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01
Negotiated the deal for Family Ties from a phone booth outside a now defunct Pioneer Chicken restaurant in Hollywood because he had no phone at home. He told the network to call between four and five; he waited and secured the sitcom role.
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02
Has forbidden any of his children to quit high school for Hollywood, insisting they at least finish high school and consider one to two years of college.
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03
Because of his Parkinson’s disease, during his run on Spin City he often hid his left hand in his pocket.
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04
When he told a teacher he was dropping out of high school to pursue acting, the teacher said, ‘Fox, you’re not going to be cute forever. Fox replied, Maybe just long enough, sir. He later added on David Letterman’s show, it turns out we were both right.
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05
While filming Doc Hollywood in 1991, he noticed his finger twitching uncontrollably and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
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06
Quit high school before senior year and later regretted it as a stupid youthful mistake.
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07
Was not the first choice to play Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties; the role went to him only after Matthew Broderick declined a long-term television commitment.
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08
A pub in London, Ontario called The Alex P. Keaton honored his character on Family Ties; it has since closed.
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09
Admits he once lived and worked in the United States illegally and would not return to Canada for fear of being denied re-entry. He hired immigration lawyers to resolve his status.
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10
Became a father for the fourth time at age 40 when wife Tracy Pollan gave birth to daughter Esmé on November 3, 2001.
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11
Added the middle initial J. instead of his own A. to avoid teen magazine headlines like Michael, A Fox! and to honor character actor Michael J. Pollard.
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12
Originally, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale could not get Fox for Back to the Future due to scheduling; Eric Stoltz was cast but fired after six weeks, and Fox then accepted the role of Marty McFly.
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13
Sat next to Princess Diana at the world premiere of Back to the Future in 1985, as revealed in his autobiography Lucky Man.
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14
After his first audition for Family Ties, creator Gary David Goldberg disliked his smart-alecky portrayal, but casting director Judith Weiner advocated for a second chance; Fox approached it differently and got the role.
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15
In 2000, he and his family flew from Paris to New York on a Concorde on a Monday, the day before the Concorde crash occurred. They had originally considered Tuesday’s flight.
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16
Met his wife, Tracy Pollan, on the set of Family Ties where she played his girlfriend.
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17
Received his first guitar for Christmas at age 8 and taught himself to play.
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18
Received an honorary doctorate from Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet in 2010 for his work advocating a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
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19
Adopted the J. as an homage to character actor Michael J. Pollard.
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20
Became a United States citizen in 1999 while retaining Canadian citizenship.
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21
As a struggling actor in Hollywood, he sold half of a sectional couch to a neighbor and paperbacks to a bookstore for cash to buy groceries; he also borrowed money from his parents for rent shortly before landing Family Ties.
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22
Revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis in the December 7, 1998 issue of People magazine.
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23
Became a father for the first time at age 27 when wife Tracy Pollan gave birth to son Sam on May 30, 1989.
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24
Has a theatre named after him in his hometown of Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
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25
Longtime friends with Denis Leary; they share a love of hockey.
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26
Was the first guest on The Daily Show when Jon Stewart took over as host on January 11, 1999.
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27
Announced he was leaving Spin City because of his Parkinson’s disease.
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28
Given an honorary high school diploma from John Dewey High School in Brooklyn when he spoke at their graduation in 1984.
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29
Accidentally injured co-star James Woods’ finger on the set of The Hard Way; Woods’ finger got caught in a popcorn machine button hole and dislocated.
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30
NBC President Brandon Tartikoff didn’t initially like him, saying he couldn’t see his face looking good on a lunch box; ironically Fox later refused such marketing for Family Ties.
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31
Authored the book Lucky Man about Parkinson’s disease and other life challenges.
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32
His quote, Pain is temporary, film is forever, is from the comedy Three O’Clock High.
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33
Awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard on December 16, 2002.
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34
Was James Cagney’s choice to play him in a film about his life, but the film was never made.
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35
His best-known roles, Alex P. Keaton and Marty McFly, both contain numerous references to Ronald Reagan; in Back to the Future, Marty tells Doc Brown that Reagan becomes president.
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36
Received his General Educational Development degree in 1995.
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37
Appeared on the first episode of Fantasy in 1982, where James Cagney appeared in a taped message telling him Keep a-goin! and announced Fox would play him in a biopic that never materialized.
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38
Heads the list of top Canadians in American television compiled by Banff Television Festival, alongside Jim Carrey and the late Raymond Burr.
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39
Awarded a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in Toronto in September 2008.
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40
Became a father for the second and third time at age 33 when wife Tracy Pollan gave birth to twin daughters Aquinnah and Schuyler on February 15, 1995.
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41
Published his memoir No Time Like the Future in 2020, reflecting on his medical condition and personal life.
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42
Younger sister Kelli Fox is a stage and television actress.
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43
Has appeared in one film selected for the National Film Registry: Back to the Future.
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44
Raised nominally Anglican, he is now a member of a Reform Jewish congregation in New York; his wife Tracy was raised Jewish and their children are being raised Jewish.
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45
His acting mentor was Gary David Goldberg.
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46
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden on January 4, 2025 for his services to Parkinson’s disease research.
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47
Holds both American and Canadian passports and resided near the Nantucket Bay area.
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48
Good friends with Boston Bruins legend Cam Neely; attended the retirement of Neely’s number on January 12, 2004.
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49
Donated many items to Rocky Stone for the CTV Toy Mountain campaign at Christmastime.
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50
Ranked #23 in TV Guide’s list of ‘TV’s 25 Greatest Teen Idols’ January 23, 2005 issue.
