Actor. Born on June 9, 1961, in Edmonton, Canada. Diminutive (5' 4"), dynamic, likable star of American TV and films. One of five children of a Canadian Army career officer and a payroll clerk, he grew up in a succession of military bases. The family eventually settled in Vancouver, where Michael began performing in Canadian TV at age 15. At 18, he arrived in Los Angeles, hoping for a lucrative acting career, but found himself jobless and near starvation before landing small roles in a couple of movies and in the short-lived series "Palmerstown, U.S.A." (1980-1981). His big break came in 1982, when he was cast as teenager Alex P. Keaton in the series "Family Ties". His charm and exuberance appealed to audiences and helped make the program one of the most successful of the 80's. His popularity soared even higher when he starred in 1985 as skateboarding Marty McFly in the hit comedy-fantasy film Back to the Future. Having established solid credentials in light roles, he began exploring occasional dramatic parts later in the 80's. In 1988 he married his "Family Ties" co-star, Tracy Pollan; their son is named Sam.
Fox's 1989 film, Casualties of War, in which he gave a strong performance, bombed, as did his last four flicks. He hopes to recoup some of his past cinema glory with roles in Rob Reiner's The American
President, Wang Wang's Blue in the Face, and Tim Burton's Mars Attacks!. Fox looks to regain his former sitcom supremacy with his new television series, Spin City, in which he plays a wheeler-dealer New York City Deputy Mayor.
