Michael J. Fox Makes Rare Public Appearance for Back to the Future

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Michael J. Fox took his DeLorean to the Southampton Playhouse.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I couldn’t help but join the festivities marking the 40th anniversary of “Back to the Future” at the New York movie theater on August 10th. The actor, in high spirits, accelerated the celebrations by revving up the engine!

In a rare instance, despite living with Parkinson’s disease, Michael – aged 64 – wore a brown pant and black button-down shirt while sporting a smile. After watching the 1985 film, he remained for a discussion following the screening that focused on his acting career and collaboration with the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Three months following Apple TV’s announcement that the actor will appear on-screen again as a guest star in the third season of “Shrinking”, festivities for “Back to the Future” take place.

The inclusion of Michael’s character has proven to be crucial for Harrison Ford, who portrays Paul Rhodes, as he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s during the first season.

Last month, I shared with Variety my awe for Michael’s extraordinary qualities – his courage, resilience, and elegance truly shine brighter than anything else. He’s an incredible blend of intelligence, bravery, nobility, generosity, and passion that inspires us all, regardless if we share the challenge of Parkinson’s or not. It’s impossible not to appreciate the remarkable grace he embodies.

He provides me with a tangible model of the disease for self-study, but beyond that, he helps me have faith that Paul might find himself capable enough to meet the challenge.

In the year 2021, Michael, who has children Sam Fox (age 36), Aquinnah Fox (age 30), Schuyler Fox (also 30), and Esmé Fox (age 23) with his partner Tracey Pollan, opened up about his reasons for leaving acting as his health condition worsened.

For approximately 30 years following my diagnosis, I persisted with my acting career, he shared with AARP Magazine. However, there came a time when I found I could no longer depend on my speaking abilities each day, making it impossible for me to act comfortably. Consequently, last year, I decided to retire from acting.

But he was always willing to return for a project that caught his eye. 

During an interview with Entertainment Tonight in April 2024, he shared that if someone presents him with a role and he enjoys performing it, that’s fantastic. He’d consider acting if a suitable opportunity arises where he can incorporate his personal experiences and struggles into the character, as long as he can find a way to make it work.

Now, take the DeLorean to 88 mph for a look at these fascinating facts about Back to the Future.

Bob Gale, who is both a writer and producer, conceived the idea for ‘Back to the Future’ during a family visit when he browsed through his father’s old high school yearbooks. He later shared with Esquire that this experience made him ponder if he would have been friends with his dad in high school.

 
 

2. For quite some time, numerous studios turned down the script, amassing over 40 rejections in total. Included among them was Disney, who reportedly expressed skepticism, stating something along the lines of “It’s beyond comprehension! You can’t create a film like this here. This is Disney, and you’re proposing a movie about incest to us?”

In more conversational terms, it could be stated as follows: The head of Universal Pictures, Sid Sheinberg, proposed a change in the title, suggesting they switch to “Spaceman From Pluto.

Initially, both John Cusack and Johnny Depp tried out for the part of Marty McFly, but in the end, it was C. Thomas Howell who was initially chosen for the role. However, Eric Stoltz eventually took over the role instead.

After about five weeks of filming, it became clear that Stoltz wasn’t suitable for the role. As Gale explained to The Guardian, “Eric’s humor wasn’t translating effectively on screen. The studio wasn’t completely dissatisfied, but they had seen the footage and decided to make a change.

6. As an ardent admirer putting words to the experience, it was none other than the visionary director Robert Zemeckis who delivered a crushing blow to Stoltz during our encounter. In his memoir, “Blockbuster,” he reminisced that this meeting was “the most challenging I’ve ever faced, and it was entirely my doing. I shattered his heart.

Retaking every scene that Stoltz had previously shot increased the film’s budget by an estimated $4 million.

 

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this: When it came to choosing the lead for Marty in our film, we were all about getting Michael J. Fox on board. So committed were we to securing his talent that we were willing to bend over backwards – perhaps even dancing on desks – to make it happen! In collaboration with his team from the popular sitcom, Family Ties, we agreed to flex our production schedule to accommodate this iconic actor’s availability, as shared by Gale in an interview with The Hundreds blog.

 
 

9. Fox’s work schedule was demanding: He filmed “Family Ties” during the daytime, then headed straight to the “Back to the Future” set from 6:30 PM to 2:30 AM, managing only about five hours of sleep per night. Reflecting on this experience, Fox remarked during a TV special, “I never imagined I’d be involved in both film and television at the same time. It was like an unexpected journey, and I hopped aboard.

10. In the movie, there’s a single instance where Stoltz is still present. Despite him not being visible on-screen, it is indeed Stoltz who delivers the punch to Tom Wilson’s character, Biff, at the diner.

In the initial version of the script, the character was named Professor Brown. However, a studio executive suggested that he be referred to as simply Doc Brown instead.

 

According to Gale, Jeff Goldblum was strongly considered for the role of Doc Brown, with the only other contender possibly being John Lithgow. However, Gale can’t recall Lithgow auditioning, but he distinctly remembers meeting Goldblum and finding him likable.

Christopher Lloyd initially considered turning down the iconic role due to his desire to perform in a play in New York. However, he attributed this change of heart to his wife, Carol, who reminded him of a promise he made never to refuse any opportunity without first giving it a proper consideration.

During an interview with the Seattle Times, Lloyd shared that his inspirations for creating the character Doc were none other than renowned scientist Albert Einstein and Philadelphia orchestra conductor Leopold Stokowski, who was known for his distinguished white hair.

15. One possible explanation for Doc’s stooped posture could be to bridge the significant difference in their heights, as there is a gap of about seven inches between him and the other two main characters.

 
 
 

16. Initially, Melora Hardin from “The Office” had been cast as Marty’s girlfriend Jennifer. However, she was recast before filming started because Fox replaced Stoltz. The problem was that at 5 feet 5 inches tall, she was slightly taller than Fox.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase that as follows: Initially, I, Claudia Wells, embodied the character Jennifer in the first “Back to the Future” movie. However, after my mother was diagnosed with cancer, I decided to step away from acting and pass on the role. Elisabeth Shue graciously stepped in for the rest of the series, continuing the story of our beloved time-traveling adventures.

Initially, the studio intended for Doc’s car to be a Ford Mustang, with the company sponsoring the product placement. However, Gale turned down this offer, stating in an interview with AdWeek, “I insisted, ‘Absolutely not, not Doc Brown driving a Mustang.’ It had to be a DeLorean.

In the movie, Huey Lewis, renowned for his popular tracks like “The Power of Love” and “Back in Time”, briefly appears as one of the judges during the band’s audition.

Initially, the director asked Lewis to create music for the film, but he initially refused.

21. (First-person perspective) As a diehard fan, I can’t help but imagine the fascinating twist of fate that led the time machine from being a humble refrigerator to a sleek automobile. I shudder at the thought of Robert Zemeckis fretting over little ones unintentionally getting trapped inside refrigerators, leading to this ingenious change.

Initially scheduled for a release in August 1985, the overwhelmingly positive response from test viewers prompted the studio to advance the premiere date. Therefore, “Back to the Future” was shown in cinemas just nine weeks following its completion of filming.

 
 
 

Crispin Glover, known for portraying George McFy, Marty’s father, was absent from the sequels due to contractual issues. Later, he sued the filmmakers after they used footage from the original movie and created a facial mold for another actor to deceive viewers into believing he was still in the films, as he shared on The Opie and Anthony Show.

In the end, an agreement was made, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, with him receiving $760,000 from the insurance company that covered Universal.

Lea Thompson believes her role in the 1984 film “The Wild Life” helped secure her the part as Marty McFly’s mother, Lorraine, because, as she explained to The A.V. Club, producers were initially considering Eric Stoltz for Marty and asked, “Who’s that girl?” That inquiry led to Thompson landing her first audition for the role.

25. In the original script, Lorraine’s name was Meg.

To replicate Lorraine’s 1985 appearance, it required Thompson approximately three and a half hours to carefully apply his prosthetic makeup.

27. In 2015, for the first time, footage of Stoltz as Marty was unveiled in a documentary within a Blu-ray set commemorating the film’s 30th anniversary. Regarding this disclosure, Gale commented that they intended to present it subtly. They didn’t want Eric to feel uncomfortable with the exposure of his performance.

The animated adaptation of “Back to the Future” titled “Back to the Future: The Animated series” aired for two seasons, with its broadcast taking place on CBS between the years 1991 and 1992.

In March of 2020, the musical adaptation of “Back to the Future” premiered in England, with Olly Dobson portraying Marty McFly and Tony Award winner Roger Bart taking on the role of Dr. Emmett Brown. After a journey that lasted for approximately 18 months, it concluded its run on Broadway in January 2025.

Zemeckis and Gale strongly oppose the concept of a fourth movie. During a recent Zoom get-together for the cast, the director expressed that if he had a solid idea that he could convincingly propose to Bob [Gale], they would have already made it.

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2025-08-12 22:47