Born: June 9, 1961
Place of Birth: Edmonton, Alberta
Major Notes:
Michael J. Fox's parents moved with their five children to Vancouver in 1971.
While attending school in Vancouver, Fox developed skills as a young actor.
At 15, he was chosen to do the role of a 12 year old in the CBC production "Leo and Me".
Realizing he wanted to continue a professional acting career, he moved to Los Angeles.
His break came in 1982 by being offered to portray "Alex Keaton" in the comedy series "Family Ties"
Tracey Pollan, his girlfriend in the show, and Fox later married in real life.
Fox was an immediate hit in the series and won three consecutive Emmy awards.
He achieved further recognition as an actor for his work in the box-office hit, "Back into the Future".
The movie had two successful sequels starring Michael J. Fox which made him a major film actor.
He continued making films, most of which were not very successful at the box office.
In 1996, Fox decided to work in a new television comedy series called "Spin City".
The show became another critical success for Fox
During the time of the Spin City series, Fox announced that he had Parkinson's disease.
Fox has become a spokesman for those with the disease and has set up the Michael J. Fox Foundation, an
organization using its funds to help research into Parkinson's.
He has also written an autobiograhy, "Lucky Me", where all profits are turned over to the Foundation.
Fox, like Terry Fox and Rick Hansen, has become a bonefide hero for all Canadians, handicapped or not.
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