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1 | Was mentioned by Eminem in the songs "Cold Wind Blows" and "Won't Back Down". |
2 | He has two roles in common with David Kaufman: (1) Fox played Marty McFly in Back to the Future (1985), Back to the Future Part II (1989), Back to the Future Part III (1990) and Back to the Future: The Game - Episode 5, Outatime (2011) while Kaufman played him in Back to the Future (1991) and (2) Fox played Stuart Little in Stuart Little (1999), Stuart Little 2 (2002) and Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild (2005) while Kaufman played him in Stuart Little (2003). |
3 | Michael J. Fox is good friends with Boston Bruin's Legend, Cam Neely. He attended the retirement of Cam Neely's number on January 12th, 2004 at the Fleet Center in Boston. |
4 | Becomes the 2209th actor that puts his star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on December 16, 2002. |
5 | He has Irish, English, and Scottish ancestry. |
6 | His acting mentor was Gary David Goldberg. |
7 | Became a father for the 4th time at age 40 when his wife Tracy Pollan gave birth to their daughter Esme Annabelle Fox on November 3, 2001. |
8 | 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. |
9 | Became a father for the 1st time at age 27 when his wife Tracy Pollan gave birth to their son Sam Michael Fox on May 30, 1989. |
10 | Pictured on one of a set of four nondenominated ("permanent") Canadian postage stamps commemorating Difference Makers, issued 22 May 2012. Others honored in this issue were Rick Hansen, Sheila Watt-Cloutier and Louise Arbour. |
11 | His quote, "Pain is temporary, film is forever", is from the comedy movie Three O'Clock High (1987). |
12 | 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". |
13 | Was considered for the role of Conrad in Ordinary People (1980) but Timothy Hutton, who went on to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance, was cast instead. |
14 | 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 Concord 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. |
15 | 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. |
16 | 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. |
17 | 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. |
18 | His father William Fox died on January 6, 1990. |
19 | Brother-in-law of Michael Pollan. |
20 | Longtime friends with Denis Leary. They both share a love of hockey. |
21 | Michael was the first guest on The Daily Show (1996) when Jon Stewart took over as host on January 11, 1999. |
22 | 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). |
23 | 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". |
24 | Michael J. Fox was invited by Sandeep Marwah President AAFT to visit the Asian Academy of Film and Television in film city Noida, India to interact with film and acting students. |
25 | Received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto, Ontario in September 2008. |
26 | Received an honorary degree (Doctor of Laws) from the University of British Columbia on May 22, 2008. |
27 | Received an honorary degree (Doctor of Fine Arts) from New York University in May 2008. |
28 | Met his wife, Tracy Pollan, on his situation comedy Family Ties (1982). |
29 | He and his wife paid $6,300,000 for a newly built, six-bedroom house in Quogue, New York (2008). |
30 | 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. |
31 | Once lived in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. |
32 | Having both American and Canadian passports, he also lived near the Nantucket Bay area of the Eastern United States. |
33 | He donated many items to Rocky Stone to be given to less fortunate kids as part of the Toy Mountain Campaign. |
34 | 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). |
35 | 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. |
36 | Ranked #23 in TV Guide's list of "TV's 25 Greatest Teen Idols" (January 23, 2005 issue). |
37 | Due to his suffering from Parkinson's Disease, during his run on Spin City (1996), he often hid his left hand in his pocket. |
38 | There is a pub in London, Ontario, called "The Alex P. Keaton" in honor of his character on Family Ties (1982). |
39 | 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. |
40 | He, Jim Carrey and the late Raymond Burr head the list of top Canadians in American television compiled by Banff Television Festival. [June 2002] |
41 | Announced he is leaving Spin City (1996) because of Parkinson's disease. [January 2000] |
42 | Orginally, 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. |
43 | 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. |
44 | 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. |
45 | 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. |
46 | 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. |
47 | Received a star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on December 16, 2002. |
48 | He was on Planet Hollywood's Wall of Fame. |
49 | Received his first guitar for Christmas when he was 8. He taught himself how to play. |
50 | Received his General Educational Development in 1995. |
51 | Has a theatre named after him located in his hometown of Burnaby, Brtitish Columbia, Canada. |
52 | 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. |
53 | 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. |
54 | Has written his own book titled "Lucky Man" about Parkinson's and other things he has to deal with in life. |
55 | 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. |
56 | Younger sister is stage (Stratford and Shaw Festivals) and television actress Kelli Fox. |
57 | Is a vegetarian. |
58 | According to an interview with Fox, he originally 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!". |
59 | 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. |
60 | Quit high school before graduating from his senior year. Has said he regrets quitting high school as a "stupid youthful mistake". |
61 | Owned a black Ferrari Mondial coupe (1987). |
62 | Adopted the "J." as an homage to character actor Michael J. Pollard. |
63 | Parents are William and Phyllis Fox. |
64 | Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1985" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 37. |
65 | Revealed in the December 7, 1998 issue of People magazine that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991. |
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