Photo: Everett
Here, on his 62nd birthday, take a look at his incredible life and career in photos, from his celebrated work in Hollywood to his Parkinson’s disease activism.
01of 26Michael J. Fox’s Early YearsNBC/NBCU Photo Bank/GettyFox eventually adopted the J. in his name as there was already an actor named “Michael Fox,” and didn’t like the insinuation of his name being"Michael A Fox.“He chose “J” as an homage to the actor, Michael J. Pollard.
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Michael J. Fox’s Early Years
NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty
Fox eventually adopted the J. in his name as there was already an actor named “Michael Fox,” and didn’t like the insinuation of his name being"Michael A Fox.“He chose “J” as an homage to the actor, Michael J. Pollard.
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Michael J. Fox on ‘Family Ties’
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03of 26Michael J. Fox with Justine BatemanNBCU Photo BankFox starred alongsideJustine Bateman, who played his sister, Mallory. The show ran for seven seasons and won the actor threeEmmy Awardsand his first Golden Globe.
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Michael J. Fox with Justine Bateman
NBCU Photo Bank
Fox starred alongsideJustine Bateman, who played his sister, Mallory. The show ran for seven seasons and won the actor threeEmmy Awardsand his first Golden Globe.
04of 26Michael J. Fox Meets His Future Wife, Tracy PollanUniversal Studios/GettyFox’s time onFamily Tieswould turn out to be life-changing in more ways than one. In 1985, he met his wife,Tracy Pollan, when she landed a role on the show playing a love interest for his character.Though the two had on-screen chemistry, they remained friends at first, as Fox was in a relationship with actressNancy McKeonand Pollan was dating actorKevin Bacon.
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Michael J. Fox Meets His Future Wife, Tracy Pollan
Universal Studios/Getty
Fox’s time onFamily Tieswould turn out to be life-changing in more ways than one. In 1985, he met his wife,Tracy Pollan, when she landed a role on the show playing a love interest for his character.
Though the two had on-screen chemistry, they remained friends at first, as Fox was in a relationship with actressNancy McKeonand Pollan was dating actorKevin Bacon.
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FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty
06of 26Michael J. Fox in ‘Teen Wolf’Wolfkill/Kobal/ShutterstockThat same year, Fox starred in another fan favorite,Teen Wolf,in which he played Scott Howard, a teen who learns he is part canine.
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Michael J. Fox in ‘Teen Wolf’
Wolfkill/Kobal/Shutterstock
That same year, Fox starred in another fan favorite,Teen Wolf,in which he played Scott Howard, a teen who learns he is part canine.
07of 26Michael J. Fox Wins an Emmy AwardGetty Images/Bob Riha, Jr.Fox won his first Emmy in 1986 (he’s pictured here alongside that year’s best actress winner, Betty White, forThe Golden Girls).
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Michael J. Fox Wins an Emmy Award
Getty Images/Bob Riha, Jr.
Fox won his first Emmy in 1986 (he’s pictured here alongside that year’s best actress winner, Betty White, forThe Golden Girls).
08of 26Michael J. Fox at the OscarsRon Galella/Ron Galella Collection via GettyIn 1986, the actor was tasked with presenting the Oscar for Best Art Direction alongside actress Rebecca DeMornay.
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Michael J. Fox at the Oscars
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
In 1986, the actor was tasked with presenting the Oscar for Best Art Direction alongside actress Rebecca DeMornay.
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10of 26Michael J. Fox Marries Tracy PollanRon Galella/Ron Galella Collection via GettyAfter they were both cast in the filmBright Lights,Fox and Pollan, who were both single, reunited and began dating in 1987. Not long after,Fox popped the question,and in July 1988 they were married.
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Michael J. Fox Marries Tracy Pollan
After they were both cast in the filmBright Lights,Fox and Pollan, who were both single, reunited and began dating in 1987. Not long after,Fox popped the question,and in July 1988 they were married.
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Michael J. Fox and His Kids
Diane Cohen/Getty
Here, the family poses together at the premiere ofAtlantis: The Lost Empirein 2001.
12of 26Michael J. Fox Hosts ‘Saturday Night Live’Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GettyFox hostedSaturday Night Liveon March 16, 1991, with musical guest The Black Crowes. Here, he’s seen in a skit entitled “Jasper the Stinging Clown” alongside cast member Phil Hartman.
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Michael J. Fox Hosts ‘Saturday Night Live’
Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Fox hostedSaturday Night Liveon March 16, 1991, with musical guest The Black Crowes. Here, he’s seen in a skit entitled “Jasper the Stinging Clown” alongside cast member Phil Hartman.
13of 26Michael J. Fox on ‘Spin City’Michael J. Fox onSpin City.Everett CollectionIn 1996, Fox returned to television to play Mike Flaherty, the Deputy Mayor of New York City, inSpin City. He would leave the series in 2000 after four seasons, though returned for three episodes in season 6.
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Michael J. Fox on ‘Spin City’
Michael J. Fox onSpin City.Everett Collection
In 1996, Fox returned to television to play Mike Flaherty, the Deputy Mayor of New York City, inSpin City. He would leave the series in 2000 after four seasons, though returned for three episodes in season 6.
14of 26Michael J. Fox Wins a Golden GlobeSGranitz/WireImageFox has won a total of four Golden Globe awards for his work, first in 1989 forFamily Tiesand then three more back-to-back-to-back in 1998, 1999 and 2000 forSpin City.
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Michael J. Fox Wins a Golden Globe
SGranitz/WireImage
Fox has won a total of four Golden Globe awards for his work, first in 1989 forFamily Tiesand then three more back-to-back-to-back in 1998, 1999 and 2000 forSpin City.
15of 26Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s DiagnosisBill Davila/FilmMagicFox received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 1991, but chose not to share the news publicly until 1998.“It was seven or eight years after I had been diagnosed … [and] the paparazzi and stuff, they would stand outside my apartment and heckle at me, like, ‘What’s the matter with you?’ " Fox recalled in 2021 aboutwhat pushed him to sharehis diagnosis. “I said, ‘I can’t be making my neighbors deal with this,’ so I came out, and it was great. It was a great thing.“In May 2000, Fox launched theMichael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research,which since its inception has raised more than $1.5 billion to assist in finding a cure. Here, Fox attends the inaugural A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s Benefit in 2001.
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Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s Diagnosis
Bill Davila/FilmMagic
Fox received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 1991, but chose not to share the news publicly until 1998.
“It was seven or eight years after I had been diagnosed … [and] the paparazzi and stuff, they would stand outside my apartment and heckle at me, like, ‘What’s the matter with you?’ " Fox recalled in 2021 aboutwhat pushed him to sharehis diagnosis. “I said, ‘I can’t be making my neighbors deal with this,’ so I came out, and it was great. It was a great thing.”
In May 2000, Fox launched theMichael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research,which since its inception has raised more than $1.5 billion to assist in finding a cure. Here, Fox attends the inaugural A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s Benefit in 2001.
16of 26Michael J. Fox Joins the Hollywood Walk of FameAlbert L. Ortega/WireImageIn 2002, Fox received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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Michael J. Fox Joins the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Albert L. Ortega/WireImage
In 2002, Fox received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
17of 26Michael J. Fox and His Mother, Phyllis PiperNeilson Barnard/MJF2014/WireImageFox poses with his mom, Phyllis Piper, at A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to Cure Parkinson’s Benefit in 2014.In 2022, Fox opened up about his mother — who died in September of that year.“My mother lived a long, wonderful life. There was not a more revered woman,” Fox told PEOPLE. “She was a sweet person. You knew you’d get a fair hearing. And she loved to laugh — she laughed like crazy.”
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Michael J. Fox and His Mother, Phyllis Piper
Neilson Barnard/MJF2014/WireImage
Fox poses with his mom, Phyllis Piper, at A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to Cure Parkinson’s Benefit in 2014.
In 2022, Fox opened up about his mother — who died in September of that year.
“My mother lived a long, wonderful life. There was not a more revered woman,” Fox told PEOPLE. “She was a sweet person. You knew you’d get a fair hearing. And she loved to laugh — she laughed like crazy.”
18of 26Michael J. Fox Stars on the ‘Michael J. Fox Show’Eric Liebowitz/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GettyIn 2013, Fox began starring as Mike Henry on theMichael J. Fox Show.In the series, which only ran a season, Fox played a New York City news anchor who quits after his Parkinson’s diagnosis, though later decides to get back to work.
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Michael J. Fox Stars on the ‘Michael J. Fox Show’
Eric Liebowitz/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
In 2013, Fox began starring as Mike Henry on theMichael J. Fox Show.In the series, which only ran a season, Fox played a New York City news anchor who quits after his Parkinson’s diagnosis, though later decides to get back to work.
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Michael J. Fox Takes the Stage
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20of 26Michael J. Fox and His FamilyJamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesPollan and Fox posed with their four children at the A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s event in 2019.
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Michael J. Fox and His Family
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Pollan and Fox posed with their four children at the A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s event in 2019.
21of 26Michael J. Fox Plays the GuitarNoam Galai/Getty Images for The Michael J. Fox FoundationIn 2019, he also performed at his organization’s benefit — just one of the many times he’s been both host and entertainer at the event.
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Michael J. Fox Plays the Guitar
Noam Galai/Getty Images for The Michael J. Fox Foundation
In 2019, he also performed at his organization’s benefit — just one of the many times he’s been both host and entertainer at the event.
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Mike Coppola/Getty for ReedPop
“Chris is the best guy,” Fox toldEntertainment Tonightfollowing the special moment. “He’s gone from being this actor who I worked with, who I thought was funny and smart, to a guy who is like my brother, to a guy who is really like a father figure to me now.”
23of 26Michael J. Fox and Brad PaisleyJamie McCarthy/GettyFox shared a moment with Brad Paisley at his 2022 charity event in New York City.
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Michael J. Fox and Brad Paisley
Jamie McCarthy/Getty
Fox shared a moment with Brad Paisley at his 2022 charity event in New York City.
24of 26Michael J. Fox Wins an Honorary OscarKevin Winter/GettyIn 2022, Fox was awarded the the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award — an honorary Oscar — at the13th annual Governors Awards.ActorWoody Harrelsonpresented Foxwith the award.
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Michael J. Fox Wins an Honorary Oscar
Kevin Winter/Getty
In 2022, Fox was awarded the the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award — an honorary Oscar — at the13th annual Governors Awards.
ActorWoody Harrelsonpresented Foxwith the award.
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Michael J. Fox Premieres Documentary
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
Though Fox retired from acting in 2020, afterstruggling to remember his lineswhile filming a role onKiefer Sutherland’sDesignated Survivor,he hasn’t stopped working.
He has penned and releasednumerous memoirsover the years and on May 12 released his documentary,Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, to the world.
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Michael J. Fox at SXSW
Director Davis Guggenheim, Tracy Pollan, and Michael J. Fox.Rick Kern/FilmMagic
According to alogline for the piece, the film “incorporates documentary, archival and scripted elements, recounting Fox’s extraordinary story in his own words.”
Though the film will explore Fox’s “never-before-seen private journey, including the years that followed his diagnosis with Parkinson’s,“during a Q&A at the festival,Fox shared that it’s about so much more than that.
“David said early on, ‘I want to cover Parkinson’s, but I don’t want to make a movie about Parkinson’s.’ He made a movie about life,” explained Fox. “He made a conscientious decision not to make a movie about Parkinson’s.”
source: people.com
