Michael J. Fox recently opened up about the time before he became a household name. There’s no doubt that the Back to the Future movies garnered massive stardom for Fox in the mid-’80s. However, before he starred in the sci-fi cult-classic, the actor admitted to “being treated like s—.”
Michael J. Fox on the horrible treatment he received before Back to the Future
While celebrating the movie’s 40th anniversary, Michael J. Fox acknowledged that he was “not aware” of the “issues” that Back to the Future was going through at the time. Nonetheless, he replaced Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly, despite the movie already having been shot for six weeks.
“I was not aware of what anyone thought about it,” Fox told Entertainment Weekly, while talking about replacing Stoltz. “I was an actor, I was used to being treated like s—, being called short, being called no good. That’s just what we go through,” he added, revealing the dark reality of the industry.
Nonetheless, Fox persevered. “You bring yourself into the situation where all your bets are on the table, and you just play your hand,” he explained. “I was five years into it, I had a bit of success with Family Ties, but I had two years of just dumpster diving and insulting conditions. I was ready for my break.”
Before starring in the movie, Fox mainly worked on TV shows, most notably as Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties. “I was pounding through and doing the best I could,” the actor recalled. “You know, when [Lea Thompson] found out I was a TV actor, back in the ’80s, that was a different thing. You couldn’t do both. There was a real Maginot Line. But I just did my thing, and she grew to really be complimentary about it.”
When Back to the Future finally debuted in 1985, Fox finally received the results for his hard work. The movie proved to be unique enough to have found success, both critical and commercial success. The movie earned a staggering $398 million, making it one of the most successful movies at the time.
Now, 40 years later, Fox recounts his journey between Family Ties and Back to the Future in his memoir, Future Boy.
Originally reported by Harsha Panduranga on Comingsoon.
