Michael J. Fox has opened up about his struggles with burnout during the filming of Family Ties alongside Back to the Future. In his memoir released on **October 14**, the 64-year-old actor shared his experience.
“For three exhausting months, I embodied Alex, Marty, and Mike. Clearly, that was too much to handle. To finish my work, I had to let one go, and it was Mike who had to step aside,” revealed Fox in his new book. He chronicled his intense schedule during the third season of Family Ties, where he played Alex P. Keaton in the daytime and transformed into Marty McFly by night.
In his memoir, titled Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum, Fox disclosed working about 20-hour days that severely restricted his personal time. He stated that it took him nearly four decades to reflect on that challenging phase.
While he expresses admiration for Back to the Future, Fox candidly discusses the relentless work schedule he endured.
Fox recounted that the only moment he actually felt somewhat rested was on Monday morning at 9 a.m. when he was driven to the Family Ties set. By 5 p.m., he concluded filming for the day and headed to Back to the Future.
“This was my earliest release of the week. I’d have a quick bite in my dressing room, tuck my Back to the Future script beneath my arm, and by 5:15, I’d be in the car heading to Universal,” he noted. He then shared his routine of memorizing lines—picturing them rather than rote learning. “Somewhere over the Cahuenga Pass, I managed to silence Alex’s voice and focus on Marty—his unique rhythm and tone.”
Michael J. Fox in ‘Back to the Future.’ Everett Collection
Fox would finish filming by 2:30 a.m. Tuesday morning and only get to sleep around 3:15 a.m. After waking up at 7:00 a.m., a fresh script for Family Ties awaited him, signaling another day filled with rehearsals. As with Monday, he was off to Back to the Future by 6:00 p.m., concluding that portion of his schedule in the early hours again.
“People frequently inquire about my technique for memorizing so much dialogue. My approach has consistently been: I don’t memorize; I absorb, capturing the scene visually in my mind,” he explained.
Fridays were particularly intense for Fox due to the live taping of Family Ties. “Before the audience arrives, I feel a surge of adrenaline. It’s funny, but despite all the hard work that got me here, I feel more pumped than fatigued. I genuinely love working, especially when the stakes are high in a live show format—it energizes me,” he explained.
Brian Bonsall, Michael J. Fox, Meredith Baxter in ‘Family Ties.’ Courtesy Everett Collection
After the live taping concluded at 11 p.m. on Friday, Fox was still required to head over to film Back to the Future. He noted, “Fridays were the most demanding days for everyone involved. Because of my later arrival, we typically shot all night long, wrapping just as the sun was coming up. I can’t even recall the journey home afterwards.”
Future Boy is now available for readers.
