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Michael J. Fox first became a household name in 1982 thanks to his role on the hit NBC sitcom Family Ties, and his career has continued to flourish over the past four decades.
The actor, best known for his iconic role in Back to the Future, was born in Alberta, Canada, in June 1961. He embarked on his acting journey at the age of 16 with a role in the Canadian TV series Leo and Me. In 1979, Fox made the pivotal decision to relocate to Los Angeles, where he soon landed the breakthrough role of Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties, a show that ran from 1982 to 1989. This role as the “Young Republican” earned him three Emmy Awards in 1986, 1987, and 1989.
In a candid interview with PBS in May 2023, Fox reflected on his meteoric rise: “I was still pretty fresh off being an 11th-grade dropout. Literally, in three years, I go from being the kid stuffed in lockers to having a conversation with Steven Spielberg about doing his next movie. Doesn’t happen.”
It was on the set of Family Ties that Fox met Tracy Pollan, who would become his wife. The couple married in 1988 and have since welcomed four children: son Samuel in 1989, twin daughters Aquinnah and Schuyler in 1995, and daughter Esmé in 2001.
In 1991, Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a revelation he shared publicly eight years later. Although he retired from acting in 2020, Fox remains a staunch advocate for Parkinson’s research, having established a foundation in his name dedicated to the cause.
Keep scrolling for a look back at Fox’s life and career over the years: