History of Michael J. Fox in Timeline
Michael J. Fox is a Canadian-American actor and activist, renowned for his iconic roles in the 1980s. He gained fame as Alex P. Keaton in the sitcom Family Ties and achieved international recognition as Marty McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy. Beyond Back to the Future, Fox starred in other popular films like Teen Wolf and The Secret of My Success. Later, he led the sitcom Spin City. Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991, Fox has become a prominent advocate for Parkinson's research through the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
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: Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis
In 1991, Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Subsequently, he became an activist and established The Michael J. Fox Foundation to support Parkinson's disease research.
1991: Onset of Parkinson's Symptoms
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 after.
1992: Seeking Help and Stopping Drinking
In 1992, after struggling with heavy drinking and depression following his Parkinson's diagnosis, Michael J. Fox sought help and stopped drinking altogether.
1997: Purchase of Apartment in Manhattan
In 1997, Michael J. Fox purchased an apartment on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan's Upper East Side, where he and his family primarily lived until 2020.
1998: Thalamotomy Procedure
In 1998, Michael J. Fox underwent 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 diagnosis and became a strong advocate for research, also creating The Michael J. Fox Foundation.
1999: Life Between 1999 and 2009 and Stem Cell Research Campaigning
Between 1999 and 2009, Michael J. Fox became involved in campaigning for stem cell research, as detailed in his second book, "Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist".
1999: Testimony Before Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
In 1999, Michael J. Fox testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, writing in "Lucky Man" that he did not take his medication prior to his testimony.
2000: Becoming a US Citizen
In 2000, Michael J. Fox became a US citizen while retaining his Canadian citizenship.
2000: Induction to Canada's Walk of Fame
In 2000, Michael J. Fox was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.
April 2002: Interview with NPR
In an interview with NPR in April 2002, Michael J. Fox explained what he does when he becomes symptomatic.
2002: Induction to the 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 advertisement for Claire McCaskill, then-State Auditor of Missouri, supporting her 2006 Senate campaign. In the ad, Fox expressed her support for embryonic stem cell research and visibly displayed 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 his family lived part-time.
2007: Named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People
In 2007, Michael J. Fox was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people.
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: Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist Airs
On May 7, 2009, Michael J. Fox's primetime special, "Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist", aired.
February 28, 2010: Appearance at 2010 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 in Medicine from Karolinska Institute
On March 5, 2010, Michael J. Fox received an honorary doctorate in medicine from Karolinska Institute for his contributions to research on Parkinson's disease.
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: Appointment as Officer of the Order of Canada
In 2010, Michael J. Fox was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.
2010: Leading Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative
Since 2010, Michael J. Fox has led a $100-million effort, the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), to discover the biological markers of Parkinson's disease.
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 and commitment to raising research funding for Parkinson's disease.
2016: Listing of Estate in Sharon, Connecticut
In 2016, Michael J. Fox listed the estate he and Pollan built in Sharon, Connecticut, for sale.
2016: Fundraising Raffle with Nike, Inc.
In 2016, Michael J. Fox's organization created a raffle to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson's disease, raising $6.75 million with the help of Nike, Inc. through two auctions.
2020: Move from Manhattan to Sharon, Connecticut
In 2020, Michael J. Fox and his family moved from their apartment in Manhattan to their estate in Sharon, Connecticut.
2020: Endorsement of Pete Buttigieg
In 2020, Michael J. Fox endorsed Pete Buttigieg prior to the United States presidential election.
2020: Reflection on Possible Causes of Parkinson's Disease
In 2020, Michael J. Fox reflected on possible environmental factors that may have contributed to his Parkinson's disease in an interview with The Guardian.
2020: Release of "No Time Like the Future"
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 unreliable speech and memory loss. In November 2020, his memoir, "No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality", was released, detailing his decision to retire and his experiences with memory loss.
2021: Appearances in Expedition: Back to the Future and Back Home Again
In 2021, Michael J. Fox appeared in one 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, later residing in Malibu.
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 disease. 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 Michael J. Fox's life and career, particularly focusing on his Parkinson's disease diagnosis, was released on Apple TV+. The film received positive reviews.
June 29, 2024: Guest Appearance at Glastonbury Festival
On June 29, 2024, Michael J. Fox appeared as a guest with the band Coldplay at the Glastonbury Festival. He played guitar on the songs "Humankind" and "Fix You". Chris Martin, Coldplay's lead singer, mentioned that "Back to the Future is the main reason we became a band".
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.
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