Michael J. Fox is looking back on the early years of his career and the relentless work schedule that nearly broke him. In his new memoir, Future Boy, the 63-year-old actor opened up about filming both Back to the Future and Family Ties at the same time—a challenge that tested his limits and left him with little time to rest. According to Fox News, Fox described those months as “two too many lives” lived in one body.
The actor revealed that during the winter and spring of 1985, he was balancing life as Alex P. Keaton by day and Marty McFly by night. At just 23, Michael J. Fox worked around the clock, pushing through exhaustion to meet the demands of both projects. “I was Alex during the day, Marty at night, and Mike disappeared somewhere in between,” he wrote. For the young actor, success came at a steep cost—one that taught him about endurance and dedication.
Michael J. Fox’s Demanding Filming Routine
A typical day for Michael J. Fox began at 7 a.m. with rehearsals for Family Ties. Filming continued until evening, after which he was rushed to Universal Studios for Back to the Future. There, he worked through the night until 3 a.m., slept just four hours, and started again. “By 3:00 a.m., I’m passed out in the backseat of the station wagon,” he wrote, recalling how his driver would carry him to bed. The long days nearly overwhelmed him, but he pressed on.
While Fox juggled both productions, his Family Ties co-stars barely noticed his fatigue. Justine Bateman, who played his sister, later said she couldn’t figure out when he slept. “If anybody could do it, it was Mike,” she told him. That comment reminded Michael J. Fox of how determined he had been to succeed, no matter the strain.
The Dangers Behind The Scenes
Michael J. Fox also learned that several crew members worked quietly to keep him safe. Assistant director David McGiffert revealed that he once stopped a dangerous stunt planned by director Bob Zemeckis. The scene involved a car pushing Fox on a skateboard, a setup McGiffert called “a heartbeat away from disaster.” His warning convinced Zemeckis to use a stunt double instead.
Even with that precaution, Fox later faced another near miss while filming Back to the Future III. In one take, he misjudged a stunt involving a noose, briefly losing consciousness before the crew intervened. Those moments became reminders of how far Michael J. Fox went for his craft—and how much he risked to bring his characters to life.