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

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Though most people know him as Michael J. Fox, the actor was born Michael Andrew Fox. The story of how he got the name Michael J. Fox is available on the Michael J. Fox Foundation website, in a section called “Michael’s Story.”

When Michael Fox first went to Los Angeles to become an actor, he discovered another actor was already registered with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) under that name. To avoid confusion and be able to join the union, he needed to differentiate himself and make a change to his professional name.

Michael J. Fox originally went by his middle name, Andrew, but didn’t like how “Andrew Fox” or “Andy Fox” sounded. He also tried using his full middle name, “Michael A. Fox,” but felt it was awkward and a bit too Canadian, as he explained in his autobiography, Lucky Man: A Memoir, according to Snopes.

Instead, Fox added the initial “J” to honor character actor Michael J. Pollard. He playfully tells people the “J” stands for either “Jenuine” or “Jenuis.” It was with this new name – Michael J. Fox – that he was listed on the final call sheet at the end of the summer.

Michael Fox started his acting career as a teen. At 15, he appeared on the Canadian sitcom Leo and Me, and later acted alongside Maureen Stapleton in the film Letters From Frank. He made his first American film appearance in the 1980 action movie Class of 1984.

Changing his name let Michael J. Fox join the actors’ union, SAG, and keep pursuing his career, which ultimately led to his famous roles in Back to the Future and Family Ties. For years, people speculated about what the ‘J’ stood for – some even suggested ‘Jello’ – but Fox has clarified it was simply a tribute to his friend, Pollard.

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2025-11-19 20:44