Fans Shocked After Michael J. Fox’s Real Name is Revealed — And the Strange Story Behind It

Many people know him as Michael J. Fox, but the actor’s real name is actually Michael Andrew Fox. The story behind his famous stage name is explained on the Michael J. Fox Foundation website, on a page titled “Michael’s Story.”

When Fox moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting, he ran into a problem with joining the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). There was already a registered actor named Michael Fox. To stand out and register with the union, he had to make a change.

“My middle name is Andrew, but ‘Andrew Fox’ or ‘Andy Fox’ didn’t cut it for me,” Fox wrote in his autobiography Lucky Man: A Memoir, as reported by Snopes. He also explained that “Michael A. Fox” didn’t feel right either, partly because it sounded awkward and “uncomfortably Canadian.”

Instead, Fox chose the middle initial J as a nod to one of his favorite character actors, Michael J. Pollard. “I stuck in the J, which sometimes I tell people stands for either Jenuine or Jenuis, and resubmitted my forms,” he said. “So it was Michael J. Fox on the call sheet I picked up at wrap night that summer.”

Fox began acting professionally as a teenager. He landed a role on the Canadian sitcom Leo and Me at age 15 and later appeared in the film Letters From Frank with Maureen Stapleton. His first feature film role in the United States was in the 1980 crime action movie Class of 1984.

The name change allowed him to join SAG and continue building his career, eventually leading to his iconic roles in Back to the Future and Family Ties. Over the years, rumors circulated that the J stood for something unusual, like Jello, but Fox has confirmed it was simply an homage to Pollard.

The story behind Michael J. Fox’s name shows how even small decisions can shape a career. It’s interesting to see the thought and humor he put into creating a name that would stand out. What do you think about his choice? Share your thoughts in the comments.