A Brief Romance Between Michael J. Fox and Nancy McKeon Led to a Lasting Friendship

Michael J. Fox has long been pals with Doug Savant, as they met via The Facts of Life star Nancy McKeon, who Fox dated in the mid-1980s.

Savant, 61, recently discussed his enduring friendship with Fox, 64, in a conversation with People during Lifetime’s Summer Soirée event, which took place at the Santa Monica Proper Hotel on July 16.

Savant spoke with the outlet in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the August 1985 release of the comedy Teen Wolf.

Savant, who later gained fame in the 1990s for his role as Matt Fielding on the nighttime drama Melrose Place, initially acted alongside Fox as a newcomer in the film. 

In the 1980s, Fox was a major celebrity, known for his portrayal of Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties and his iconic role as time traveler Marty McFly in the Back to the Future series.

In the movie, Savant portrayed of Brad, a classmate and basketball teammate of Fox’s lead character, Scott Howard, a teenage high school student who had the ability to transform into a wolf.

Savant expounded to the outlet about his connection to Fox through McKeon – and how it tied into his Southern California roots.

‘I grew up in Burbank, California, and I went to school with Philip McKeon and Nancy McKeon – Nancy McKeon from Facts of Life and Phil McKeon from Alice,’ Savant said. ‘And we were dear friends.’

Savant said that he didn’t tell Fox about his connection with McKeon, 59, specifically in an effort not to bother the star.

‘I just wanted to do my job and be professional, but I had not said anything, said Savant, who also is known for playing Tom Scavo on the hit ABC series Desperate Housewives.

Savant said that a week into production, Fox figured out the connection and confronted him about it.

‘He went home and Nancy asked, “Who’s in the movie with you? Let me see the call sheet.” And she said, “Doug Savant? We were family friends.”‘

Savant added, ‘One day, Michael comes to work, he says, “Why didn’t you tell me that?” He was upset with me that I had not told him.’ 

After that, a fast friendship formed, according to Savant, who said that he ‘had a great time’ working with the beloved actor on Teen Wolf.

Savant said that he looks back with nostalgia on his work on the motion picture: ‘I have such great memories from that film.’

He added of the movie’s longevity: ‘The movie has had a stunning lifetime, and people love it.

‘They made sequels, and it resonated. So I’m just grateful to have been a small part of it.

Savant said the movie was on TV while he was working on a new project and jarred his nostalgia.

He recalled: ‘The craft service person would play movies, and he puts on Teen Wolf. And there I was doing my job on a new show, but watching Teen Wolf in the craft service trailer.’

Fox in 1985 met actress Tracy Pollan, who worked with him on Family Ties, but ‘their relationship remained platonic, however, as they were both dating other people at the time,’ People reported.

They commenced dating after working together again on the 1988 movie Bright Lights, Big City, and married that same year.

Fox and Pollan are parents to four adult children: son Sam Michael, 36, twin daughters Aquinnah Kathleen and Schuyler Frances, 30, and daughter Esmé Annabelle, 23. 

The Back To The Future star was 29 in 1991 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and went public with the information in 1998. He has spent the years since working tirelessly on charitable efforts toward funding research with a cure in mind.