64 Facts About Michael J. Fox for His Birthday

Today we celebrate the legend, the optimist, the time-traveling icon himself — Michael J. Fox. Born June 9, 1961, in Edmonton, Alberta, Fox didn’t just entertain us for decades, he inspired generations. Whether he was skateboarding through Hill Valley or advocating for Parkinson’s research, he always did it with heart, humor, and hope. So in honor of his birthday, here are 64 facts — one for each incredible year — about the man who made “Back to the Future” a place we never want to leave.

  1. Michael J. Fox’s real middle name is Andrew — he added the “J” as a tribute to actor Michael J. Pollard.
  2. He broke out as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties, which ran for seven seasons.
  3. NBC exec Brandon Tartikoff once said Fox didn’t have a “lunchbox face.” Fox later gave him a custom lunchbox with his face on it.
  4. He beat out Matthew Broderick for the role of Alex.
  5. He was cast as Marty McFly only after Eric Stoltz was fired from Back to the Future.
  6. Fox filmed Family Ties during the day and Back to the Future at night, running on 3 hours of sleep.
  7. Back to the Future was #1 at the box office for 8 weeks in 1985.
  8. He nearly died filming Part III when a hanging stunt went wrong — he passed out for 30 seconds.
  9. He was also the wolf in Teen Wolf — released the same year as BTTF!
  10. In The Secret of My Success, he played a Kansas kid navigating New York boardrooms — and nailed it.
  11. His first film was Midnight Madness in 1980.
  12. He starred in the Vietnam drama Casualties of War with Sean Penn.
  13. Fox voiced Chance the dog in Homeward Bound.
  14. He voiced Stuart Little in three animated films.
  15. He played an intrepid linguist in Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
  16. He starred in The Frighteners, directed by Peter Jackson.
  17. He led the ABC sitcom Spin City, winning an Emmy and multiple Golden Globes.
  18. Charlie Sheen took over after Fox left Spin City due to health concerns.
  19. His final major role was The Michael J. Fox Show in 2013.
  20. He’s guested on Scrubs, Boston Legal, Rescue Me, The Good Wife, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
  21. He played a shady lawyer in The Good Wife so convincingly, he got Emmy nods.
  22. He appeared in Designated Survivor in 2018.
  23. He made a cameo in the Back to the Future video game as future Marty.
  24. He appeared in Expedition: Back to the Future, a 2021 docuseries.
  25. In 2023, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie premiered on Apple TV+ — and it’s as powerful as anything he’s ever done.
  26. Fox was born in Edmonton and raised mostly in Burnaby, B.C.
  27. A theatre in Burnaby is named after him — the Michael J. Fox Theatre.
  28. He’s a dual citizen of Canada and the U.S.
  29. He was granted the Freedom of the City of Burnaby in 2010.
  30. He participated in the “I Am Canadian” segment at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
  31. His first big acting gig was the CBC show Leo and Me when he was just 16.
  32. He moved to L.A. at 18 with $3 in his pocket and a dream.
  33. He met his wife Tracy Pollan on Family Ties — she played his girlfriend Ellen.
  34. They married in 1988 and have four children.
  35. Fox gave up drinking in the early ‘90s after his Parkinson’s diagnosis.
  36. The family has lived in Vermont, Manhattan, Quogue, and Malibu.
  37. He calls Tracy his “eternal rock” in every interview.
  38. He’s a proud dog lover.
  39. Fox has said fatherhood is his “greatest role.”
  40. He endorsed Pete Buttigieg in the 2020 U.S. election.
  41. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 and went public in 1998.
  42. He founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000.
  43. His foundation has raised over $1.5 billion for Parkinson’s research.
  44. He testified before the U.S. Senate in 1999 — without taking medication to show the real effects of Parkinson’s.
  45. He campaigned for stem cell research in 2006 with a powerful TV ad.
  46. Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in 2007 and again in 2024.
  47. In 2022, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Oscars.
  48. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025.
  49. His foundation launched the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), a $100 million effort.
  50. He’s written four memoirs, all bestsellers.
  51. Fox has won 5 Emmy Awards.
  52. He has 4 Golden Globe Awards.
  53. He’s received 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards.
  54. He won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for Always Looking Up.
  55. He has stars on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Canada’s Walk of Fame.
  56. He holds honorary degrees from UBC, the Karolinska Institute, and more.
  57. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2010.
  58. He performed “Johnny B. Goode” live with Coldplay at Glastonbury in 2024.
  59. Back to the Future inspired the formation of Coldplay, according to Chris Martin.
  60. His hoverboard scene in Back to the Future Part II became legendary.
  61. His Marty McFly character influenced a generation of filmmakers and fans.
  62. He’s referenced in everything from Rick and Morty to Stranger Things.
  63. Even after retiring from acting, he remains a cultural force and public figure.
  64. He’s still the guy who made us believe time travel, optimism, and rock and roll could save the world.

Michael J. Fox gave us Marty McFly, Alex P. Keaton, Stuart Little, and a reason to believe that no matter what life throws at you, hope, humor, and heart can carry you through. His birthday is a celebration of resilience, love, and everything that makes being human pretty great.

Happy birthday, Michael. You’re still our density.