Michael J. Fox
Biography
Michael Andrew Fox OC (born June 9, 1961 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) is a retired Canadian‑American actor. He began acting in the 1970s and achieved early fame as Alex P. Keaton on the NBC sitcom Family Ties, which aired from 1982 to 1989. Fox is best known for portraying Marty McFly, the protagonist of the Back to the Future film trilogy released between 1985 and 1990. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s he headlined a series of movies, including Teen Wolf (1985), The Secret of My Success (1987), Casualties of War (1989), Doc Hollywood (1991) and The Frighteners (1996). He returned to television as Mike Flaherty on the ABC sitcom Spin City from 1996 until 2000.
Career overview
Michael J. Fox, born Michael Andrew Fox on June 9, 1961 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, began his acting career in the 1970s. He first achieved widespread recognition on the NBC sitcom Family Ties, where he portrayed the conservative teen Alex P. Keaton from 1982 until the series concluded in 1989. The role established Fox as a leading television actor and earned him a place in popular culture during the 1980s.
Fox’s film career took off with his portrayal of Marty McFly, the time‑traveling protagonist of the Back to the Future trilogy, released between 1985 and 1990. The series was described as a critical and commercial success, and it cemented Fox’s status as a major movie star. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s he headlined a number of additional films, including Teen Wolf (1985), The Secret of My Success (1987), Casualties of War (1989), Doc Hollywood (1991) and The Frighteners (1996). After a period focused on cinema, Fox returned to television as the lead of the ABC sitcom Spin City, playing Mike Flaherty from 1996 through 2000. Over the course of his career, Fox accumulated more than one hundred credited performances in both film and television before retiring from acting.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
146 titles- Michael J Fox: Actor, Activist, Optimist (2026) as Self (Archive Footage)
- Zootopia 2 (2025) as Michael J. The Fox (voice)
- A Future on Stage (2025) as Self
- Shrinking (2023) as Gerry
- STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie (2023) as Self
- STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie (2023) Book
- Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make Believe (2023) as Self
- Back Home Again (2021) as Michael J. Bird (voice)
- Reunited Apart (2020) as Self
- Cola Wars (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- See You Yesterday (2019) as Mr. Lockhart
- Corner Gas Animated (2018) as Michael J. Fox (voice)
- Back to the Future: The Hill Valley Chronicles (2018) as Marty McFly
- A.R.C.H.I.E. 2: Mission Impawsible (2018) as A.R.C.H.I.E. (voice)
- The Good Fight (2017) as Louis Canning
- Michael J. Fox (2017) as Self
- Designated Survivor (2016) as Ethan West
- A.R.C.H.I.E. (2016) as A.R.C.H.I.E. (voice)
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self - Guest
- Mr. Calzaghe (2015) as Self
- Being Canadian (2015) as Self
- Back in Time (2015) as Self
- Back To the Present: The Special (2015)
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Annie (2014) as Self
- The Michael J. Fox Show (2013) as Mike Henry
- The Michael J. Fox Show (2013) Executive Producer
- Drew: The Man Behind the Poster (2013) as Self
- Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen (2012) as (archive footage)
- The Love We Make (2011) as Self
- Vancouver 2010 Olympic Closing Ceremony (2010) as Himself
- Tales from the Future (2010) as Self
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- The Good Wife (2009) as Louis Canning
- Looking Back to the Future (2009) as Self (archive footage)
- Looking Back to the Future (2009) Thanks
- Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist (2009) as Self
- VH1 Rock Honors: The Who (2008) as Self
- Phineas and Ferb (2007) as Werewolf / Michael (voice)
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self - Guest
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self
- Looking Back at the Future (2006) as Himself
- The Reichen Show (2005) as Self
- Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild (2005) as Stuart Little (voice)
- Saving Milly (2005) as Self (uncredited)
- Boston Legal (2004) as Daniel Post
- Rescue Me (2004) as Dwight
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Comedy Central Roasts (2003) as Self
- ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration (2003) as Self
- 101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment (2003) as Self (archive footage)
- Comedy Central Roast of Denis Leary (2003) as Self
- Clone High (2002) as Gandhi's Remaining Kidney (voice)
- Stuart Little 2 (2002) as Stuart Little (voice)
- Interstate 60 (2002) as Mr. Baker
- NBC 75th Anniversary Special (2002) as Self
- The Making of 'Atlantis: The Lost Empire' (2002) as Self
- Back to the Future: Making the Trilogy (2002) as Self
- Scrubs (2001) as Kevin Casey
- Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) as Milo James Thatch (voice)
- The Concert for New York City (2001) as Self
- Eriksson's War: A Talk with Actor Michael J. Fox (2001) as Self
- Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000) as Michael J. Fox
- Stuart Little (1999) as Stuart Little (voice)
- Stuart Little: Making It Big (1999) as Self
- The Making of 'The Frighteners' (1998) as Self
- The View (1997) as Self - Guest
- The View (1997) as Self
- Walt Disney World's 25th Anniversary Party (1997) as Self
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- Spin City (1996) as Mike Flaherty
- Spin City (1996) Producer
- Mars Attacks! (1996) as Jason Stone
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996) as Self - Guest
- The Frighteners (1996) as Frank Bannister
- Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996) as Chance (voice)
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996) as Self
- The Universal Story (1996) as Self (archive footage)
- The American President (1995) as Lewis Rothschild
- Blue in the Face (1995) as Pete Maloney
- Your Studio and You (1995) as Curious Guy on the Porch
- Coldblooded (1995) as Tim Alexander
- Coldblooded (1995) Producer
- Greedy (1994) as Daniel
- Inside the Actors Studio (1994) as Self
- Don't Drink the Water (1994) as Axel Magee
- Late Show with David Letterman (1993) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) as Chance (voice)
- For Love or Money (1993) as Doug Ireland
- Life with Mikey (1993) as Michael Chapman
- Where the Rivers Flow North (1993) as Clayton Farnsworth
- Time Machine: The Journey Back (1993) as Self
- Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories (1992) as Narrator (voice)
- James Cagney: Top of the World (1992) as Self - Host
- Blast 'Em (1992) as Self (uncredited)
- The Hard Way (1991) as Nick Lang
- Brooklyn Bridge (1991) Director
- Doc Hollywood (1991) as Benjamin Stone
- Back to the Future Part III (1990) as Marty McFly / Seamus McFly
- The Secrets of the 'Back to the Future' Trilogy (1990) as Self
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) as Prosecutor ("segment "The Trap")
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) Director
- Back to the Future Part II (1989) as Marty McFly / Marty McFly Junior / Marlene McFly
- Casualties of War (1989) as Private Eriksson
- Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation (1989) as Self
- Bright Lights, Big City (1988) as Jamie
- Mickey's 60th Birthday (1988) as Alex P. Keaton (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Secret of My Success (1987) as Brantley Foster aka Carlton Whitfield
- Citizen Steve (1987) as Self - Actor
- Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam (1987) as Raymond Griffiths (voice)
- The Return of Bruno (1987) as Michael J. Fox
- Light of Day (1987) as Joe Rasnick
- Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood (1987) as Self
- The Ice Man Hummeth (1986)
- The Making of Back to the Future (1986) as Self
- Back to the Future (1985) as Marty McFly
- Poison Ivy (1985) as Dennis Baxter
- Teen Wolf (1985) as Scott Howard
- Family Ties Vacation (1985) as Alex P. Keaton
- Night of 100 Stars II (1985) as Self
- The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There (1985)
- Time Travel: Fact, Fiction and Fantasy (1985) as Self
- Night Court (1984) as Eddie Simms
- Goldene Kamera (1984) as Self
- Don't Ask Me, Ask God (1984) as Future Son
- High School U.S.A. (1983) as Jay-Jay Manners
- Late Night with David Letterman (1982) as Self - Guest
- Family Ties (1982) as Alex P. Keaton
- Teachers Only (1982)
- Class of 1984 (1982) as Arthur
- This Week (1981)
- Here's Boomer (1981)
- Palmerstown, U.S.A. (1980) as Willy-Joe Hall
- Midnight Madness (1980) as Scott Larson
- Trouble in High Timber Country (1980) as Thomas Elston
- CBS News Sunday Morning (1979) as Self
- Trapper John, M.D. (1979) as Elliot Schweitzer
- Letters from Frank (1979) as Ricky
- Leo and Me (1978) as Jamie
- Family (1976) as Richard
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- People's Choice Awards (1975) as Self - Presenter
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Emmy Awards (1949) as Self
- Dragoons as Dougie (voice)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Michael J. Fox best known for?
Michael J. Fox is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Zootopia 2 (2025), Shrinking (2023), Corner Gas Animated (2018), The Good Fight (2017).
When and where was Michael J. Fox born?
Michael J. Fox was born on June 9, 1961 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
How many credits does Michael J. Fox have?
Michael J. Fox has accumulated over 146 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1949 to 2026.
What is Michael J. Fox's background in cinema and television?
Michael Andrew Fox OC (born June 9, 1961 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) is a retired Canadian‑American actor. He began acting in the 1970s and achieved early fame as Alex P. Keaton on the NBC sitcom Family Ties, which aired from 1982 to 1989. Fox is best known for portraying Marty McFly, the protagonist of the Back to t...