Have you ever wondered what the net worth of Michael J. Fox is? We know the Canadian American actor for his role in the 1982 sitcom Family Ties as Alex P. Keaton, but how did he amount to such a net worth?
The respected actor was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease back in 1991. Since then, he has been involved with funding Parkinson’s disease research. The Fox Foundation has continued to gain millions of supporters throughout the years.
As of May 2023, Fox’s net worth amounts to $65 million. Stick around as we discuss in this article how Michael rose to fame, built his net worth, and how his story began.
Table of Contents
Early Life
Michael Andrew Fox was born in 1961 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to his parents, William and Phyllis. He was the fourth child among his parents’ five children and had always described himself as an army brat.
Michael went to high school at Burnaby Central Secondary School. He admitted to having struggles with his height of 5’4” as he could not compete in ice hockey.
As a result, he decided to try drama class, leading to his acting debut in 1976. Michael was a talented actor at a very young age.
After juggling school and acting, he dropped out and went to Los Angeles with his father. This was Michael’s American television debut in acting as he went on to try different roles in various television series.
After 15 years of leaving Burnaby Central Secondary School, Michael would return to finish his GED.
He also received several honorary degrees from various institutions, including Simon Fraser University.
Career
Michael Fox began his professional acting career when he was 15 years old. He started off by playing the role of a 10-year-old kid in the Canadian television series “Leo and Me.”
Furthermore, Fox starred in “Letters From Frank,” a CBS movie filmed in Canada before he dropped out of high school. Upon driving to Los Angeles, he starred in the series “Palmerstown, U.S.A.”
This spark served Michael’s humble beginnings as a child actor in Los Angeles.
Alex P. Keaton In Family Ties
Fox starred as a young republican named Alex P. Keaton in the television series Family Ties put him in the spotlight as an actor. The NBC series ran for seven seasons, starting in 1982 until 1989.
He was able to amaze the audience with his effortless charm and comedic timing. Michael’s role became a crowd favorite after loads of positive feedback from the viewers.
As such, the producers decided to make Fox’s character the star of the show after the fourth episode.
The series was a complete success, with over ⅓ of American households tuning in to the show weekly.
Michael won three Emmy awards for three years straight from 1986 to 1988 for his performance as Alex.
If those weren’t enough, he also received a Golden Globe Award in 1989. He would later star in many iconic films such as Back to the Future, Stuart Little, Teen Wolf, and the Disney animated film Atlantis.
Michael Fox Behind The Scenes
While Michael undoubtedly had a successful acting career, it wasn’t the only thing that kept him busy. Did you know that he was also a renowned bestselling author with four published books?
His talent exceeds his passion for acting, as he also has a knack for writing. The four books he wrote are as follows:
- Lucky Man (2002)
- Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist (2009)
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future (2010)
- No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality (2020)
His first book, Lucky Man, was a national and New York Times bestseller. Always Looking Up also debuted as the 2nd on the New York Times bestsellers list. Chalk those up to his already high net worth!
An Advocate For Parkinson’s Disease Research
It was 1991 when Michael found out that he had Parkinson’s disease at age 29. He made it known to the public in 1998 and devoted himself to helping further the research on the disorder.
After retiring from “Spin City” in 2000, he established The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The New York Times called the Fox foundation the world’s most credible voice on Parkinson’s research.
The foundation is the largest non-profit funder of drug development for Parkinson’s in the world. Michael not only won a Golden Globe and Emmy for his last season on Spin City but also the respect of his colleagues.
Michael J. Fox Net Worth 2023
As of May 2023, Michael Andrew Fox has an astounding net worth of $65 million. That’s almost as high as Alex Trebek and Ellen Pompeo. While the amount is nothing short of amazing, it’s not surprising given how much success he had as an actor.
Apart from his share of wealth in his successful TV series and films, he also has his bestselling books. Michael is a true icon who makes the most out of his talents despite the challenges of his condition.
Other Hollywood achievements Fox received in his career include:
- Golden Plate Award
- Golden Apple Award
- Golden Camera Award
- Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Screen Actors Guild Awards
- Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
- Family Television Awards
Famous Movies
If we list all the famous movies of Michael J. Fox, we’d probably have to pull an all-nighter. He’s played too many roles in various films and series in his acting career that one sitting won’t be enough.
Instead, let’s look at the top 5 best and highest-grossing Michael J. Fox films in history. Starting with:
- Back to the Future (1985) – $388.8 million box office
- Back to the Future: Part II (1989) – $332.9 million box office
- Back to the Future: Part III (1990) – $245.1 million box office
- Stuart Little (1999) – $300.1 million box office
- Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) – $186.1 million box office
If you look at those sales, you can only imagine how much more he’s made with every other film and series. Michael, the iconic Back to the Future star, has set his name in stone as one of the greatest in the industry.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where Does Michael J. Fox Currently Live?
Michael and his family are currently living in Santa Barbara, California. It was just around 2020 when they relocated here after selling their property in Quogue, New York.
Fox married Tracy Pollan and has four children with her.
Did Michael J. Fox Win an Emmy for Family Ties?
Yes, Michael Fox won three Emmy Awards for his role as Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties. He also received a Golden Globe Award.
Key Takeaways
Hone Your Skills
When you discover that you’re good at something, hone it to the best of your abilities. When Michael could not do what he liked in school, he tried something different. And when he realized that he was good at acting, he pursued it and became successful.
Turn Your Weakness Into Strength
When Michael discovered he had Parkinson’s, that didn’t stop him from following his dreams. Instead, he carried on and became an inspiration to others who have the disorder. It’s the perfect example of turning your weakness into strength.
Don’t Give Up
Michael’s story is as touching as it’s motivational. Despite the problems of having Parkinson’s, he carried on with his talents and did what he did best. How could we ever forget his iconic role as Marty Mcfly in Back to the Future?
The young boy from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has undoubtedly come a long way.