Michael J. Fox Drops Powerful Memoir ‘Future Boy,’ Reflecting on 34 Years of Parkinson’s and His Iconic 1985 Roles

Michael J. Fox is opening a deeply personal chapter of his life with Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum, released on October 14, 2025. At 64, the beloved actor reflects on 34 years of living with Parkinson’s disease, offering his most intimate and ambitious memoir yet.

Co-written with Nelle Fortenberry, Future Boy marks Fox’s fifth book and blends Hollywood history with emotional introspection. The memoir revisits 1985, the pivotal year he portrayed two of television and film’s most iconic characters—Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties and Marty McFly in Back to the Future—all while unknowingly experiencing early neurological changes that preceded his 1991 diagnosis.

A Memoir With Historic and Emotional Scope

Fox frames Future Boy as a journey through time, exploring both the height of his early career and the long arc of living with a degenerative disease. The book pairs vivid recollections of Hollywood’s most energetic year with the sobering realities of Parkinson’s, creating a narrative that is both celebratory and unflinchingly honest.

The audiobook edition, narrated by Fox himself, includes archival audio and new interviews with Back to the Future cast members, giving listeners a rare behind-the-scenes perspective. Fox told The New York Times that writing this memoir was “an act of reclamation,” allowing him to articulate his own story rather than let the disease define him.

Revisiting 1985 — A Career Torn Between Two Worlds

One of the book’s central themes is the chaos Fox experienced juggling two productions simultaneously. Contractually bound to Family Ties, he filmed the sitcom during the day while shooting Back to the Future overnight—often sleeping only a few hours. The memoir unpackages the physical and emotional toll of this period, set against the backdrop of a career about to explode.

Through behind-the-scenes stories and reflections from colleagues, Fox reconstructs the pressures, ambitions, and extraordinary circumstances that shaped his rise to stardom. He also explores how symptoms he didn’t yet understand may have subtly emerged during that year.

A Candid Look at Living With Parkinson’s

The heart of Future Boy lies in Fox’s willingness to confront the complexities of living with Parkinson’s for more than three decades. He details the physical challenges, emotional adjustments, and moments of vulnerability that have shaped his public and private life. His wife, Tracy Pollan, features prominently as a source of strength throughout his journey.

Fox also highlights the work of The Michael J. Fox Foundation, which has funded hundreds of millions in Parkinson’s research since its launch in 2000. The memoir arrives as the foundation expands new initiatives and therapeutic studies in late 2025.

A Legacy of Hope and Storytelling

Early readers have praised Future Boy for its structure, humor, and deeply human storytelling. Rather than follow a linear timeline, Fox loops between decades, showing how the themes of 1985 echo across his 34-year Parkinson’s journey.

The memoir serves not just as a celebrity retrospective but as a testament to resilience, purpose, and the power of storytelling. Whether readers come for Hollywood nostalgia or insights into chronic illness, Future Boy offers a compelling blend of both.