‘I Was Used To Being Treated Like S–t’: Michael J. Fox Gets Real About What His Career Was Like Before Back To The Future

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Michael J. Fox is best known as the time-traveling hero in one of the most beloved sci-fi films and biggest hits of the 1980s. But before he became famous for Back to the Future, he was just another young actor struggling to succeed in Hollywood. Now, in connection with the film’s 40th anniversary and the release of his memoir, Future Boy, Fox is sharing what his life was like before the role of Marty McFly launched his career.

The popular actor recently told Entertainment Weekly that when he started out, he wasn’t focused on becoming famous or building a lasting career – he was just trying to make ends meet. He said expectations were minimal, and he often felt overlooked and unimportant.

I didn’t know what people thought, and honestly, I was used to it. As an actor, I was accustomed to harsh treatment – being insulted for my height or told I wasn’t good enough. It was just part of the job.

You know, Michael J. Fox is a legend, but hearing him talk about the pre-Back to the Future days was really eye-opening. While Family Ties definitely gave him a start, he described those years not as a fast climb, but as a real struggle just to keep things going. He went on to explain…

I put everything on the line and decided to take a chance. After five years in the business, I’d had some good luck with ‘Family Ties,’ but also spent two years struggling and facing really difficult situations. I was desperate for a big opportunity.

He arrived in the industry from Edmonton with no family ties – his mother had briefly been an actress, but that was it. He didn’t have any special connections, a financial cushion, or any expectation of building a lasting family legacy. That makes the story of how he got his start with Back to the Future even more unbelievable.

Fox wasn’t aiming for a huge hit movie at the moment; he was busy with the show Family Ties, filming Teen Wolf, and then unexpectedly received a call from Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg about a film that was already well underway, having been in production for six weeks.

Michael J. Fox is well-known for playing Marty McFly, but surprisingly, he didn’t realize another actor, Eric Stoltz, had already started the role and been replaced weeks into filming. Fox simply focused on working hard, despite being exhausted, and hoped his performance would be good.

It’s no surprise the movie was a hit. It launched Michael J. Fox to stardom and made Marty McFly an iconic character. While he’s reportedly worth around $65 million now, his success wasn’t immediate – he faced years of rejection beforehand. Considering everything, his determination is remarkable. He’s overcome much bigger obstacles than early career struggles, including his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 1990. Throughout it all, he’s become known for his strength, positive attitude, and commitment to raising awareness.

It seems obvious now that Michael J. Fox would become a star, but his success wasn’t a given. There was no certainty that Marty McFly would become so iconic and remain popular for over forty years—but he did. And it’s hard to think about that incredible impact without picturing Michael J. Fox in the role.

If you’d like to watch Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly again, all three Back to the Future movies are available on Paramount+.

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2025-11-28 21:08