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Michael J. Fox Reflects on Juggling Two Major Projects in the 1980s
8 Oct
Summary
- Worked on Family Ties sitcom and Back to the Future movie simultaneously
- Overcame challenges of Parkinson's disease to continue acting and advocacy work
- Excited about new projects, including Shrinking TV series and memoir Future Boy
In 2025, acclaimed actor and Parkinson's disease advocate Michael J. Fox is reflecting on his remarkable accomplishments from the 1980s. Back then, Fox was juggling two major projects simultaneously - the hit NBC sitcom Family Ties and the blockbuster film Back to the Future.
Despite the intense workload, Fox managed to pull off this feat, even though he occasionally got confused between his TV and movie characters. "I'm feeling the strain," he recalls in his new book Future Boy, "but that's nobody's business but mine."
Now, at 64 years old, Fox continues to set high standards for himself. He recently co-wrote Future Boy in just nine months to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future, and he has also filmed a guest arc in the upcoming third season of the Apple TV+ series Shrinking, five years after retiring from acting in 2020 due to health struggles related to his Parkinson's.
Despite the challenges posed by his Parkinson's, Fox remains optimistic and enthusiastic about his work. "It's just been really positive, really energizing," he says. As he navigates new physical limitations, Fox listens to his body each morning and adjusts his plans accordingly, always striving to "take the good, and seize it."
