In Hollywood, few names evoke as much nostalgia and admiration as Michael J. Fox. From his breakout role as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties to the iconic Marty McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy, Fox has left a mark on the entertainment industry. However, in 2020, he announced his retirement from acting. But things might be different in the future.
During a recent interview, the 62-year-old actor, ahead of a charity event benefiting the Michael J. Fox Foundation, reflected on his journey in Hollywood. Watching a 1984 interview clip, where a 22-year-old Fox expressed his aspirations to explore various aspects of filmmaking, awakened memories of his youthful ambitions.
While Fox’s early dreams were filled with a desire to delve into directing, producing, and writing, his priorities shifted as life unfolded. «My biggest goal, I think, was to raise a family,» he shared, emphasizing the profound significance of his relationship with his wife, Tracy Pollan, and their four children. Beyond personal fulfillment, Fox’s dedication to philanthropy, particularly through his foundation focused on Parkinson’s disease research, underscored his broader aspirations.
However, when the conversation went toward his potential return to acting, Fox’s tone shifted, reflecting a sense of openness to the prospect. Recalling his experience filming the documentary Still, which chronicles his journey with Parkinson’s disease, he acknowledged the unexpected joy that he felt from the project. Despite retiring from acting officially in 2020, Fox hinted at the possibility of returning to this craft if a role resonated with him on a personal level.
Fox’s decision to retire came partly from a pivotal moment of reflection while watching Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood. A scene featuring Leonardo DiCaprio’s character facing memory loss and self-doubt struck a chord with Fox, evoking memories of his own struggles on set. Confronted with the realization that the challenges posed by his health condition were becoming increasingly daunting, Fox embraced retirement with a sense of peace and acceptance.
While the future remains uncertain, one thing is clear: Michael J. Fox’s impact on the world of entertainment and beyond will continue to resonate for generations to come. Whether he graces the screen once more or chooses to focus on other endeavors, his legacy as a beloved actor, advocate, and symbol of resilience will endure, inspiring countless individuals to embrace life’s challenges with courage and grace.
Michael J. Fox Would Reconsider Acting Retirement if He Found a Role That ‘I Could Put My Realities Into’
Michael J. Fox might not have any regrets about retiring from acting due to his ongoing struggle with Parkinson’s Disease — but he’s not ready to rule out future opportunities either.
In a recent conversation with Entertainment Tonight, Fox reflected on life after his acting career and the ways that his priorities have shifted after stepping away from performing.
“My biggest goal, I think, was to raise a family. We have four amazing kids, and that’s been the big thing,” Fox said. “And then the other is with the [Michael J. Fox] foundation.”
Still, Fox refused to entirely shut the door on Hollywood. He explained that he would be open to returning to acting if offered the right role at the right time, citing the 2023 documentary “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” as evidence that he still loves the spotlight in small doses.
“If something came up that I could put my realities into it — my challenges — if I could figure it out,” Fox said when asked about future acting endeavors. “If someone offers me a part and I do it and I have a good time, great… I mean, the documentary was a big thrill.”
Fox announced his retirement from acting in 2020 after years of part-time work. He cited Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” as a partial inspiration for his decision to walk away from acting.
“I thought of ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.’ There’s a scene where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character can’t remember his lines anymore. He goes back to his dressing room and he’s screaming at himself in the mirror. Just freaking insane,” Fox said in a 2023 interview. “I had this moment where I was looking in the mirror and thought, ‘I cannot remember it anymore. Well, let’s move on.’ It was peaceful.”
Michael J. Fox is open about returning to acting
Michael J. Fox, who announced his retirement in 2020, has rekindled his interest in acting after a memorable interview. The actor shared his fascination with the various facets of Hollywood, including editing, writing, producing, and directing. He expressed his desire to “do it all,” despite the obnoxious attitude of 22-year-olds at the time. Fox’s charity event in Nashville, Tennessee, was attended by ET’s Rachel Smith.
When asked if he’d had achieved his goals, Fox noted that goals for him always shifted, but ultimately his goals had very little to do with what happened in front of or behind the screen.
“My biggest goal, I think, was to raise a family. We have four amazing kids and that’s been the big thing,” Fox said in reference to his wife, Tracy Pollan, whom he met on the set of Family Ties in 1985. He added, “And then the other is with the foundation.”
“If someone offers me a part and I do it and I have a good time, great,” Fox shared, further adding, “I mean, the documentary was a big thrill.”
His new project, Still is an AppleTV+ documentary that chronicles his fight with Parkinson’s disease. He was diagnosed with the progressive disorder in 1991 when he was only 29 years old.
“It was fun,” Fox said of filming the documentary. He added, “I never would have set that as a goal. It just happened.”
But when asked straight-up if he would want to act again, Fox didn’t shut down the possibility. “I would do acting if something came up that I could put my realities into it, my challenges, if I could figure it out,” Fox said.
In 2020, Fox retired from acting after watching Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood. The scene that led him to retire featured Leonardo DiCaprio’s Rick Dalton character struggling to remember his lines. Fox recalled struggling to memorize his lines during a cameo in his final TV project, The Good Wife’s spinoff, The Good Fight.
“I thought of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Fox spoke about his decision to retire. He continued, “There’s a scene where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character can’t remember his lines anymore. He goes back to his dressing room and he’s screaming at himself in the mirror. Just freaking insane. I had this moment where I was looking in the mirror and thought, ‘I cannot remember it anymore.’”
A brief about Michael J. Fox’s life
Michael J. Fox is a Canadian and American activist and retired actor. Beginning his career as a child actor in the 1970s, he rose to prominence portraying Alex P. Keaton on the NBC sitcom Family Ties (1982–1989) and Marty McFly in the Back to the Future film trilogy (1985–1990). Fox went on to star in films such as Teen Wolf (1985), The Secret of My Success (1987), Casualties of War (1989), Doc Hollywood (1991), and The Frighteners (1996). He returned to television on the ABC sitcom Spin City in the lead role of Mike Flaherty (1996–2000).
In 1998, Fox disclosed his 1991 diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. He subsequently became an advocate for finding a cure and founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 to help fund research. Worsening symptoms forced him to reduce his acting work.
Fox voiced the lead roles in the Stuart Little films (1999–2005) and the animated film Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001). He continued to make guest appearances on television, including the comedy-drama Rescue Me (2009), the legal drama The Good Wife (2010–2016) and spinoff The Good Fight (2020), and the comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm (2011, 2017). Fox’s last major role was the lead on the short-lived sitcom The Michael J. Fox Show (2013–2014). He officially retired in 2020 due to his declining health.
Fox won five Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Grammy Award. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2010 and was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2000 and the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2002. For his advocacy of a cure for Parkinson’s disease, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences in 2022
