Michael J. Fox pays tribute to late mother during ‘Back to the Future’ reunion at New York Comic-Con
NEW YORK – New York Comic-Con attendees received a rare glimpse Saturday into both personal grief and real-world “family ties” as Michael J. Fox parlayed his appearance on a “Back to the Future” reunion panel into a touching tribute to his late mother, Phyllis Fox.
Michael J. Fox, whose portrayal of Alex P. Keaton on “Family Ties” had already made the then-23-year-old actor a household name, skyrocketed to fame following the 1985 release of the fan-favorite, time-travel flick, anchored by veteran funnyman Christopher Lloyd.
Fox, now 61, shared a sweet story during Saturday’s reunion panel at New York Comic-Con, however, that showed even the mothers of A-list actors are never shy about sharing their opinions when it comes to their offspring and time management.
“I was 23 years old, and I called her. She was in Canada, and I said, ‘They want me to do this Steven Spielberg movie, but I have to do it at night, and I have to do ‘Family Ties’ in the daytime.’ And she said, ‘You’ll be too tired,’” the actor recalled, noting that he told her he lived for that “kind of tired” and “it’ll be okay,” People magazine reported.
Nearly 40 years later, Michael J. Fox admitted that his mother was right all along.
“To this day — well, till two weeks ago — my mother thought it was a really bad idea for me to do ‘Back to the Future.’ She loved the movie, [but she was right], I got tired,” he told the panel.
According to her official obituary, Phyllis Fox was born Phyllis Piper in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1929. She died Sept. 24 at the age of 92.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Kenneth, Stuart and Albert; a sister, Patricia; her son, Mark; her daughter, Karen; and her husband, William. She is survived by two sons, Steve and Michael; daughters, Jackie and Kelli; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a great-great granddaughter.
“Nothing made her happier than watching her family grow,” her obituary stated.
Actors Christopher Lloyd (left) and Michael J. Fox attend a "Back to the Future Reunion" at New York Comic Con on October 8, 2022, in New York City.
Actors Christopher Lloyd (left) and Michael J. Fox attend a "Back to the Future Reunion" at New York Comic Con on October 8, 2022, in New York City.
Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox speak onstage at the Back to the Future Reunion during New York Comic Con 2022 on October 8, 2022, in New York City.
Actor Christopher Lloyd attends a "Back to the Future Reunion" panel at New York Comic Con on October 8, 2022, in New York City.
Actor Michael J. Fox speaks during a "Back to the Future Reunion" panel at New York Comic Con on October 8, 2022, in New York City.
Actors Christopher Lloyd (left) and Michael J. Fox attend a "Back to the Future Reunion" at New York Comic Con on October 8, 2022, in New York City.
Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox speak onstage at the Back to the Future Reunion during New York Comic Con 2022 on October 8, 2022, in New York City.
Actors Christopher Lloyd (left) and Michael J. Fox attend a "Back to the Future Reunion" at New York Comic Con on October 8, 2022, in New York City.
Contestants in the "Back to the Future" Costume contest pose onstage at the "Back to the Future" Reunion during New York Comic Con 2022 on October 8, 2022 in New York City.
A view of a DeLorean on display for the Back to the Future Musical during New York Comic Con 2022 on October 9, 2022, in New York City.
1983: Michael J. Fox, actor in the television series "Family Ties," poses on Jan 10, 1983.
1985: Michael J. Fox stars as Alex Keaton in the comedy series "Family Ties," Nov. 22, 1985.
1986: Michael J. Fox and Betty White, winners of Emmys for best actor and actress in a comedy series, stand backstage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California, Sunday, Sept. 21, 1986, after receiving their honors. Fox won for his role in "Family Ties"; White for her role in "The Golden Girls."
1987: Late night talk show host Joan Rivers, right blows out candles on a special cake with the assistance of guests Whoopi Goldberg and Michael J. Fox following the taping of the 100th edition of "The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers" at Fox Television Studios in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 5, 1987.
1988: Wayne Gretzky, left, of the Los Angeles Kings, actor Michael J. Fox, center, and Bruce McNall, owner of the Kings, pose during a reception to celebrate the opening of the 1988-89 National Hockey League season in Los Angeles on Oct. 4, 1988.
1989: Cast members of NBC’s "Family Ties," from left: Scott Valentine, Meredith Baxter Birney, Michael Gross, Brian Bonsall, Michael J. Fox, Justine Bateman and Courteney Cox, celebrate their seventh and final season, May 1, 1989, during a wrap party at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum in Los Angeles.
1991: Actor Michael J. Fox and wife Tracy Pollan arrive at the Ziegfeld Theater for a private screening of Martin Scorsese’s film "Fear Cape" in New York, Nov. 7, 1991. The screening was to benefit the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater.
1992: Actors Michael Fox and Richard Attenborough attend the Bafta Event in London on March 22, 1992.
2001: Michael J. Fox arrives with his family, wife Tracy, son Sam and twin daughters Schuyler (in yellow) and Aquinnah, at the New York premiere of the new Disney film "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York City on June 6, 2001.
2002: Actor Michael J. Fox (right) and boxer Muhammad Ali pretend to spar before giving their testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services on May 22, 2002, in Washington, D.C.
2003: Actor Michael J. Fox and wife actress Tracy Pollan arrive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala sponsored by Gucci on April 28, 2003, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
2004: Michael J. Fox (right), wife Tracy Pollan (left) and family pose at the celebration of the grand opening of the World Disney Flagship Store on October 4, 2004, in New York City.
2005: Actor Michael J. Fox and his wife actress Tracy Pollan arrive at the School of American Ballet Workshop Performance Benefit on June 6, 2005, New York City.
2006: Actor Michael J. Fox and wife actress Tracy Pollan pose with Muhammad Ali at "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s" benefit gala at the Waldorf-Astoria on November 11, 2006, in New York City.
2007: Actor Michael J. Fox, actress Tracy Pollen and Sam Fox attend "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s" benefit gala for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers on December 1, 2007, in New York City.
2008: Actor Michael J. Fox and mother Phyllis Fox attend the 2008 Canada’s Walk of Fame held at the Four Seasons Performing Arts on September 6, 2008, in Toronto.
2009: Actor Michael J. Fox (right) and Tracy Pollan arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre on September 20, 2009, in Los Angeles.
2010: Actors Christopher Lloyd (left) and Michael J. Fox accept the Discretionary award onstage during Spike TV’s "Scream 2010" at the Greek Theatre on October 16, 2010, in Los Angeles.
2011: Michael J. Fox and Joan Jett perform onstage at the 2011 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s event at The Waldorf-Astoria on November 12, 2011, in New York City.
2012: Actor Michael J. Fox (right), wife Tracy Pollan (center) and son Sam Fox (left) arrive at the 64th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on September 23, 2012, in Los Angeles.
2013: Actor Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan arrive at the 65th annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on September 22, 2013, in Los Angeles.
2014: In this handout photo provided by Disney Parks, acting legend Michael J. Fox (third from left) and ABC News’ chief anchor/"Good Morning America" anchor George Stephanopoulos (third from right) pose with their families and Mickey Mouse at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort on October 11, 2014, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
2015: Huey Lewis, Michael J. Fox, Bob Gale, Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson attend the "Back to the Future" reunion with fans in celebration of the Back to the Future 30th Anniversary Trilogy on Blu-ray and DVD on October 21, 2015, at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 in New York City.
2016: Tracy Pollan and Michael J. Fox arrive for the State Dinner in honor of Prime Minister Trudeau and Mrs. Sophie Trudeau of Canada at the White House March 10, 2016, in Washington, D.C.
2017: Actor Michael J. Fox attends the 89th annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017, in Hollywood, California.
2018: Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox attend A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s benefitting the Michael J. Fox Foundation at the Hilton New York on November 10, 2018.
2019: Michael J. Fox performs on stage at A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s benefitting the Michael J. Fox Foundation on November 16, 2019, in New York City.
2020: Democratic presidential candidate former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg greets actor Michael J. Fox after Fox introduced the candidate at a Get Out the Vote rally February 8, 2020, in Keene, New Hampshire.
2021: Sting, Tracy Pollan, Michael J. Fox and Trudie Styler pose backstage during the 2021 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s gala on October 23, 2021, in New York City.
