Michael J. Fox

Fox in 2013, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Michael Andrew Fox

Place of Birth: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Date of Birth: June 9, 1961

Ethnicity: English, Northern Irish/Irish, some German, Dutch, and Scottish, remote French

Michael J. Fox is a Canadian and American actor, writer, producer, and activist. His roles include the films Midnight Madness, Class of 1984, Back to the Future, and its sequels; Teen Wolf, Light of Day, The Secret of My Success, Bright Lights, Big City; Casualties of War, The Hard Way, Doc Hollywood, Life with Mikey, For Love or Money, Where the Rivers Flow North, Greedy, Blue in the Face, The American President, The Frighteners, and Mars Attacks!, and, in voice performance, the Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, Stuart Little, and A.R.C.H.I.E. franchises, and Atlantis: The Lost Empire; the series Leo and Me, Family Ties, Spin City, The Good Wife, The Michael J. Fox Show, and Designated Survivor; and the made-for-tv movies High School U.S.A., Poison Ivy (1985), and Don’t Drink the Water.

He is the son of Phyllis Evelyn, a payroll clerk, who also acted, and William Nelson Fox, a member of the Canadian Forces who became a police dispatcher. His family moved often for his father’s military career, eventually settling in Barnaby, outside Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1971. Michael is married to American actress Tracy Pollan, with whom he has four children. Tracy is Jewish, and their children were raised in the faith.

Michael has Parkinson’s disease. In 2000, he founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation, for Parkinson’s research.

Michael’s paternal grandfather was William Fox (the son of Andrew Fox and Esther Agnes Hellem/Hellam). William was born in Dalton-in-Furness, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. Andrew was the son of John Fox and Ann. Esther was the daughter of William Hellam/Hellem and Agnes.

Michael’s paternal grandmother was Bertha Dolly/Dahlie Van Arsdalen/Vanarsdalen (the daughter of Clarence Nelson Vanarsdalen/Van Arsdalen and Sarah Edith Nixon). Bertha was born in Vegville, Alberta, Canada, to American parents. Clarence was born in Michigan, the son of Cornelius Van Arsdalen, who was of Dutch, English, and distant French, ancestry; and of Mary Emily Lape, whose parents were German. Sarah was born in South Dakota, the daughter of Northern Irish parents, from Antrim, Samuel David Nixon and Jane Elisabeth Tate, who was born in Belfast.

Michael’s maternal grandfather was Henry/Harry George Joseph Piper (the son of Walter Stephen Piper and Sarah Ann/Annie Bird). Henry was born in Greenwich, London, England. Walter was the son of Joseph Piper and Elizabeth Bowers. Sarah was the daughter of George Bird and Elizabeth Moy/Curtis.

Michael’s maternal grandmother was Jane/Jenny Nelson Scott (the daughter of William John Scott and Jane Nelson). Michael’s grandmother Jane was born in Belfast, Ireland, now Northern Ireland. William was the son of Robert Scott and Sarah Young.

Sources: http://abcnews.go.com
https://www.youtube.com
https://parade.com

Genealogies of Michael J. Fox – https://www.geni.com
https://gw.geneanet.org

Genealogies of Michael’s parents – https://www.findagrave.com

Obituary of Michael’s mother – https://www.legacy.com

Death record of Michael’s maternal grandfather, Henry/Harry George Joseph Piper – https://www.familysearch.org

Death record of Michael’s maternal grandmother, Jane/Jenny Nelson (Scott) Piper – https://www.familysearch.org