Trivia

Negotiated the deal for Family Ties (1982) 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 (1982) role.

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, you're 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".

Was not the first choice to play Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties (1982). He was only chosen after Matthew Broderick, who was originally considered for the role, refused to have a long-term television obligation.

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.

Due to his suffering from Parkinson's Disease, during his run on Spin City (1996), he often hid his left hand in his pocket.

When filming Doc Hollywood (1991), he noticed his finger twitching. He was unable to control it. He then saw a doctor and was diagnosed with Parkinson's.

According to an interview with Fox, when he realized he couldn't register as Michael Fox due to another actor (Michael Fox), he decided to use the middle initial J instead of his own A because he didn't want teen magazines to use headlines such as "Michael, A Fox!".

Originally, 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.

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

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

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 (1985).

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

There was a pub in London, Ontario, called "The Alex P. Keaton" in honor of his character on Family Ties (1982). It has since closed.

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

In his book "Always Looking Up" (2009), 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 Concorde 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.

Family Ties (1982) 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.

Met his wife, Tracy Pollan, on his situation comedy Family Ties (1982).

In 2010, he was given an honorary doctorate by Sweden's 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 Parkinson's disease.

Revealed in the December 7, 1998, issue of People magazine he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991.

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

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 (1982).

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

Fox became a US citizen in 1999.

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.

Announced he is leaving Spin City (1996) because of Parkinson's disease. (January 2000)

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

Accidentally injured co-star James Woods's finger on the set of The Hard Way (1991). Woods was throwing him into a popcorn machine when his finger got caught in the button hole of Fox's jacket and dislocated it.

Michael was the first guest on The Daily Show (1996) when Jon Stewart took over as host on January 11, 1999.

NBC President Brandon Tartikoff didn't initially like him because he couldn't see his face looking good on a lunch box. Ironically, Fox did not allow this type of marketing when Family Ties (1982) became popular.

His quote, "Pain is temporary, film is forever", is from the comedy movie Three O'Clock High (1987).

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

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

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 (1985), 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 (1989), 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 (1990), Michael almost got to work with Reagan himself. By this time, Reagan's 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 Reagan's first public office, that of Governor of California). Reagan declined.

He was James Cagney's choice to play him if ever a film were made about his life.

Received his General Educational Development degree in 1995.

In 1982, appeared on the first episode of the Peter Marshall wish-fulfilling series Fantasy (1982). Marshall mentioned that Fox was a great fan of James Cagney, then drew Fox's attention to a video screen. Cagney appeared in a taped statement, telling Fox "Keep a-goin'!" This brought tears to Fox's 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.

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

He has Irish, English, and Scottish ancestry.

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.

Received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto, Ontario, in September 2008.

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.

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

Ranked #23 in TV Guide's list of "TV's 25 Greatest Teen Idols" (January 23, 2005 issue).

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

His acting mentor was Gary David Goldberg.

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

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 shirt's words and design were both references to Fox's famous role in the "Back to the Future" movies.

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