily in Manhattan and they have a second home in Quogue, New York.

15. He Boycotted the Oscars for An Immigration Rally

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Becoming an American citizen is not a walk in the park. In 2017, Fox boycotted The Oscars appearing at a rally for immigration rights following President Trump’s travel ban. In an interview with CBC News, Fox said he felt 鈥渟tupid鈥� for complaining about how long it took him to become a U.S. citizen. He became a U.S. citizen in 2000.

In as much as he is happy to be an American citizen, Fox says, “My reference for everything is my Canadian background”, proving he will always be a Canadian at heart.

16. Fox Has Written Four Books

Michael J. Fox has authored four books including; Lucky Man: A Memoir released in 2002, Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist, a 2009 release, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned (2010), and No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality released in 2020.  Fox鈥檚 books illustrate his life with Parkinson鈥檚 disease. They have received great reviews on Goodreads and other platforms.

17. He Is a Recipient of Honorary Degrees from Academic Institutions

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Fox has received several honorary degrees from academic institutions including; the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; the University of British Columbia; The Karolinska Institute in Sweden (it bestows the Nobel Prize in the sciences), Stony Brook University and New York University. He has also received several humanitarian awards for his exemplary work including inclusion in Time Magazine鈥檚 list of the 100 people who are transforming the world. He was also named GQ Man of the Year in 2000 and in 2010 he was appointed as Officer of the Order of Canada.

18. Fox Accidentally Hanged Himself on Set

In a scene in the film Back to the Future III, Fox鈥檚 character Marty is supposed to be hanged by the local outlaw, “Mad Dog” but Marty escapes. Unluckily, Fox accidentally let go of the ropes keeping him from literally being hanged in one of the takes. Guy passed out from the pressure of the noose on his neck. He was rescued by the crew a few seconds later after they realized what had happened.

19. He Retired from Acting and Returned Like He Never Left 

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In the fourth season of the show Spin City, Fox told the crew that he had Parkinson鈥檚 disease and that he wanted to retire from acting to focus on his condition and spend quality time with his family. He later returned to television in 2004 with a two-episode arc on Scrubs. He played a doctor with OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). He also starred in Rescue Me in 2009 and took on a recurring role on The Good Wife as attorney Louis Canning in 2010. 

20. He Has Received Numerous Awards 

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Fox has received several awards and honors for his exemplary acting skills including three Golden Globe Awards in 1998, 1999, and 2000, 5 Emmy Awards and 18 nominations, five Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Grammy Award. He also got the 2011 Hoerzu Magazine Golden Camera Award, the 2010 National Association of Broadcasters, two Screen Actors Guild Awards; and the People鈥檚 Choice Award. 

Fox was also inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2000 and the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2002. For his advocacy of a cure for Parkinson’s disease, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences in 2022.

Those are the 20 facts about Michael J. Fox. Despite facing health challenges, Fox has been able to surpass every hardship that comes his way through his incredible talent and passion for his craft.