Michael J. Fox is pulling back the curtain on one of the busiest periods of his early career, according to PEOPLE.
In his upcoming memoir âFuture Boy,â the actor reflects on 1985 â when he was balancing his hit sitcom âFamily Tiesâ by day and shooting âBack to the Futureâ by night.
He speaks candidly about the challenges, the pressure, and the grit it took to make it all work.
Challenges on Set
Fox recalls arriving on the âBack to the Futureâ set after long days at âFamily Ties,â often with little rest.
He was brought in to replace Eric Stoltz mid-production, a high-stakes decision that prompted tension â especially with co-star Lea Thompson, who initially bristled over the casting change.
Thompson allegedly viewed Foxâs arrival as a betrayal, but the two have since reconciled and remain friends.
âShe was not ready to work with a TV actor,â Fox told PEOPLE. âShe’s really honest about that and really sweet about it. She said she thought I was an imposter, and she was pissed off because her friend was no longer in the movie.â
Despite the fatigue and skepticism from critics who often viewed TV actors as less serious than film stars, Fox said he pressed ahead.
He later revisited his performance one evening while decorating the Christmas tree at home and realized, âItâs really good. Iâm really good.â
That moment of recognition, he said, marked a turning point for his confidence in his work.
Health & His Return to Filming
Diagnosed with early-onset Parkinsonâs disease in 1991, Fox has spent years navigating the complexities of acting, physiology, and treatment.
Though he stepped back from full-time acting in 2020, his passion for storytelling has never waned.
Recently, he accepted a guest arc on the Apple TV+ series âShrinking,â portraying a character with Parkinsonâs.
He shared details with PEOPLE in an exclusive interview.
The role became possible when he approached series creator Bill Lawrence, asking, âYou did a show about Parkinsonâs, and you didnât call me?â Fox said the response led to a part designed to accommodate his physical constraints. Â
Fox has said filming âShrinkingâ was liberating.
âIt was the first time ever I get to show up on-set, and I didnât have to worry about am I too tired or coughing or anything. I just do it,â he said.
Heâs also stressed that he still âhas a lot left to doâ as an actor, writer, husband, advocate, and father.
With âFuture Boyâ and his return to screen acting, Fox appears ready to shape his next chapter â not defined by disease, but by creativity, resilience, and the desire to continue telling stories on his own terms.
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