Michael J. Fox

Revealed in the December 7, 1998 issue of People magazine that he was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease in 1991.

Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1985" in John Willis Screen World, Vol. 37.

Parents are William and Phyllis Fox.

Adopted the "J." as an homage to character actor Michael J. Pollard.

Owned a black Ferrari Mondial coupe.

Quit high school before graduating from his senior year. Has said he regrets quitting high school as a "stupid youthful mistake".

Has forbidden any of his kids to quit high school for Hollywood, demanding that they at least finish high school and maybe attend 1-2 years of college.

According to an interview with Fox, he originally decided to use the middle initial J instead of his own A because he didnt want teen magazines to use headlines such as "Michael, A Fox!".

Is a vegetarian.

Younger sister is stage (Stratford and Shaw Festivals) and television actress Kelli Fox.

Was not the first choice to play Alex P. Keaton on "Family Ties" . He was only chosen after Matthew Broderick , who was originally considered for the role, refused to have a long-term television obligation.

Has written his own book titled "Lucky Man" about Parkinsons and other things he has to deal with in life.

When filming Doc Hollywood , he noticed his finger twitching. He was unable to control it. He then saw a doctor and was diagnosed with Parkinsons.

Although he never received a real high school diploma, Fox was given an honorary high school diploma from John Dewey High School in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, when he spoke at their graduation in 1984.

Has a theatre named after him located in his hometown of Burnaby, Brtitish Columbia, Canada.

Received his General Educational Development in 1995.

Received his first guitar for Christmas when he was 8. He taught himself how to play.

He was on Planet Hollywoods Wall of Fame.

Received a star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on December 16, 2002.

Good friends with Boston Bruins legend Cam Neely. He attended the retirement of Neelys number on January 12, 2004 at the Fleet Center in Boston.

NBC President Brandon Tartikoff didnt initially like him because he couldnt see his face looking good on a lunch box. Ironically, Fox did not allow this type of marketing when "Family Ties" became popular.

Negotiated the deal for "Family Ties" from a phone booth outside a now defunct Pioneer Chicken restaurant in Hollywood because he had no phone at home. He was told the network would need to call, and he said he was only home between the hours of four and five. He waited for the call, and fortunately he was there to answer it and secure the "Family Ties" role.

Accidentally injured co-star James Woods s finger on the set of The Hard Way . Woods was throwing him into a popcorn machine when his finger got caught in the button hole of Foxs jacket and dislocated it.

Orginally, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale were unable to get Michael J. Fox, their first choice for the role of Marty McFly due to scheduling conflicts. The role had then gone to Eric Stoltz. After filming for six weeks, Eric Stoltz was let go from the film because Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale felt he was "too intense" for the character. Michael J. Fox, who was then available, accepted when asked again and took over the role of Marty McFly.

(January 2000) Announced he is leaving "Spin City" because of Parkinsons disease.

(June 2002) He, Jim Carrey and the late Raymond Burr head the list of top Canadians in American television compiled by Banff Television Festival.

"Family Ties" creator Gary David Goldberg did not like Michael after his first audition, stating that he played Alex too smart-alecky. Casting director Judith Weiner fought for him, so Goldberg gave him one more chance. He approached the second audition differently and was later called and offered the role.

There is a pub in London, Ontario, called "The Alex P. Keaton" in honor of his character on "Family Ties" .

Due to his suffering from Parkinsons Disease, during his run on "Spin City" , he often hid his left hand in his pocket.

Ranked #23 in TV Guides list of "TVs 25 Greatest Teen Idols" (January 23, 2005 issue).

His best-known roles, Alex P. Keaton and Marty McFly, both contain numerous references to Ronald Reagan. Alex P. Keaton is a conservative Republican whose hero is Ronald Reagan. In Back to the Future , Marty informs an incredulous Doc Brown that Ronald Reagan, the actor, becomes the President of the United States. In Back to the Future Part II , Marty goes into the Cafe 80s, which is "hosted" by a computer-generated video image of President Reagan. In Back to the Future Part III , Michael almost got to work with Reagan himself. By this time, Reagans second term was drawing to a close, if not already over, so director Robert Zemeckis offered him the role of the 1885 mayor of Hill Valley (which may have been in reference to Reagans first public office, that of Governor of California). Reagan declined.

When he was paying his dues as a struggling actor in Hollywood, he sold half of a sectional couch to a neighbor, and sold paper back books to a local bookstore for cash to buy groceries. He also had to borrow money from his parents to pay the rent, shortly before he landed the role in "Family Ties" .

He donated many items to Rocky Stone to be given to less fortunate kids as part of the Toy Mountain Campaign.

Having both American and Canadian passports, he also lived near the Nantucket Bay area of the Eastern United States.

Once lived in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

In 1982, appeared on the first episode of the Peter Marshall wish-fulfilling series "Fantasy" . Marshall mentioned that Fox was a great fan of James Cagney , then drew Foxs attention to a video screen. Cagney appeared in a taped statement, telling Fox "Keep a-goin!" This brought tears to Foxs eyes. Marshall then announced that Cagney had personally selected Fox to play him in a developing biopic about the legendary actor. Fox was overwhelmed with joy, but sadly, the film never got made.

He and his wife paid $6,300,000 for a newly built, six-bedroom house in Quogue, New York.

Met his wife, Tracy Pollan , on his situation comedy "Family Ties" .

Received an honorary degree (Doctor of Fine Arts) from New York University in May 2008.

Received an honorary degree (Doctor of Laws) from the University of British Columbia on May 22, 2008.

Received a star on Canadas Walk of Fame in Toronto, Ontario in September 2008.

Michael J. Fox was invited by Sandeep Marwah President AAFT to visit the Asian Academy of Film and Television in film city Noida, India to interact with film and acting students.

Admits there was a period when he was living, and working in the United States illegally, and would not return to Canada, for fear of not being allowed back in to the United States. Had to hire immigration lawyers to "straighten it all out".

As he revealed in his autobiography "Lucky Man", he happened to be sitting right next to Princess Diana at the world premiere of Back to the Future .

Michael was the first guest on "The Daily Show" when Jon Stewart took over as host on January 11, 1999.

Longtime friends with Denis Leary. They both share a love of hockey.

Brother-in-law of Michael Pollan.

His father William Fox died on January 6, 1990.

Fox was a supporter of then-candidate Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential election. He says in "Always Looking Up" that on Election Day, he went to vote wearing a t-shirt reading "Barack to the Future" that a friend had made for him; the shirts words and design were both references to Foxs famous role in the "Back to the Future" movies.

Fox says in his autobiography "Always Looking Up" that although he was raised nominally Anglican, he is now a member of a Reform Jewish congregation in New York. His wife, Tracy Pollan , was raised Jewish; their wedding ceremony had Jewish ritual elements (including a chuppah, the traditional Jewish wedding canopy); and their four children are being raised Jewish.

In 2010, he was given an honorary doctorate by Swedens Karolinska Institute, the same organization that awards the Nobel Prize in medicine. The honor was given in recognition of his work in advocating a cure for Parkinsons disease.

In his book "Always Looking Up" , he reveals that in 2000 he and his entire family flew from Paris back to New York on a Concorde on a Monday, the day before the Concord plane crash occurred. Originally, they had considered flying on Tuesday, the same day the plane crashed. When Michael heard about the tragedy on the news, he was so shocked and relieved that he immediately started crying.

Was considered for the role of Conrad in Ordinary People but Timothy Hutton , who went on to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance, was cast instead.

Fox has often recounted that when he went to tell one of his teachers that he was about to drop out of high school to pursue an acting career, the teacher told him, "Fox, youre not going to be cute forever", to which Fox responded, "Maybe just long enough, sir". When he retold the story on David Letterman s show in 2011, Fox added, "it turns out we were both right".

His quote, "Pain is temporary, film is forever", is from the comedy movie Three OClock High .

Pictured on one of a set of four nondenominated ("permanent") Canadian postage stamps commemorating Difference Makers, issued 22 May 2012. Others honored in this issue were Rick Hansen , Sheila Watt-Cloutier and Louise Arbour.

Became a father for the 1st time at age 27 when his wife Tracy Pollan gave birth to their son Sam Michael Fox on May 30, 1989.

Became a father for the 2nd and 3rd time at age 33 when his wife Tracy Pollan gave birth to their daughters Aquinnah Kathleen Fox and Schuyler Phyllis Fox on February 15, 1995.

Became a father for the 4th time at age 40 when his wife Tracy Pollan gave birth to their daughter Esme Annabelle Fox on November 3, 2001.

His acting mentor was Gary David Goldberg.

He has Irish, English, and Scottish ancestry.

Becomes the 2209th actor that puts his star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on December 16, 2002.

Michael J. Fox is good friends with Boston Bruins Legend, Cam Neely. He attended the retirement of Cam Neelys number on January 12th, 2004 at the Fleet Center in Boston.

He has two roles in common with David Kaufman : (1) Fox played Marty McFly in Back to the Future , Back to the Future Part II , Back to the Future Part III and Back to the Future: The Game - Episode 5, Outatime while Kaufman played him in "Back to the Future" and Fox played Stuart Little in Stuart Little , Stuart Little 2 and Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild while Kaufman played him in "Stuart Little" .

Was mentioned by Eminem in the songs "Cold Wind Blows" and "Wont Back Down".

Pain is temporary, film is forever.

In every aspect, I have been blessed with the opportunity to work toward,leaving an impact on the world and on the lives around me and to be a,partner in the critical research for answers.

A creative mess is better than idle tidiness.

After a year or so, I really thought I was Howard Hughes. Here I was at,eighteen years old, getting all these checks. . .

My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in inverse proportion to my expectations.

What other people think of me is not my business.

When life takes away, something of greater value is always given in return.

And the second [thing about the CBS EVENING NEWS that stands out in the mind of Michael J. Fox] was something Katie did later in the interview, as the drugs kicked in and the tremors segued into the jerkiness of dyskinesias. Somewhere in the contortions of making a point, my left arm detached the microphone clip from my jacket lapel. With no fuss and hardly a break in conversation or eye contact, she calmly leaned over and refastened it. Neither of us commented on it, but it was such an empathetic gesture, so far from anything patronizing or pitying, a simple kindness that allowed me the dignity to carry on making a point more important than the superficiality of my physical circumstance. . . . . . One thing was abundantly clear though, whether or not she was able to forget how much she liked me: with that single act of consideration, she made it abundantly clear how much she loved her father.

I have no argument with those who see in organized religion a template or an imperative to live life according to a prescribed set of beliefs. Just give others the room, within the laws of civil society, to believe or not believe whatever they like.

The reflected version of myself, wet, shaking, rumpled, pinched and slightly stooped, would be alarming were it not for the self-satisfied expression pasted across my face. I would ask the obvious question, "What are you smiling about?" but I already know the answer: "It just gets better from here".

The American political experience can therefore be viewed as optimism in the collective.

You suffer the blow, but you capitalize on the opportunity left in its wake.

Zoos are becoming facsimiles - or perhaps caricatures - of how animals once were in their natural habitat. If the right policies toward nature were pursued, we would need no zoos at all.

It’s all about control. Control is illusory. No matter what university you go to, no matter what degree you hold, if your goal is to become master of your own destiny, you have more to learn. Parkinson’s is a perfect metaphor for lack of control. Every unwanted movement in my hand or arm, every twitch that I cannot anticipate or arrest, is a reminder that even in the domain of my own being, I am not calling the shots. I tried to exert control by drinking myself to a place of indifference, which just exacerbated the sense of miserable hopelessness.

I think I benefited from being equal parts ambitious and curious. And of the two, curiosity has served me best.

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it saved my ass.

What other people think about me is not my business.

My view of life is colored by humor and looking at the best in any situation.

I think the scariest person in the world is the person with no sense of humor.

Medical science has proven time and again that when the resources are provided, great progress in the treatment, cure, and prevention of disease can occur.