History of Michael J. Fox in Timeline
Michael J. Fox is a Canadian-American actor and activist who gained fame in the 1980s. He's widely known for his role as Alex P. Keaton in the sitcom *Family Ties* and as Marty McFly in the *Back to the Future* film trilogy. He starred in other films such as *Teen Wolf* and *The Secret of My Success*. Later, he led the sitcom *Spin City*. Fox is also recognized for his activism and advocacy related to Parkinson's disease, with which he was diagnosed in 1991.
July 16, 1988: Marriage to Tracy Pollan
Michael J. Fox married Tracy Pollan on July 16, 1988, at the West Mountain Inn in Arlington, Vermont.
1991: Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis
In 1991, Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Following his diagnosis he became an activist and started the Michael J. Fox Foundation to support Parkinson's research.
1991: Early Parkinson's Symptoms and Diagnosis
In early 1991, while shooting the film 'Doc Hollywood', Michael J. Fox began experiencing symptoms of early-onset Parkinson's disease and was diagnosed shortly afterward.
1992: Seeking Help for Alcoholism
In 1992, Michael J. Fox sought help for alcoholism and stopped drinking altogether.
1997: Apartment Purchase on Fifth Avenue
In 1997, Michael J. Fox purchased an apartment on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, where he lived with his family until 2020.
1998: Public Disclosure of Parkinson's Disease
In 1998, Michael J. Fox publicly disclosed his Parkinson's disease diagnosis and became a strong advocate for Parkinson's disease research.
1998: Thalamotomy
In 1998, Michael J. Fox underwent a thalamotomy to manage the symptoms of his Parkinson's disease.
1999: Life between 1999 and 2009
Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist, describes Michael J. Fox's life between 1999 and 2009
1999: Senate Testimony
In 1999, Michael J. Fox wrote in his book, 'Lucky Man', that he did not take his Parkinson's medication prior to his testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee.
2000: Acquisition of US Citizenship
In 2000, Michael J. Fox acquired US citizenship while retaining his Canadian citizenship.
2000: Induction into Canada's Walk of Fame
In 2000, Michael J. Fox was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.
April 2002: NPR Interview
In an April 2002 interview with NPR, Michael J. Fox shared details on how he manages his symptoms when he experiences them.
April 30, 2002: Fresh Air, NPR Interview
An interview of Michael J. Fox was aired on Fresh Air, NPR on April 30, 2002.
2002: Induction into Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 2002, Michael J. Fox was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2006: Campaign Ad for Claire McCaskill
In 2006, Michael J. Fox starred in a campaign ad for Claire McCaskill, who was then the State Auditor of Missouri. The ad supported embryonic stem cell research during her successful Senate campaign.
2007: House Purchase in Quogue, New York
In 2007, Michael J. Fox bought a 7,000-square-foot house in Quogue, New York, where he and his family lived part-time.
2007: Named One of Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2007, Michael J. Fox was named one of the 100 people "whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world" by Time magazine.
March 31, 2009: Appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show
On March 31, 2009, Michael J. Fox appeared on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' with Mehmet Oz, discussing his condition, book, family, and primetime special.
May 7, 2009: Airing of Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist
Michael J. Fox's primetime special, titled Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist, aired on May 7, 2009.
February 28, 2010: Appearance at 2010 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony
On February 28, 2010, Michael J. Fox delivered a light-hearted segment during the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony in Vancouver, expressing his pride in being Canadian.
March 5, 2010: Honorary Doctorate from Karolinska Institute
On March 5, 2010, Michael J. Fox received an honorary doctorate in medicine from Karolinska Institute for his contributions to Parkinson's disease research.
June 4, 2010: Freedom of the City of Burnaby
On June 4, 2010, the city of Burnaby granted Michael J. Fox the Freedom of the City.
2010: Appointed Officer of the Order of Canada
In 2010, Michael J. Fox was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.
2010: Leading $100-Million Effort to discover Parkinson's biological markers
Since 2010, Michael J. Fox has led a $100-million effort, which is the Foundation's landmark observational study, to discover the biological markers of Parkinson's disease with the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI).
2011: Appearance in Back to the Future Game
In 2011, Michael J. Fox lent his likeness to the in-game version of Marty McFly in the Back to the Future episodic adventure game, and also made a guest appearance as an elder version of Marty and his great-grandfather Willie McFly.
May 31, 2012: Honorary Degree from Justice Institute of British Columbia
On May 31, 2012, Michael J. Fox received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the Justice Institute of British Columbia for his acting accomplishments and commitment to raising awareness and funding for Parkinson's disease research.
2016: Listing of Farm in Sharon, Connecticut
In 2016, Michael J. Fox listed his estate on 80 acres of farmland in Sharon, Connecticut.
2016: Fundraising Raffle for Parkinson's Disease
In 2016, Michael J. Fox's organization created a raffle that raised $6.75 million for Parkinson's disease research, with support from Nike, Inc. through auctions in Hong Kong and London.
2020: Endorsement of Pete Buttigieg
In 2020, Michael J. Fox endorsed Pete Buttigieg prior to the United States presidential election.
2020: Release of Fourth Book
In 2020, Michael J. Fox released his fourth book, 'No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality'.
2020: Retirement from Acting and Memoir Release
In 2020, Michael J. Fox retired from acting due to the unreliability of his speech and memory loss. His memoir, 'No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality,' was released in November 2020.
2020: Speculation on Causes of Parkinson's
In 2020, Michael J. Fox speculated on potential causes of his Parkinson's disease, mentioning fishing near paper mills, visiting farms, and smoking marijuana treated with pesticides.
2020: Primary Residence in Manhattan until 2020
Michael J. Fox and his family lived primarily in an apartment on Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, until 2020.
2021: Television and Film Appearances
In 2021, Michael J. Fox appeared in one episode of 'Expedition: Back to the Future' and in the animated film 'Back Home Again'.
2021: Move to Santa Barbara and Malibu
In 2021, Michael J. Fox sold his house in Quogue and moved to Santa Barbara, California, with his family, and later took up residence in Malibu.
2022: Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
At the 2022 Governors Awards, Michael J. Fox received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his work in fighting Parkinson's, having raised over $1 billion for research.
May 12, 2023: Release of 'Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie'
On May 12, 2023, 'Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie', a documentary about Michael J. Fox's career and Parkinson's diagnosis, was released on Apple TV+ to positive reviews.
2023: Interview on CBS Sunday Morning
In a 2023 interview with Jane Pauley on CBS Sunday Morning, Michael J. Fox discussed the increasing difficulties he faces with Parkinson's, including spinal surgery and broken bones from falls.
June 29, 2024: Glastonbury Festival Performance
On June 29, 2024, Michael J. Fox appeared at the Glastonbury Festival as a guest of Coldplay, playing guitar on the songs "Humankind" and "Fix You".
2024: Named in Time Magazine's List of Influential People
In 2024, Michael J. Fox was named in Time Magazine's list of influential people in health.
May 15, 2025: Casted in Shrinking
On May 15, 2025, Michael J. Fox was revealed to have been cast in the third season of the comedy drama 'Shrinking', marking his return to acting.
June 2025: Promotion of Boston Bruins Uniforms
In June 2025, Michael J. Fox acted in a video for the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins, parodying 'Back to the Future' to promote the team's new uniforms.
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