History of Michael J. Fox in Timeline
Michael J. Fox is a Canadian-American actor and activist, renowned for his iconic roles in the 'Back to the Future' trilogy as Marty McFly and as Alex P. Keaton in the sitcom 'Family Ties'. He gained further recognition through roles in 'Teen Wolf', 'The Secret of My Success', and 'Spin City'. Beyond his acting career, Fox is a dedicated activist, particularly known for his advocacy and fundraising efforts related to Parkinson's disease, a condition he was diagnosed with in 1991. He has become a prominent figure in raising awareness and supporting research for Parkinson's.
July 16, 1988: Marriage to Tracy Pollan
On July 16, 1988, Michael J. Fox married Tracy Pollan at West Mountain Inn in Arlington, Vermont.
1991: Diagnosis with Parkinson's Disease
In 1991, Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He has since become an activist and started the Michael J. Fox Foundation to support research efforts for a cure.
1991: Symptoms and Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease
In early 1991, Michael J. Fox started displaying symptoms of early-onset Parkinson's disease while shooting the film Doc Hollywood and was diagnosed shortly thereafter.
1992: Seeking Help and Stopping Drinking
In 1992, Michael J. Fox sought help and stopped drinking altogether.
1997: Purchase of Apartment on Fifth Avenue
In 1997, Michael J. Fox purchased an apartment on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, where he and his family primarily lived until 2020.
1998: Thalamotomy Procedure
In 1998, Michael J. Fox had a thalamotomy to manage the symptoms of his Parkinson's disease.
1998: Public Announcement of Parkinson's Disease
In 1998, Michael J. Fox went public with his Parkinson's disease and has become a strong advocate for Parkinson's disease research.
1999: Life between 1999 and 2009
Between 1999 and 2009, Michael J. Fox's life was largely centered on his campaigning for stem cell research, which he describes in his second book, Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist.
1999: Testimony Before Senate Subcommittee
In his book Lucky Man, Michael J. Fox wrote that he did not take his medication prior to his testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee in 1999.
2000: Acquisition of U.S. Citizenship
In 2000, Michael J. Fox acquired U.S. citizenship while remaining a Canadian citizen.
2000: Inducted to Canada's Walk of Fame
In 2000, Michael J. Fox was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.
2002: Inducted to 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 in her Senate campaign, advocating for embryonic stem cell research. In the ad, he visibly showed the effects of his Parkinson's disease.
2007: Purchase of house in Quogue, New York
In 2007, Michael J. Fox purchased a house in Quogue, New York, where he and his family lived part-time and spent the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 to discuss his condition, his book, and his primetime special.
May 7, 2009: Aired Primetime Special
On May 7, 2009, Michael J. Fox's primetime special, Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist, aired.
February 28, 2010: Appearance at Vancouver Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony
On February 28, 2010, Michael J. Fox provided 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 research in Parkinson's disease.
June 4, 2010: Granted Freedom of the City by 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
Since 2010, Michael J. Fox has led a $100-million effort, the Foundation's landmark observational study, to discover the biological markers of Parkinson's disease with the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI).
2011: Back to the Future game appearance
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 made a special guest appearance as an elder version of Marty, as well as 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 degree of Doctor of Laws from the Justice Institute of British Columbia to recognize his accomplishments as a performer and his commitment to raising research funding and awareness for Parkinson's disease.
2016: Listing of Estate in Sharon, Connecticut
In 2016, Michael J. Fox listed his estate in Sharon, Connecticut.
2016: Fundraising Raffle for Parkinson's Disease
In 2016, Michael J. Fox's organization created a raffle to raise awareness for Parkinson's disease, raising $6.75 million with help from Nike, Inc. via auctions.
2020: Building Estate in Sharon, Connecticut and move from Manhattan
In 2020, Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan built an estate in Sharon, Connecticut, and moved primarily from their apartment in Manhattan.
2020: Endorsement of Pete Buttigieg
In 2020, Michael J. Fox endorsed Pete Buttigieg prior to the United States presidential election.
2020: Retirement from acting and memoir release
In 2020, Michael J. Fox retired from acting due to speech unreliability and memory loss. His memoir, No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality, was released in November 2020, where he discussed his decision to retire.
2020: Possible Scenarios
In 2020, Michael J. Fox told Hadley Freeman of The Guardian that he can think of a thousand possible scenarios for why he got Parkinson's.
2020: Release of "No Time Like the Future"
In 2020, Michael J. Fox's fourth book, No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality, was released.
2021: Television and film appearances
In 2021, Michael J. Fox appeared in an episode of the television series Expedition: Back to the Future, and in the animated film Back Home Again.
2021: Move to Santa Barbara, California
In 2021, Michael J. Fox sold his house in Quogue, New York, and moved to Santa Barbara, California, with his family.
2022: Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
At the 2022 Governors Awards, Michael J. Fox was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his efforts in fighting Parkinson's, having raised over $1 billion for research. The award was presented by Woody Harrelson.
May 12, 2023: Release of "Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie"
On May 12, 2023, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, a documentary about his career and Parkinson's disease diagnosis, was released on Apple TV+. The film was directed by Davis Guggenheim and received positive reviews.
June 29, 2024: Glastonbury Festival appearance with Coldplay
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 Health
In 2024, Michael J. Fox was named in Time Magazine's list of influential people in health.
May 15, 2025: Casting in Shrinking Season 3
On May 15, 2025, it was revealed that Michael J. Fox had been cast in the third season of the comedy drama Shrinking, marking a brief return to acting.
June 2025: Appearance in Boston Bruins Video
In June 2025, Michael J. Fox returned to acting for the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins, playing himself in a video parodying Back to the Future to promote new uniforms for the team.
Mentioned in this timeline
Oprah Winfrey an American talk show host television producer actress...
CBS is a major American commercial broadcast television and radio...
California is a U S state on the Pacific Coast...
Pete Buttigieg is an American politician and former naval officer...
Apple TV is a digital media player and microconsole by...
The Woodstock Music and Art Fair held on Max Yasgur's...
Trending
51 minutes ago John Deere Layoff Notice: Internal Error or Sign of More Layoffs?
5 months ago Hunter Schafer at Yorgos Lanthimos' Photography Exhibition in Los Angeles: A New Chapter
52 minutes ago Peacemaker Season 2 garners rave reviews; Gunn keeps episodes secret to avoid spoilers.
2 hours ago Priscilla Presley faces lawsuit accusing her of financial irresponsibility post Lisa Marie's death.
2 hours ago Aubrey Plaza at 'Caught Stealing' Screening; Austin Butler Bartends in Austin
3 hours ago Michael Porter Jr. warns about sports gambling impact; NBA considers prop bet limits.
Popular
Adam Schiff is an American politician and lawyer currently serving...
The Kennedy Center Honors are annual awards presented since recognizing...
Ken Paxton is an American politician and lawyer serving as...
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
A blue moon is defined in several ways most commonly...
Olive Garden is a prominent American casual dining chain known...