Tracy Pollan First Thought Michael J. Fox Was ‘Full Of Himself’ — They’ve Now Been Married Over 3 Decades

Feb 01, 2023 by apost team

Michael J. Fox is a beloved actor who's been in the spotlight since the 1980s. Despite his tragic Parkinson's disease diagnosis in the early '90s, while he was only 29, Fox has had the support of his wife and fellow actress Tracy Pollan through it all. Although the couple was faced with Fox's health diagnosis early in their relationship, they not only stuck it out together, they've proven just how loving and supportive a marriage can be in the face of major life struggles. 

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in 1961, Fox took an interest in acting early on in his life, and after filming the Canadian sitcom "Leo and Me," he headed off to Los Angeles in 1979 to make it big. Clearly, the folks in LA could see the potential in him, because before long, he was cast as Alex P. Keaton in "Family Ties," which ran from 1982–1989. 

It was on the set of the series that Fox first met his would-be wife Pollan — their characters even played on-screen romantic interests! But as they were both in relationships at the time, they wouldn't begin dating until later on. 

In the meantime, Fox's career only continued to rise, and by the mid-'80s, he was a star and teen idol, appearing in movies such as the "Back to the Future" franchise and "Teen Wolf."

Not long after, Fox and Pollan reunited on the set of their 1988 movie "Bright Lights, Big City," and finally, their love blossomed. However, Pollan has since revealed that she didn't take an instant liking to Fox — in fact, she didn't really like him at all! Thankfully, their love was meant to be, and they've since stood the test of time and are set to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary in July 2023.

After their romance bloomed on the set of "Bright Lights, Big City," Fox and Pollan dated for just seven months before getting engaged on Dec. 26, 1987. They were married the following year on July 16, 1988, at the West Mountain Inn in Arlington, Vermont. 

But years later, Pollan revealed during an appearance on "Inside the Actor's Studio," as reported by Mental Floss, that her first impression of Fox was not a positive one. When asked by host James Lipton what she thought of her future husband when they first met, Pollan said:

“He was feeling good about himself. I think I thought he was kind of full of himself.” 

But after she got to know Fox better, her opinion switched drastically. She continued:

"We started to work together and I got a completely different impression and how completely opposite from that he was — just funny and so smart, and just all of these other things came through those first two weeks we worked together."

After the couple was married, they welcomed their first child and only son, Sam, in 1989. Sadly, it was two years later, in 1991 — and before they welcomed any more children — that Fox received his devastating diagnosis. Fox's world was shattered, but he and Pollan weathered the storm. Although Fox didn't publicly announce the news for another nine years and continued to work all through the '90s, the toll that his diagnosis took on him — and Pollan — privately was immense.

Fox began drinking heavily in an attempt to drown his feelings. But after waking up following a night out drinking with friends in 1992, everything changed for Fox thanks to Pollan's tough love.

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Fox recalled to People that when he awoke that morning with a spilled can of beer on the rug, he saw Pollan and Sam, then just 3 years old. 

“I did a slow scan up from her feet to her face, expecting to find her really angry. ... She wasn’t. She was just bored," the actor explained.

Pollan asked him, "Is this what you want?" and walked out the door before he could answer. That beer was Fox's last drink. He began seeing a therapist, got sober and turned a new leaf in his life, one in which he accepted his Parkinson's diagnosis and persevered to make the most of his situation.

"Acceptance isn't resignation," Fox told People, as he described his new way of thinking. He continued: “Now I can move on. I can start the (Michael J. Fox Foundation). I can work with other patients. I can be with my family and allow them to worry about me.”

In the years that followed, Fox and Pollan welcomed three more children — twins Aquinnah and Schuyler in 1995 and Esmé in 2001. The family of six are big supporters of one another, and one of the things that get them through is laughter. Speaking with Today, Fox said: 

"Tracy's amazing. She's there in the front lines with me every day. She never pretends to know as much as I know. And the other thing Tracy does is, if there's something funny, let's get to the funny. We'll deal with the tragic later."

He shared, "It's really great to have a partner." Following the couple's 30th wedding anniversary in 2018, Fox told People:

“It’s very easy to be optimistic. This is my life. ... What is there to complain about?”

What are your thoughts on Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan's supportive relationship? Do you agree laughter is the best way to handle life's struggles? Let us know your thoughts, and pass this on to those you know!