Inside Michael J. Fox's Marriage To Tracy Pollan

Since 1988, Michael J. Fox has been married to Tracy Pollan. According to TODAY, the actors met in 1985, when Pollan was cast to play Fox's love interest on NBC's "Family Ties." Pollan played the role of Emily Reed, a college student who dated Fox's conservative character, Alex P. Keaton. They then appeared together in the film, "Bright Lights, Big City." According to the outlet, the couple went on a lunch date not long after filming ended, and that outing eventually gave way to a romance.  

In 2002, per E! Online, Pollan said of Fox, "From the beginning, I loved his sense of humor and that brain of his. He's so smart." Fox and Pollan got engaged only seven months after they started dating. They tied the knot on July 16, 1988, in Arlington, Vermont. However, the pair was only four years into their relationship when Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. As Fox recalled in conversation with Willie Geist on "TODAY," Pollan never let his diagnosis alter their relationship. "We didn't know what to expect," Fox noted. "One of the things I'll always love Tracy for is that at that moment, she didn't blink." And these two have been tackling the unexpected together for more than 30 years.

Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan's first child, Sam Michael Fox, was born in 1989. E! News quoted Fox as saying of their son's childhood: "Sam doesn't get it. You can't explain to him that I'm doing a movie. He doesn't really care. All he knows is that he's being dragged someplace." Fox continued, "When [Sam] was 3 months old, he flew to Canada, then to New York City, then drove to Martha's Vineyard and Vermont, then flew from New Hampshire back to L.A. He's seeing the world, and it all looks the same to him. When you're that age, it's as exciting to go to Van Nuys."

Today, the couple has four children: Sam, who is now  32, Esme Annabelle, 20, and twins Aquinnah Kathleen and Schuyler Frances, 26. In 2018, Fox told People of he and Pollan's families: "Big families, middle children. Sense of humor. Both our families had that." Pollan added, "It was us against the world. That's exactly what we've created." Today, the couple lives at home as empty nesters, as their youngest, Esme, recently started college. Fox told People that no matter how many miles are between the couple and their children, they are "closer than ever" and keep in touch through a family text chain. 

In her 2018 interview with People, Tracy Pollan said of her marriage to Michael J. Fox, "Just give each other the benefit of the doubt. He assumes I'm doing the best I can." Fox added, "Find the best things about you and the best things about life and celebrate them."

When Pollan was asked what Fox has added to her life, she answered, "So much, obviously. His optimistic worldview about everything is just so powerful. Michael doesn't worry about the future. I'm completely the opposite."

Today, according to The Independent, Fox and Pollan live in Montecito. In October, he told People that he is doing well and each day is different. In fact, Fox recently celebrated the 20-year anniversary of the launch of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which has raised more than $1 billion for Parkinson's research to date. "The circle [of what I can do] gets smaller. But I'm happy I've found things in the middle of the circle that can't be touched, like my family and the time I have with them."

After more than 30 years of marriage, Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan have become somewhat of an authority on enjoying a long and successful marriage — especially under the glare of the bright lights in Hollywood. Fortunately for us, however, they're willing to share their secrets!

When asked about the key to a strong marriage during an appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," in April 2019 Michael J. Fox replied, "Well, as the glib one would say, I just feel funny saying 'cause my daughter's in the audience, but keep the sex dirty and the fights clean." The entire audience immediately broke out into laughter... everyone except the couple's daughter Esme, of course. Host Jimmy Fallon then joked, "The kids, they are so embarrassed of dad right now. Oh my gosh. They just walked out. They just walked out of the audience." And there ya have it, folks! The secret to a long-lasting marriage according to Michael J. Fox.