Wissenswertes

Negotiated the deal for Familienbande (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 sitcom role.

Has forbidden any of his children to quit high school for Hollywood, demanding that they at least finish high school and maybe attend 1-2 years of college.

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".

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 disease.

On account of his suffering from Parkinson's disease, during his run on Chaos City (1996), he often hid his left hand in his pocket.

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

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

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!".

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

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".

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 fired 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 fourth time, at age 40, when his wife, Tracy Pollan, gave birth to their daughter, Esmé Fox (Esme Annabelle Fox), on November 3, 2001.

As he revealed in his autobiography "Lucky Man", he happened to be sitting right next to Princess Diana at the world premiere of Zurück in die Zukunft (1985).

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.

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

Familienbande (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 Familienbande (1982).

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

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.

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 Familienbande (1982).

Fox became a United States citizen in 1999 but retains his Canadian citizenship.

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

Has a theatre named after him located in his hometown of Burnaby, Brtitish Columbia, Canada.

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

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

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

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

Accidentally injured co-star James Woods' finger on the movie scenery of Auf die harte Tour (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.

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 Familienbande (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. (Juni 2002)

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on December 16, 2002.

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

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 Zurück in die Zukunft (1985), Marty informs an incredulous Doc Brown that Ronald Reagan, the actor, becomes the President of the United States. In Zurück in die Zukunft II (1989), Marty goes into the Cafe 80's, which is "hosted" by a computer-generated video image of President Reagan. In Zurück in die Zukunft 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.

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.

Became a father for the second and third 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.

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

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).

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

In 2020, Fox published his latest memoir, "No Time Like the Future", in which he reflects on the advancement of both his medical condition and his personal life with it.

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.

His acting mentor was Gary David Goldberg.

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

He has appeared in one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant": Zurück in die Zukunft (1985).

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.

He donated many items to Rocky Stone to be given to less fortunate children as part of the annual CTV television network "Toy Mountain" campaign at Christmastime.