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Michael J. Fox Biography

Birth Name:Michael Andrew Fox

Birth Place:Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Producer, Director, Writer

Fast Facts

  • Received the 2017 Governor General Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement
  • Was awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Karolinska Institutet, New York University, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the University of British Columbia
  • Received the Casting Society of America New York Apple Award in 2013
  • Started The Michael J․ Fox Foundation in an effort to help support research for a cure to Parkinson's disease
  • Was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2010
  • Got married to actress Tracy Pollan in 1988
  • After moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting, he survived on eating boxes of macaroni and cheese due to the lack of roles he was being offered
  • Got his start in acting in the series "Leo and Me․"
  • Quote: "I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection․ Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God's business․"
  • Frequently portrays characters who are easygoing, nice guys
  • Only got the role on "Family Ties" after Matthew Broderick turned down the part
  • Quit high school his senior year, but he earned his G․E․D․ in 1995
  • While shooting "Back to the Future," he would spend eight hours on the set of "Family Ties," and rush to the film set where he would shoot until 2:30 A․M
  • Added "J" to his name in honor of actor Michael J․ Pollard
  • Is a dual citizen of both Canada and the United States

Awards

  • 1985Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1986Saturn Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1986Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1986Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1986Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: winner
  • 1986Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 1986Q Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Comedy Series: winner
  • 1987Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1987Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 1987Q Award-Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series: winner
  • 1988Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1988Blimp Award-Favorite TV Actor: winner
  • 1988Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 1989Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1989Kids' Choice Award-Favorite TV Actor: nominated
  • 1989Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1990Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: nominated
  • 1990Blimp Award-Favorite Movie Actor: winner
  • 1996American Comedy Award-Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1997Saturn Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1997Chainsaw Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1997Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1997Blimp Award-Favorite Television Actor: nominated
  • 1997Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1997Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1998Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1998OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1998Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1998Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1999Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 1999American Comedy Award-Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication: nominated
  • 1999Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1999OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1999Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1999Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1999TV Guide Award-Favorite Actor in a Comedy: nominated
  • 2000Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2000American Comedy Award-Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication: nominated
  • 2000Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 2000Blimp Award-Favorite Television Actor: nominated
  • 2000Blimp Award-Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie: nominated
  • 2000OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2000TV Guide Award-Favorite Actor in a Comedy: nominated
  • 2004Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actor: nominated
  • 2004OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2006Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actor: nominated
  • 2006OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2007TV Land Award-Break Up That Was So Bad It Was Good: nominated
  • 2008TV Land Award-Character You'd Pay to Do Your Homework for You: winner
  • 2009Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actor: nominated
  • 2009OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actor of the Decade: nominated
  • 2011INOCA TV-Best Guest Actor in a Drama or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2011OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actor: nominated
  • 2012Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actor: nominated
  • 2012OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2012OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012People's Choice Award-Favorite TV Guest Star: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2013Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actor: nominated
  • 2013OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2014Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2015Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actor: winner
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2016Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2016OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actor of the Decade: nominated
  • 2022OFTA Film Hall of Fame-Character: winner
  • 2023Critics' Choice Documentary Award-Best Narration: winner
  • 2023OFTA TV Hall of Fame-Character: winner
  • 2024Cinema Eye Honors Award-The Unforgettables: winner