Michael J. Fox is a Canadian-American actor and activist best known for his portrayal of Marty McFly in the immensely successful Back to the Future film trilogy. Rising to international fame in the 1980s, Fox became one of the most recognizable and beloved screen personalities of his generation. In later years, he transformed his public identity through his openness about Parkinson’s disease and his global advocacy for medical research.

Early Life and Background

Michael J. Fox was born on June 9, 1961, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to Phyllis Piper and William Fox. His birth name is Michael Andrew Fox. His father served in the Canadian Armed Forces, which required the family to relocate frequently during his childhood.

Fox moved to Los Angeles at the age of 18 to pursue an acting career, leaving high school before graduating. His family later settled in Vancouver. In recognition of his early professional achievements, he was awarded an honorary high school diploma in 1984 from John Dewey High School in New York.

Early Career and Television Breakthrough

Michael J. Fox began acting professionally as a teenager. At the age of 15, he appeared in the Canadian television series Leo and Me, where he portrayed a character younger than his actual age. This role brought him early attention within Canadian television.

His major breakthrough came with the American sitcom Family Ties, where he portrayed Alex P. Keaton. Acting alongside Meredith Baxter, Michael Gross, and Justine Bateman, Fox became a household name. His performance earned critical acclaim and firmly established him as one of television’s most prominent young actors of the 1980s.

Back to the Future and Global Stardom

In 1985, Michael J. Fox achieved global fame with his starring role as Marty McFly in Back to the Future, directed by Robert Zemeckis. The film became a cultural phenomenon and redefined the science-fiction comedy genre.

Fox starred opposite Christopher Lloyd, who portrayed the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, and worked closely with Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover. He reprised the role of Marty McFly in Back to the Future Part II (1989) and Back to the Future Part III (1990), portraying multiple generations of the McFly family. The trilogy remains one of the most influential franchises in film history.

Film Career Expansion

Alongside his work in the trilogy, Michael J. Fox starred in a wide range of films throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. He appeared in Teen Wolf, The Secret of My Success, Bright Lights, Big City, and the Vietnam War drama Casualties of War, directed by Brian De Palma and co-starring Sean Penn.

In the 1990s, he continued to balance comedy and drama with films such as Doc Hollywood, The Hard Way—in which he starred opposite James Woods—and The American President, working alongside Michael Douglas and Annette Bening.

Spin City and Health Challenges

In 1996, Michael J. Fox returned to television as the lead in the political comedy series Spin City, portraying Mike Flaherty. His performance earned him three consecutive Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor in a Television Comedy Series.

However, during the show’s fourth season, Fox was forced to step away due to the progression of Parkinson’s disease. He had been diagnosed in 1991 at the age of 29 but publicly disclosed his condition in 1998.

Advocacy and Later Life

In 2000, Michael J. Fox retired from full-time acting and founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Through the foundation, he became one of the most influential advocates for Parkinson’s research worldwide, raising approximately $78 million between 2000 and 2006 to support treatment development and early diagnosis initiatives.

Although largely retired from acting, Fox has made selective appearances in television and film and remains an influential public figure through writing, speaking engagements, and activism.

Personal Life

Michael J. Fox married actress Tracy Pollan on July 16, 1988. The couple has four children: Sam Michael Fox (born 1989), twin daughters Aquinnah Kathleen Fox and Schuyler Frances Fox (born 1995), and Esmé Annabelle Fox (born 2001). He resides in Brooklyn, New York.

Awards and Honors

1998 – Golden Globe Awards – Best Actor in a Television Series (Comedy or Musical), Spin City
1999 – Golden Globe Awards – Best Actor in a Television Series (Comedy or Musical), Spin City
2000 – Golden Globe Awards – Best Actor in a Television Series (Comedy or Musical), Spin City

Michael J. Fox is widely regarded not only as a defining actor of 1980s popular cinema but also as one of the most respected public advocates for neurological research, turning personal adversity into lasting global impact.

Filmography

Actor
2013 – Drew: The Man Behind the Poster
2005 – Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild – Stuart Little (voice)
2004 – Boston Legal – Daniel Post (TV Series)
2002 – Stuart Little 2 – Stuart Little
2002 – Interstate 60 – Mr. Baker
2001 – Atlantis: The Lost Empire – Milo James Thatch (voice)
1999 – Stuart Little – Stuart Little
1997 – Walt Disney World’s 25th Anniversary – Himself (TV Film)
1996 – Mars Attacks! – Jason Stone
1996 – Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco – Chance (voice)
1996 – Spin City – Mike Flaherty (TV Series)
1996 – The Frighteners – Frank Bannister
1995 – Blue in the Face – Pete Maloney
1995 – The American President – Lewis Rothschild
1994 – Greedy – Daniel McTeague
1993 – Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey – Chance (voice)
1993 – Life with Mikey – Michael Chapman
1993 – For Love or Money – Doug Ireland
1991 – The Hard Way – Nick Lang
1991 – Doc Hollywood – Dr. Benjamin Stone
1990 – Back to the Future Part III – Marty McFly / Seamus McFly / Marlene McFly
1990 – The Secrets of the Back to the Future Trilogy – Himself / Marty McFly (archive footage) (TV Film)
1989 – Casualties of War – Max Eriksson
1989 – Back to the Future Part II – Marty McFly
1988 – Bright Lights, Big City – Jamie Conway
1987 – Light of Day – Joe Rasnick
1987 – Biography – Himself (TV Series)
1987 – The Secret of My Success – Brantley Foster / Carlton Whitfield
1985 – Teen Wolf – Scott Howard
1985 – Back to the Future – Marty McFly
1983 – High School U.S.A. – Jay-Jay Manners (TV Film)
1982 – Class of 1984 – Arthur
1982 – Family Ties – Alex P. Keaton (TV Series)
1980 – Midnight Madness – Scott Larson
1976 – Leo and Me – Jamie (TV Series)

Source: Biyografiler.com