Michael J. Fox

MICHAEL J. FOX

Date of Birth: June 9, 1961

The Edmonton, Alberta born Fox began acting professionally at 15 on the CBC television series Leo and Me. He enjoyed acting enough to move to Los Angeles when he was 18, but at 5'4", he was easily overlooked by casting agents. He landed some roles in TV movies and on a short-lived but critically acclaimed television show, Palmerstown U.S.A.

At 21, he landed the role of Alex P. Keaton, the neo-conservative son, obsessed with money and politics in the television sitcom Family Ties; he won three Emmys for his portrayal of the teen-aged capitalist, and the show was a seven-year hit. It was also during this time that he met future wife Tracy Pollen (who played one of Alex's girlfriends on the show), who he wed in 1988. In 1985, he starred in the first installment of the hugely popular Back to the Future series, and his celluloid stock soared.

Fox's 1989 film, Casualties of War, in which he gave a strong performance, bombed, as did his next four flicks. He regained little of his lost glory with roles in Rob Reiner's The American President, Wayne Wang's Blue in the Face, and Tim Burton's Mars Attacks!, but fared significantly better back on the small screen, with a new television series called Spin City, in which he plays a wheeler-dealer New York City Deputy Mayor.

In November 1998, Fox revealed to People magazine that he had been secretly battling Parkinson's disease for the past seven years. The actor remains upbeat about his future, despite being afflicted with the crippling nerve disease, and believes a cure will found by the time he is 50.

In September 2008, he received an honorary star on the Canadian Walk of Fame. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2009 his autobiography entitled "Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist" was released.

Although his Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research takes up quite a bit of his time, he continues to act occasionally, including recurring roles on the TV series Scrubs, Boston Legal and Rescue Me.

Michael, who is a vegetarian, and his wife have four children.

Filmography:

Stuart Little 2 (2002) (voice)
Stuart Little (1999) (voice)
Mars Attacks! (1996)
The Frighteners (1996)
The American President (1995)
Coldblooded (1995)
Blue in the Face (1995)
Your Studio and You (1995)
Greedy (1994)
For Love or Money (1993)
Life with Mikey (1993)
Where the Rivers Flow North (1993)
Doc Hollywood (1991)
The Hard Way (1991)
Trap, The (1991) (TV)
Back to the Future Part III (1990)
Back to the Future Part II (1989)
Casualties of War (1989)
Bright Lights, Big City (1988)
The Return of Bruno (1988)
Light of Day (1987)
Back to the Future (1985)
Teen Wolf (1985)
Class of 1984 (1982)
Midnight Madness (1980)