Usually, when you hear that the studio slashed a movie’s budget and forced major changes, it’s a bad sign. That’s not the case with Back to the Future, which turned 40 last year. The studio cut the movie's budget, forcing director Robert Zemeckis to change the ending. Even he agrees it made for a far better moment than the original idea. The movie, one of the best of the ‘80s, has proven incredibly enduring, and I think we can all agree that the ending, with Doc (Christopher Lloyd) up on the clock and Marty (Michael J. Fox) timing his run at 88 mph, is a classic. It was almost very different.

The Original Ending Involved Nukes

As the script was written, the ending involved Doc and Marty breaking into a nuclear test site before a test (remember, this was the 1950s). That was how they were originally planning to harness the 1.21 gigawatts they needed to send Marty and the Delorean back to 1985. According to Zemeckis in an interview on El Rey Network with fellow director Robert Rodriguez, they were planning to build a whole fake town, like the ones you see in the old footage of the tests. Or like you see in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Sorry to bring that up.

Zemeckis explained that just weeks before filming was to commence, Universal cut the budget for the set piece, and the director and the crew were forced to figure out a way to use the courthouse, as that set was already constructed. Of course, what came out of that is movie magic, with Doc connecting the wires just in time for the lightning to strike and Marty to hit the correct speed.

It’s a rare case when cutting the budget forced a creative decision that is in every way superior to the original idea. Zemeckis told Rodriguez:

That wasn’t the only change during the production, either.

The Most Famous Change Was With The Star

Anyone who's familiar with the production of Back to the Future, knows that five weeks into production, Zemeckis came to the conclusion that he had to fire the actor playing Marty, Eric Stoltz. Stoltz was playing Marty, of course, and it just wasn’t working, as both sides have acknowledged. Michael J. Fox was brought in, and much of the movie had to be reshot. Once again, a potentially fatal decision turned into a brilliant one, as I can’t imagine anyone but Fox in the role.

Looking back, it's incredible that Back to the Future, which you can watch with the MGM+ add-on to a Prime subscription, was even finished, much less became the massive box office hit and enduring favorite for so many people. It survived not one, but two massive complications that could have doomed any normal movie. Instead, the corrections make it a classic.

Just weeks after Back to the Future cast members paid tribute to a star in the wake of his death, a new report from CNN began to circulate that seemed to indicate that Michael J. Fox had passed away. Fortunately, the report has already been debunked: not only is the Shrinking actor alive, but he was making appearances as recently as the day before rumors started to spread.

The whole story started when CNN made a post that set off alarm bells for many people. Although it has since been taken down, the post was titled "Remembering the life of actor Michael J. Fox" and included both an article and video, per TMZ. While that wasn't techically the news outlet claiming that he had died, what else were people supposed to think after seeing such a title?

Fortunately, TMZ was quickly able to confirm that Michael J. Fox is, in fact, still alive. Via the outlet, Fox's representative said:

Fox appeared at PaleyFest for the wrap party of Shrinking Season 3, which he joined after retiring from acting. His appearance was reportedly a surprise, but also well documented with posts on Instagram with the actor looking alive, well, and happy among his castmates. (You can find Shrinking streaming now with an Apple TV+ subscription.) Much like Mark Twain back in the day, reports of Fox's death were greatly exaggerated. CNN has since released a statement via a spokesperson:

While Michael J. Fox stepped back from acting due to declining health from his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease, he arrived on Apple TV+ well before his Shrinking debut. The Still: A Michael J. Fox documentary arrived on the streamer in 2023 to showcase the actor's life while struggling with the effects of Parkinson's, and ranked as one of the best movies of 2023. His first episode of Shrinking launched in early 2026, and he took on some voice roles in the meantime, including in Zootopia 2.

Joining Shrinking was quite a big deal, not least because star and co-creator Jason Segal already "idolized" the Spin City star. Harrison Ford praised Fox's "courage, his fortitude, and his grace" that made him "essential" for Season 3, and co-creator Bill Lawrence already assured fans well ahead of the premiere that Fox wouldn't just be "a walk-by" or quick cameo.

It remains to be seen if Michael J. Fox will make a statement about the rumors of his death after CNN's misleading post, but his most recent post on Instagram at the time of writing was from just a few weeks ago to congratulate the people who ran for Team Fox for Parkinson's Research on behalf of The Michael J. Fox Foundation at the 2026 United Airlines NYC Half marathon. He was all smiles there, and his badge rightfully identified him as a VIP.

Suffice it to say that everybody can celebrate that CNN's headline was not breaking the news of Michael J. Fox's death, and he's alive and well.

Over 40 years after its release, Back to the Future remains beloved by fans for many reasons, including incredibly memorable scenes and quotes. Of course, the BTTF cast is collectively one of the major reasons Robert Zemeckis’ 1985 time travel romp (and its two sequels) work so well. Among that ensemble was James Tolkan, who played Principal Strickland (and his ancestor) in the films. Sadly, Tolkan just died at 94 and, now, co-stars like Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd are honoring him.

Tolkan died in New York on Thursday, March 26 in New York. A character actor with various roles under his belt, Tolkan arguably cemented his position within pop culture through his role as Strickland. The character served as the disciplinarian at High Valley High School, both during the 1985 and 1955 eras. After Tolkan’s death, Fox posted to his Instagram stories, sharing a side-by-side featuring still showing their two BTTF characters and a shot of the two actors recreating that moment from the film. Fox also penned an A+ message:

“Slacker” is a word Strickland uses quite frequently in the films, and I love that Fox uses it in such a fitting way to memorialize Tolkan. Someone else who took the time to pay tribute to the late Serpico star was Christopher Lloyd, who portrayed Emmett "Doc" Brown in the Back to the Future movies. While Lloyd and Tolkan don’t really share screen time in the films, they have long been on the convention circuit alongside their colleagues. Lloyd posted a photo of himself and Tolkan (possibly from a convention) on IG, and shared this caption:

As per usual with his sweet social media posts, Lloyd knows just what to say. It’s so lovely to see the close bonds that have apparently developed amongst the stars of BTTF over the years. On that note, Lorraine Baines McFly actress Lea Thompson also had some kind words to share about Tolkan after his death. Thompson – who’s known for occasionally dropping fun reunion pics – shared a series of photos on Instagram, which showed her, Tolkan and other co-stars at different events. She also added this sentimental message:

I’d definitely say that Tolkan was the best when it came to the roles he took on, as he carved out a solid lane for himself by playing interesting supporting roles. His body of work also includes film credits like Top Gun, Masters of the Universe, Love and Death and Dick Tracy. While Tolkan produced strong work across the screen and stage, his performance as Strickland remains my favorite of his roles, and it’s my hope that as people continue to watch Back to the Future, they’ll appreciate his shrewdly funny scenes.

We here at CinemaBlend extend our condolences to James Tolkan’s family and friends during this time.

Bruce Willis is a film legend, although in recent years, he's become synonymous with his degenerating health. Back in 2023, Willis was forced to retire and was later diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. Since then, fans have been following along and getting updates from his family, who have rallied around him. And after his wife Emma Heming Willis posted a sweet tribute on his 71st birthday, some celebrities offered messages of love and support in the comments section.

On top of serving as Bruce's caretaker, his wife Emma Heming Willis has been advocating for dementia research. While celebrating his birthday, she asked people to donate to The Emma & Bruce Willis Fund. You can check out the post in question below:

How sweet is that? On top of showing Bruce Willis during a simpler time in their lives, her message also took the time to try and make a difference with FTD research on the legendary actor's 71st birthday. It's hard not to be touched by her dedication to her husband and the community.

Bruce Willis' best movies often showed him as a badass, so his frontotemporal dementia stands in juxtaposition to his previous public image. A number of public figures gave both him and Emma love in the above posts' comments section, some responses read:

• Bruno buddy, happy b-day! We rocked the 80s !!! 🎸 feel all the love you’ve earned.And amazing Emma.. love You too … 🙏 - realmikejfox
• That smile - alroker
• Happy Birthday Bruce ❤️ we will keep advocating for FTD, god bless! - theftdbrothers
• Watching Moonlighting today because that was the first exposure I had of his greatness! Thanks for loving him so well! - bobsmileycomedy

There's clearly a ton of love there, as previously shown with the family's Thanksgiving photos. It really seems like Bruce Willis' loved ones have rallied around him, including his ex-wife, Demi Moore. And now folks like Michael J. Fox and Al Roker have shared sweet responses on the actor's 71st birthday.

Bruce's wife has had a unique and emotional respective on her famous husband's declining health over the years. Emma Heming Willis revealed the "one blessing" is that the Pulp Fiction actor isn't actually aware of his diagnosis. And as such, the family can simply focus on making him as comfortable and loved as possible. Although she's also using their shared platform to advocate for FTD research.

The above post is one of love, but Emma has also stood up for Bruce when necessary since his diagnosis. For instance, she asked paprazzi to stop calling out to him and creating confusion in public. Throughout it all, she's shown grace and dedication in spite of an impossible situation. Talk about a total class act. Let's just hope that his 71st birthday was one where the whole family could come together and show each other love.

Back To The Future is indisputably one of the best 80s movies, and one of those classics we’ll never stop talking about. Considering the movie just hit its 40th anniversary last year, it feels like it’s more difficult than ever to come across something new about the movie we haven’t heard before. But, I just heard one! Well, it's actually about the sequel.

In Back To The Future Part II, Marty and Doc of course meet Biff’s grandchild Griff Tannen and his gang of hooligans. Darlene Vogel, who played the sole female member of the group, Leslie "Spike" O'Malley, recalled this memory from set:

There’s been a lot said about the making of the Back To The Future movies, but somehow Margarita Fridays slipped through the cracks?! Vogel told the story on The Patrick LabyorSheaux With Patrick LabyorSheaux podcast, and didn’t elaborate much. We do have to wonder if Fox was the one blending the margaritas, and how that went with the rest of the cast. What kind of margaritas? How long did the tradition go for?

Anyways, Vogel clearly has fond memories of playing Spike on the Back To The Future sequel, which came out back in 1989 and was one of the highest-grossing movies of that year. She and Fox actually worked together twice, the first time being in 1988’s Bright Lights, Big City, where she said she was hired as a model, but was upgraded to play the girlfriend to Kiefer Sutherland’s character.

Darlene Vogel shared the story while talking about how she got into the famed movie, which she said was supposed to be a two-week job originally, and ultimately became two months. Over the years, people have often mistaken Vogel for her stunt woman Cheryl Wheeler-Dixon, who got quite hurt while filming the hoverboard sequence.

When the gang crashed into Hill Valley City Hall, Wheeler-Dixon actually crashed into a wall instead of “glass” and fell down 20 feet. In the same interview, Vogel talked about running into Fox after a long time, and even he made the popular mistake. But obviously, like she said, Fox sounds like he was an absolute delight to work with on the film back in the day.

Darlene Vogel’s story is new, but if you haven’t been paying attention to Back To The Future BTS updates recently, Michael J. Fox actually put out a book about the making of the movie last year. There, he talked about things like why he actually hated driving the DeLorean, how he was actually very involved in Marty’s costuming, and what it was like to replace another actor in the role.

While there’s a lot of facts and trivia about the Back To The Future movies, it’s nice to hear something new about them!

Season 3 of Shrinking brought on a major new cast member this year, as Michael J. Fox joined the ensemble to play Gerry, a man who has Parkinson’s and interacts with Harrison Ford’s character Paul. Since day one, Paul has been dealing with the disease Fox has in real life, and now, the Back to the Future star has opened up about why Ford’s portrayal of Paul and Parkinson’s brought him to “tears.”

In the Season 3 premiere of Shrinking, which just premiered on the 2026 TV schedule and is available to stream with an Apple TV subscription, Paul meets Fox’s character Gerry at the doctor’s office. They talk about Parkinson’s, and over the course of the episode, it becomes very clear that this disease is impacting Harrison Ford’s character in a significantly bigger way than it has in past seasons. Speaking to how the Star Wars star portrays what life with Parkinson’s looks like, the Spin City star told Vanity Fair:

Earlier in this interview, Fox candidly explained that while therapy has helped him out a lot, people with Parkinson’s will oftentimes find themselves “educating the therapist as much as they’re educating [them].” This led to a point being made in the story about just how hard it’d be to “accurately depict” Parkinson’s on screen if the person portraying it hasn’t personally experienced it. However, clearly Harrison Ford has figured it out.

It’s seriously high praise to have Michael J. Fox, a man who has lived with Parkinson’s for decades and is one of the most prominent advocates for folks with it, compliment Ford’s performance. He knows exactly what Paul is going through, and he’d know if the actor’s performance wasn’t correct. So, to hear that the Indiana Jones star’s performance was both accurate and emotional is incredible.

However, the compliments don’t stop there, because this is a two-way street. Right after Fox explained why Ford’s Emmy-nominated performance brought him to tears, the 1923 star gave the praise right back, saying:

When Fox’s involvement in Shrinking was announced, Harrison Ford explained that he was an “essential” addition to the show. Specifically, he explained that The American President actor’s “courage,” “fortitude,” and “grace” are on “full display” in the show, and that the way he carries himself in his life is a great example for everyone.

So, all around, it’s very clear that these two legends adore each other and are quite inspired by each other’s work too. It’s so lovely, it’s bringing me to tears. Now, I really can’t wait to see how Gerry and Paul’s relationship develops as Shrinking continues to drop new episodes every Wednesday.

In 2020, Michael J. Fox announced that he was retiring from acting, but it ended up not being a permanent decision. Along with his voice role in Zootopia 2 a few months ago, the Back to the Future star has now made his onscreen acting return in Shrinking, which premiered its third season on the 2026 TV schedule this week. This wasn’t the first time that Fox has gone back on deciding to leave acting behind him, and he explained why he decided to return again to take part in the Apple TV subscription-exclusive series.

Fox is guest-starring in Shrinking Season 3 as Gerry, a Parkinson’s patient who befriends Harrison Ford’s Dr. Paul Rhoades, who has the same disease. After being impressed by Shrinking’s first two seasons, Fox reached out to show creator Bill Lawrence, whom he worked with on Spin City and Scrubs, to delicately ask “Bill, why the fuck am I not on the show?” That paved the way for his performing comeback, and when asked by The Los Angeles Times how he it was to arrive at the decision, Fox answered:

Now it should be noted that Michael J. Fox wasn’t entirely offscreen during his five-year retirement. He was the subject of the 2023 documentary Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, which is also available on Apple TV. But back in 2020, after he’d finished his stints on as Louis Canning on two episodes of The Good Fight, Fox decided that he just didn’t have the drive to memorize lines and perform anymore. As he recalled:

Michael J. Fox had already well cemented himself as a cherished Hollywood talent by the time he exited Spin City, not only for playing Marty McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy and Alex Keaton in Family Ties, but also for movies like Teen Wolf and Doc Hollywood. It’s not like he would have been forgotten if he never returned to acting, but he agreed to play Dr. Kevin Casey on two episodes of Scrubs, and that launched a new chapter of his career. Fox continued:

I won’t go into spoilers about Michael J. Fox’s role in the Shrinking Season 3 premiere, though if that last scene made you nervous, don’t worry, you’re not alone. The good news is that Fox will reprise Gerry later on in the season, and the actor is clearly pleased with how well the character is written. He wrapped up this portion of the interview saying:

I hope that Michael J. Fox doesn’t announce another acting retirement, and not only because that hasn’t worked out the last few times. As he said, it’s not like he has to fill his plate back up with movie and TV jobs, especially taking into account his Parkinson’s, but at least leave the door open for a gig here and there. And hey, by the time Shrinking Season 3 concludes in a few months, maybe we’ll know if Fox will be back for the recently announced fourth season.

SPOILERS for the premiere of Shrinking Season 3 are ahead! Read with caution, and stream the series with an Apple TV subscription.

Season 3 of Shrinking began on the 2026 TV schedule with a lot of massive updates and life changes, specifically for Harrison Ford’s character, Paul. Throughout the first hour of this new installment, it’s made very clear that Paul’s Parkinson’s is getting worse, and it’s impacting his life more.

Meanwhile, he and Julie also decide to get married. At the wedding, he sees Gerry, a man who has Parkinson's that he recently met at the doctor’s office. However, the twist is that the new man, who is played by Michael J. Fox, wasn’t really there. Now I’m quite nervous about what could happen next.

Why The Final Scene In Shrinking’s Season 3 Premiere Made Me Nervous

Alright, let’s dive into the specifics about what made me nervous. In the final moments of the episode titled “My Bad,” Paul goes into the house while his wedding reception is happening, and he sees Fox’s Shrinking character, Gerry, eating a piece of cake.

They talk about how much Gerry loves cake. Then, Julie walks in, and the following conversation happens:

• Julie: Hey, stud.
• Paul: Hi.
• Julie: So, who are you talking to?
• Paul: Gerry.
• Julie: Who?
• Paul: [Points to an empty chair] Gerry. Oh. You don’t see him, do you? Woof.
• Julie: Yeah.

And that’s how the episode ends. The man whom Paul had spoken to at the reception was not real, and that made me wonder if Gerry was totally imaginary. Was he fake at the doctor’s office earlier, too, when he was introduced? I’ve been spiraling about this and the notion that Michael J. Fox’s character could be a total figment of Paul’s imagination.

However, while he did imagine Gerry in this instance, Fox's character is also real, and his first scene proves it.

Why We Shouldn’t Fully Panic Yet About Gerry

Toward the start of the premiere, Paul goes to the doctor, and that’s where he meets Gerry. They have a conversation in the waiting room about how they’re handling Parkinson’s, and Gerry asks if Paul’s had any hallucinations yet. Paul said he hasn’t. Not long after that, the doctor comes into the room and says:

So breathe easy, everyone. The doctor did acknowledge Fox’s character in the waiting room, meaning he’s not just a figment of Paul’s imagination. Gerry is real.

However, while we now know that the Back to the Future star is, in fact, a living character, a new question arises: what is going on with Paul at the end of this episode? Why did he imagine Gerry eating cake at his wedding? Is he having those hallucinations that Fox’s character mentioned in the waiting room? Will it get worse?

Ford did say Fox’s involvement in Shrinking has been “essential,” and co-creator Bill Lawrence said Gerry is a “full-fledged character.” So, I’m sure all this will play a big part in Season 3. However, we’ll just have to wait and see. So to find out why Paul was seeing Gerry, be sure to tune back in to Shrinking next Wednesday on Apple TV.

The first month of 2026 comes to an end this week, and it’s been a month of great streaming movies and an even better month for great streaming TV. Still, some top streamers have been holding onto the best for last, as two highly anticipated series and more get underway this week. Here’s what to look forward to steaming this week.

Wonder Man - January 27 (Disney+)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is already set to have a big year with Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday, but it will get off to a much smaller start, if you have a Disney+ subscription, with Wonder Man. If nothing else, the show should be entertaining for the return of Ben Kingsley’s Trevor Slattery, but the show might also be important to the larger franchise. We shall see.

School Spirits, Season 3 - January 28 (Paramount+)

The third season of School Spirits may receive something of a boost, considering that Milo Manheim was recently tapped to play Flynn Rider in Disney’s live-action Tangled. If you haven’t watched until now, your Paramount+ subscription will get you the first two seasons of the afterlife mystery series to catch up on before Season 3 arrives this week.

The Wrecking Crew - January 28 (Prime Video)

It seems terribly wrong that a buddy cop movie with Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa is a thing we’re somehow only getting now. The pair play brothers who are both cops, one by the book, the other not so much. It feels like the setup for a perfectly enjoyable action comedy at the very least and perhaps something truly great. If nothing else, it’s a good reason to have a Prime Video subscription.

Shrinking, Season 3 - January 28 (Apple TV)

Shrinking has always been one of the best reasons to have an Apple TV subscription, but Season 3 has a really big reason to watch, as it will see the return of Michael J. Fox to television. Fox, alongside the likes of Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, makes this a must-watch show.

Bridgerton, Season 4 Part 1 - January 29 (Netflix)

One of the best reasons to keep your Netflix subscription finally returns this week when the new season of Bridgerton debuts. Romance fans will likely be glued to their screens as they binge through the first part of the brand new season, which will focus on Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and his quest for a good match. The rest of the season drops at the end of February.

If I Had Legs I’d Kick You - January 30 (HBO Max)

It’s the perfect week for indie darling If I Had Legs I’d Kick You to become available with an HBO Max subscription, considering that star Rose Byrne just secured a Best Actress nomination at this year's Oscars. If you missed the movie in theaters, now is the perfect time to check it out.

February has some incredible content in store for us. Next month, Disney+ will bring us the return of The Muppet Show, while Hulu brings us the long-awaited return of Scrubs, and that’s just the beginning.

Ever since we heard Michael J. Fox had joined the cast of Shrinking, we’ve been looking forward to the actor’s first return to acting since 2020’s The Good Fight. As the season premiere is on the 2026 TV schedule, what better way to prepare than hearing Jason Segel share one pinch-me moment he had with the Back To The Future star on set.

Anyone who grew up in the 1980s has the right to fanboy over Michael J. Fox, and Segel was born at the start of the decade right in the sweet spot to idolize Marty McFly. Here’s what the Shrinking star shared about one standout moment getting to share air with the Back to the Future legend that lives rent free in his head:

Have you heard about the crazy story behind Michael J. Fox shooting Back To The Future? Well, the 23-year-old was plucked by Bob Zemeckis to play the role, replacing the original actor Eric Stoltz after six weeks of filming. At the time, McFly was also filming Family Ties, and under contract, so he ended up doing both at the same time. In Fox’s recent account of the production of the movie in Future Boy, he got honest about barely getting sleep while playing both characters in a move that he’s pretty certain wouldn’t be allowed today.

However, for someone like Jason Segel, who was once on How I Met Your Mother and making movies like Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I Love You, Man or The Muppets at the same time, he looked up to Fox’s work ethic for his own motivation to “pull it off too.” You have to wonder how the pair of actors bonded about trying to make it in Hollywood and what war stories they swapped on the set of Shrinking.

From what we know about Season 3, Fox’s character will cross paths with Harrison Ford’s Dr. Paul Rhoades, who’s been dealing with Parkinson’s disease, early in the season and appears in multiple episodes. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991, and has been a vocal advocate for research with The Michael J. Fox Foundation since 2000. Ford has previously called Fox an “essential” addition to Shrinking Season 3.

The new season of Shrinking premieres on January 28, with new episodes premiering on Wednesdays. You can watch the series with an AppleTV+ subscription.

Back To The Future is a legendary film for a whole host of reasons, but one standout bit of trivia concerns some notorious behind the scenes drama: while Eric Stoltz was originally hired to play the role of Marty McFly, the character was recast in the midst of production and Michael J. Fox came in to replace him. Over the years, multiple reasons have been given to explain why the production made the move that it did – but in the eyes of co-star Thomas F. Wilson (best known to fans as Biff Tannen), a major contributing factor was Stoltz’s method approach to his performance.

This isn’t certainly isn’t the first time that method acting has raised eyebrows on a production (a recent example being Jared Leto’s behavior on the set of Suicide Squad), but Wilson explained during a recent appearence on the podcast Inside Of You that it created legitimate conflict between him and Stoltz in the making of Back To The Future. Host Michael Rosenbaum specifically asked his guest about his memories of working with the actor prior to him being fired, and while being very polite about it, Wilson explained why they didn’t get along:

Looking at the work from Eric Stoltz’s perspective, I suppose one can see a logic in it: he was playing Marty McFly, and he has a rough on-screen relationship with the classic cinematic bully that is Biff Tannen. He apparently felt license to keep that dynamic going even after Robert Zemeckis called “cut” on a scene and the cameras stopped rolling.

That being said, according to Thomas F. Wilson, Eric Stoltz was apparently being “selective” when it came to his commitment and how it impacted his relationships with co-stars. As an example, he pointed to the way that he behaved with Lea Thompson, with whom Stoltz had worked on 1984’s The Wild Life. Wilson continued,

Thompson, of course, plays Lorraine Baines a.k.a. Marty McFly’s mom in Back To The Future, and Marty is consistently weird around her because she very clearly develops a crush on him. But Wilson obviously didn’t see that represented when he saw them hanging out on set.

According to Wilson, looking back on the experience with over 40 years of hindsight, it was about respect: while Eric Stoltz was doing his thing to try and produce his best performance possible, it was an approach that didn’t have a positive impact when it came to collaboration (and that’s a vital thing on movie sets). He concluded,

Of course, that was the start of a whole other drama. Production was shut down, and Thomas F. Wilson went from thinking that the whole movie was being canned to thinking that he was the one being fired when he got a call asking him to attend a meeting with Robert Zemeckis. But that turbulence ended with Michael J. Fox replacing Eric Stoltz, and the rest is history.

For what it’s worth, there is still at least one shot in the finished movie that apparently features Eric Stoltz – and if you want to catch it, Back To The Future is now available to stream with an AMC+ subscription.

Two actresses played Jennifer Parker in the Back to the Future trilogy. Claudia Wells first took on the role in the original, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, and then Elisabeth Shue succeeded her in the next two movies. But as it turns out, an actress from The Office, one of the best sitcoms of all time, was originally going to play Jennifer in Back to the Future, though she was fired for a specific reason after Michael J. Fox came aboard.

As many Back to the Future fans know, Fox was tapped to take over playing Marty McFly from Eric Stoltz when it was determined after six weeks of filming that Stoltz wasn’t a good fit for the role after all. Unfortunately, Melora Hardin, who played Jan Levinson on The Office, ended up being collateral damage from this decision, as she was let go after having already shot multiple scenes with Stoltz. The actress recalled in an interview with EW:

When Back to the Future came along, Melora Hardin had already appeared in the movie The North Avenue Irregulars and TV shows like The Love Boat, Diff’rent Strokes and Little House on the Prairie. She was expecting the Robert Zemeckis-directed sci-fi film to be a big boost for career, but that changed with the Marty McFly recasting. Why? As both Hardin recalled earlier this year and Michael J. Fox mentioned in his new memoir Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum, two female studio executives felt that Fox was too short to star opposite Hardin, deeming it “emasculating” for a lead male character.

Although this professional opportunity didn’t work out, Melora Hardin has taken a more positive view on what happened. In her mind, if she had played Jennifer Parker, her career would have gone in a different direction and she “wouldn’t have done The Office.” Hardin continued:

For his part, Michael J. Fox expressed regret in his memoir that this “prejudice” over height affected Melora Hardin. However, if starring in Back to the Future would have indeed resulted in her starring in much different movies and TV shows, I think fans of The Office can be happy with how this turned out. Hardin did a great job playing Jan opposite Steve Carrell’s Michael Scott in seven of the show’s nine seasons, so it’s hard to imagine who would have done just as good a job, if not better, in the role.

The Back to the Future movies can all be streamed for free over at Pluto TV at the time of this writing. If you’d like to revisit Melora Hardin’s time on The Office, that show is accessible with a Peacock subscription.

Michael J. Fox has been back in the news lately for his memoir Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum, where he discusses topics like why he hated driving the spruced-up DeLorean in the 1985 movie and one reason he feels bad he was cast in the role of Marty McFly. However, soon he’ll be back on our small screens as well for Shrinking Season 3, which premieres on the 2026 TV schedule next month. Bill Lawrence, creator of the hit Apple TV subscription-exclusive series, opened up about Fox’s role in this next season, and I’m looking forward to his acting return even more now.

Lawrence and Fox go way back, as the latter starred in the first four seasons of Spin City, the first TV show the former created, and then guest starred in an episode of Clone High and two episodes of Scrubs. Shrinking will mark Fox’s first time acting onscreen since he reprised his The Good Wife character, Louis Canning, in two episodes of the spinoff The Good Fight, and Lawrence recalled to TVLine how he looped him into his latest series:

Bill Lawrence described Michael J. Fox as playing a “full-fledged character” in Shrinking Season 3, meaning he’s not playing a fictional version of himself. This still-unnamed character will meet Harrison Ford’s Paul Rhoades, who also has Parkinson’s disease, at the beginning of the season and appear in multiple episodes. No doubt Fox’s character will help Paul grapple and deal with this condition, especially considering that in Shrinking Season 2’s penultimate episode, he learned from his doctor that his medication will stop working in six months to a year.

Yeah, that’s getting heavy, which is why I’m also glad to know Michael J. Fox will get funny moments in the next season of Shrinking. His “ridiculous comedic timing” combined with Harrison Ford’s dry wit has the potential to be a humor gold mine. As eager as I am to see these two men share screen time together, I’m also curious if Fox will perform opposite any of Shrinking’s other series regulars, like Jason Segel’s Jimmy Laird or Jessica Williams’ Gaby.

Shrinking Season 3 also sees Jeff Daniels coming in to play Jimmy’s father, and Sherry Cola, Isabella Gomez and Candice Bergman have been cast in undisclosed roles. The next batch of episodes premieres Wednesday, January 28 on Apple TV.

Michael J. Fox famously replaced Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly in Back to the Future, but that recasting had a broader effect that also cost The Office star Melora Hardin what could have been her breakout role as Jennifer. Fox still feels bad about the decision all these years later, and I’m on his side, even if I still love the two actors who ended playing Jennifer in the trilogy. Here’s what happened to Hardin, according to Fox.

Hardin Was Simply Too Tall

The recasting of Marty McFly from Eric Stoltz to Michael J. Fox is one of the most famous in Hollywood history. Without getting too deep into the weeds, after weeks of shooting, the producers of Back to the Future (which turned 40 this year) decided Stoltz wasn’t the right fit for the tone they were going for and made the decision to bring in Fox.

The effects on the production went much deeper than simply replacing an actor, as much of the movie had to be completely reshot, and little of the scenes filmed before Fox joined made it into the final cut, even if Marty wasn’t in the shot. Fox is shorter than Stoltz, and while the plan wasn’t to replace anyone else, it seems those same producers got worried that Hardin being taller than Fox could be a problem. Fox recently wrote about the decision in his memoir about the movie, Future Boy (via Entertainment Weekly):

Fox knew that the move wasn’t fair to Hardin, adding:

At the time, Fox was used to negativity regarding his height, according to his book. He’d found success playing younger characters, but as he started moving into more mature roles, his small stature began to hold him back. Having a girlfriend who was taller than him simply didn’t work in the eyes of the powers that be on Back to the Future.

He also didn’t have much sway at the time, of course. That meant no one consulted him on the decision to replace Hardin with Claudia Wells, who herself was replaced in the cast of the movies by Elizabeth Shue for the two sequels. Fox writes that he would have argued to keep her on.

Hardin Has Spoken About It, Too

Earlier this year, Hardin appeared on the Joe Vulpis Podcast and gave her side of the story, explaining that she knew earning the role was a big deal, with the very real possibilities of a sequel. Understandably, she was angry at the decision, but she has a different perspective these days, saying:

For that, I think we can all agree that we’re lucky, because it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role of Jan Levinson, one of the best characters on The Office (which you can watch with a Peacock subscription). It’s at least good to know that for Hardin and Back to the Future, everything seems to have worked out the way it should have in the long run.

For an entire generation, Michael J. Fox will forever be the time-traveling hero from one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time and the biggest movies of the 1980s. Long before he sprinted across Hill Valley or outran Biff Tannen, Fox was another young actor trying to claw his way out of Hollywood’s margins. In aninterview tied to Back to the Future's 40th anniversary and the release of his memoir Future Boy, he’s peeling back the curtain on what his life looked like before Marty McFly changed everything.

The now-famous actor recently spoke to EW, recalling that when he entered the industry, he wasn’t thinking about career legacy or future stardom, but was just trying to survive the grind. The expectations were low, and, as he put it, the treatment often left him feeling like he barely registered.

Even with Family Ties giving him some early footing, Fox explains that the years before Back to the Future were more in survival mode than in momentum. He continued:

Coming from Edmonton with no family connections beyond a mother who once acted, he had no fast track, no safety net, and no sense that his career was about to become generational. That’s what makes the Back to the Future origin story even more surreal.

Fox wasn’t chasing a blockbuster but was juggling Family Ties, shooting Teen Wolf, and suddenly fielding a call to meet with Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg about a movie already six weeks into production.

Famously, Michael J. Fox took over the role of Marty from Eric Stoltz, who was replaced weeks into shooting. This is a fact the Life of Mikey actor says he didn’t know about when he took the job. He just showed up, worked through exhaustion, and hoped it would make a difference.

Of course, it did. The movie turned Michael J. Fox into a star and cemented Marty McFly as one of pop culture’s defining roles. He's now worth (an alleged) $65 million or so, but that success came only after years of rejection. Looking back, the Teen Wolf star’s grit tracks, as he’s weathered challenges far tougher than early-career setbacks, including his life-changing Parkinson’s diagnosis in 1990. And through it all, he’s become a symbol of resilience, optimism, and advocacy.

The Canadian-born performer’s rise may feel inevitable now, but it wasn’t. There was no guarantee Marty McFly would become a phenomenon with four decades of staying power — yet that’s exactly what happened. And it’s difficult to imagine that legacy without Michael J. Fox’s performance at the center of it.

If you want to revisit his iconic turn as Marty McFly, the entire Back to the Future trilogy is streaming with a Paramount+ subscription.

By now, most Back to the Future fans know the movie almost looked very different. Before Michael J. Fox became the hoverboard-riding, guitar-shredding, time-jumping face of the franchise, the role of Marty McFly was played by Eric Stoltz — and not just for a day or two. Stoltz shot six weeks of footage before being replaced, a move so rare and risky it became the stuff of Hollywood legend. Now, four decades later, we finally have a clear look at what the other actor could have looked like in the role.

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly tied to the film’s 40th anniversary (and the release of Fox’s memoir Future Boy), Fox and his co-author Nelle Fortenberry opened up about the anxious, fast-paced handoff that nearly derailed the movie. And why did the recast happen in the first place? The Family Ties actor offered a gracious but honest take:

That lighter, more comedic tone proved to be the missing piece. Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, and Bob Gale quickly saw that Fox’s version of Marty clicked better with the tone of the film, and audiences obviously agreed.

As Fortenberry put it, the studio initially tried to keep the recast quiet. They didn’t even announce the swap until Fox had already started. But once industry trades caught wind, the headlines weren’t kind. One called the film “troubled,” fueling industry rumors that Back to the Future might be doomed.

Still, Fox was careful not to villainize Stoltz, who he says poured just as much energy into the role as he did. In Future Boy, he writes about what they had in common:

And the rest, as they say, is history. The only way anything is changing on that front is with a Delorean of your own. Jokes aside, I cannot for the life of me imagine another actor in the role of Marty–even someone as talented as Eric Stoltz. The role is iconic because of what Michael J. Fox brought to it. And funny enough, it almost never happened.

Fox barely had time to rehearse. In fact, he hadn’t even met Christopher Lloyd when they filmed Doc Brown’s dramatic entrance. The rest of the cast, including Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover, had already shot several scenes with Stoltz, meaning Fox was inserting himself into a movie already in progress. The Spin City actor recalled:

And great it was. It's a movie widely seen not just as one of the best of the ‘80s but as one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time. Even recently, Back to the Future returned to cinemas and the 2025 movie release schedule on October 31 in 4K glory, allowing fans to revisit it (or see it for the first time) and celebrate the version that became timeless.

Like many, I grew up on Back to the Future. This film, which is one of the best movies of the ‘80s, blew me away as a kid, and I’ve watched it over and over again since. However, I had never seen it in theaters. So, when it premiered in cinemas alongside the projects on the 2025 movie schedule, I knew I had to catch it on the big screen. Then, as I watched it, I had a totally new experience as I took in this film with a crowd and realized that a different character stole the show this time.

I’ve Seen Back To The Future Many Times, And Marty Has Always Been My Favorite Character

I’ve seen this great time travel movie more times than I can count. It’s aged well, it’s timeless, and I will never, ever get tired of going on this journey with Marty McFly. I’ve always adored Michael J. Fox, and I was absolutely charmed by him in this movie.

Of everyone in the Back to the Future cast, I was always gravitated toward Fox. He’s equal parts charming and hilarious, and watching him navigate the ‘50s is endlessly entertaining.

The movie is also told from Marty’s point of view, so Fox’s performance and how he specifically reacted to the wild world around him carry the story forward. Therefore, every time I’ve watched it before this last time, Marty has always stolen the show.

Also, he falls over so much, his reactions to the ‘50s are hilarious, and he walks around with an effortless charisma that is impossible to look away from. Oh, and he’s a cutie. However, this ensemble is stacked, which I’ve always known. So this time, I found myself more enamored by the man who invented time travel, not the man who went back in time.

Seeing It In Theaters, Christopher Lloyd’s Doc Brown Absolutley Stole The Show

As I mentioned in celebration of Back to the Future’s 40th anniversary, it was re-released in theaters, which meant I was able to see it on the big screen. More importantly, it was with an audience for the first time. That meant it wasn’t just me reacting; a whole room of people was laughing and gasping, and that heavily influenced this experience.

That’s because literally any time Christopher Lloyd said one of his iconic Doc Brown lines or reacted funnily, the crowd would react in a big way. That helped emphasize the brilliance of this performance from Lloyd, and it helped me focus more on his storyline.

Now, I’ve always found Doc and Lloyd in general very funny. However, for some reason, watching Back to the Future this time, he was even funnier. Maybe it was the bigger screen and I could see his expressions better. Maybe it was the crowd laughing at him. Overall, it was remarkable, and he literally gives a masterclass in comedic performance in this film.

His smaller silly moments really got me this time too, like him walking in a straight line into the school and stepping over the bike instead of going around it. That goes to show that every choice Lloyd made, down to the smallest details, is meaningful and comical.

On the flip side, there was something about Doc’s more dramatic moments that hit me way harder this time. That last scene in the ‘50s, when Marty is trying to get him to read the letter, is so tragic and beautiful, and it tells us so much about this mad scientist without him really saying much.

All this is to say, Christopher Lloyd really stole the show during my theatrical viewing of Back to the Future, and I loved it so much. To be clear, I always loved Doc and thought he was hilarious – I’ll scream “1.21 gigawatts” randomly and think about how “Where we’re going we don’t need roads” when I’m going to the airport. However, Marty was always my favorite character whom I focused on most.

Well, now that’s changed a bit, and the next time I watch Back to the Future, I can’t wait to see how my feelings about it continue to evolve.

Every Halloween without fail, you’ll probably see someone channeling Marty McFly’s signature look from Back To The Future. And, as you can imagine the look itself went through a lot of iterations before reaching its final form. But, did you know Michael J. Fox was the person behind Marty’s iconic Nikes? But, it didn’t come without a big “dilemma” that happened behind the scenes before Marty could officially wear the shoes for the classic movie that just turned 40.

Michael J. Fox has shared a bunch of Back To The Future stories in his new book, Future Boy, from why he hated driving the DeLorean to one inconsistency about the movie’s time travel. In the memoir, he also dug into the origin of Marty’s Nikes. In his words:

If you’re not aware, Fox was actually a recast on Back To The Future after Eric Stoltz was initially chosen for the role, and actually even played the role for almost two months. Future Boy has Fox recollecting what it was like to take the role after production had already began, and while simultaneously shooting his sitcom, Family Ties.

In the book, Fox recalled going to a fitting for Marty McFly when the original shoes for the character had been accidentally left at the soundstage. The actor said he suggested the Nikes already around his toes following the snafu, which he describes as his “go-to sneaks” at the time that were perfect for “skateboarding and duckwalking and kicking around – everything Marty needed to do”. He continued:

It totally makes sense that production would need a few pairs of Marty’s shoes in order to land on the look, but that initially posed a problem considering his specific pair were out of print. Determined to go with Fox’s pick of sneakers, producer Frank Marshall made some calls to Nike to figure out if there was a workaround.

He ended up getting in touch with a woman named Pam McConnell, who was running a brand new product placement department at the headquarters in Portland, Oregon. Here’s what happened next:

What a great story! There’s nothing like the power of movies (and marketing) to get Nikes to move some mountains to make Fox’s favorite shoes become Marty’s shoes. It was a good call from Nike too, considering Back To The Future would become one of the best 80s movies, and his sequel would include one of those famous movie futuristic inventions of Nikes with the power laces which the company made happen in 2015 (under a very limited run).

Michael J. Fox has a lot more stories about what it was like to play Marty McFly in Back To The Future in Future Boy, which is now on bookshelves!

For 40 years, people have been discussing the time travel inconsistencies in Back to the Future. People, especially on the internet, love to talk about how time travel works in movies. One of the more ridiculous examples, in my opinion, comes from the 1985 mega hit, and it involves the Gibson ES-350 that Marty (Michael J. Fox) plays “Johnny B. Goode” on at the Enchantment Under The Sea dance in 1955. It’s not a fault of the time travel, but actually a decision made by the art department on the film. Fox talks about the “controversy” in his new memoir.

The Guitar In The Movie Wasn’t Released By Gibson Until 1958

Fans of BTTF know that Marty travels from October 26th, 1985, back to November 5th, 1955. In his attempt to make sure his parents fall in love at the right time, keeping the timeline of the future consistent, Marty stands in for Marvin Berry in the band at the dance. He borrows Marvin’s guitar, a semi-hollow body, model number ES-345. Gibson is renowned for its ES series; the first, the ES-150, was introduced by the company in 1936. Gibson has been producing ES guitars ever since, with dozens of models over the years.

The problem that guitar aficionados love to point out is that the ES-345 model, like the one in the movie, wasn’t introduced to the market until 1958, three years after the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance. In his book, Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum, via Syfy, Fox writes about:

According to Fox, a debate has raged over whether this “inconsistency” was intentional or not. That debate has been settled now. It was not a quirk of time travel, it wasn’t even planned:

That’s it. It was just the prop that was chosen because it resembled a guitar that Chuck Berry would play, though he was famous for playing other models, most notably an ES-350T. But since we’re on the topic of inconsistencies, let’s talk about the song Marty plays and Marvin’s phone call to his “cousin” Chuck Berry (Marvin is a fictional character).

‘Johnny B. Goode’ May Have Been Written Before The Dance, Too

Chuck Berry recorded his iconic hit “Johnny B. Goode” in late 1957, and it was released in 1958 (coincidentally, the same year the Gibson ES-345 was introduced). It was reported written a couple of years early, or, at least, started being written in 1955. So that “new sound” that Chuck was looking for, according to Marvin, had probably already been discovered by Berry by the time the dance happened in November of ‘55

Furthermore, Berry recorded another one of his most iconic songs, “Maybellene,” in May 1955 at Chess Records’ studio in Chicago and released it in June, five months before the dance. “Maybellene” doesn’t have a legendary opening riff like “Johnny B. Goode,” but it’s definitely in the style Chuck Berry would become world famous for.

The Famous Riff Is Even Older

That’s not all, Berry himself acknowledged that he was “inspired” by the riff that opens the song “Ain't That Just Like a Woman,” by Louis Jordan, which was recorded in 1946! All it takes is one listen to determine that the riffs are almost identical. It’s safe to assume Berry already knew the riff and was likely even playing in concert in one way or another in the months and maybe years before Marvin’s phone call in 1955.

What’s the point of all this? Well, I’m on Michael J. Fox’s side. Who cares about the exact timeline and whether everything in it is perfectly period-correct? It’s one of the best scenes in one of the best movies of the ‘80s. Just enjoy it, especially since Back to the Future will be back in theaters for a limited time starting next week!

Any fan of Back to the Future knows that Michael J. Fox’s character, Marty McFly, accidentally invented rock n’ roll on that fateful night in 1985, er, I mean, 1955, when he played “Johnny B. Goode” with Marvin Berry’s band. The fictional Marvin, in the movie, made a quick phone call to his brother, the real-life Chuck Berry, and the rest, I guess, is history. Or something like it.

BTTF, which is getting a limited re-release later this month as part of the 2025 movie schedule in honor of its 40th anniversary, is a seminal movie in the minds of many, and that scene is, for many reasons, one of the most iconic. The guitar that Marty plays, a Gibson ES-345, has been missing since the scene was filmed. No one seems to know where it is, including Fox, who recently opened up about trying to find it.

The Guitar Just Disappeared

In Fox’s recently released book, Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum, via Us Weekly, the star talks about the lost guitar. He writes:

The guitar, it seems, was snatched up by an unknown crew member or someone else on the set. Fox wishes he still had it, both for its sentimental value and its monetary value. Says Fox:

He suspects someone on the set recognized the value and has it, somewhere, but as for now, Fox doesn’t know who:

It’s impossible to know just how much the guitar could be worth. Vintage Gibson ES-345s are pretty valuable on their own, to say nothing about this particular one, given its status in Hollywood history. Fox, of course, is a guitar player himself, so you just know he’d love to have it in his collection.

Gibson Has Promised A Documentary If The Guitar Is Located

I love a great guitar story, and surely this famous Gibson has one. According to Fox, the company is actively looking for it and has even promised to make a documentary about the instrument, should it be found:

Much like the search for Paul McCartney’s long-lost Hofner bass is being made into a documentary and will likely be released as part of the 2026 movie schedule, this could make for an amazing film. So let’s all hope it’s found soon!

This year marks the 40th anniversary of not only one of the best '80s movies, but all-time great sci-fi films, Back To The Future. To commemorate the occasion, Michael J. Fox wrote a first-person account called Future Boy about his time making the popular movie when he was 23 years old. Amongst his many confessions, he made something notable clear: he did not like driving the DeLorean.

The DeLorean time machine in Back To The Future is one of those objects in movies that are as famous as the actors. When recalling his scenes with the now out-of-production vehicle, here’s what Fox wrote:

The DMC DeLorean was quite the unique model of car. It had a rear engine, was a two-seater and only made by the DeLorean Motor Company for the American market between 1981 to 1983. It’s not only Fox who wasn’t impressed by how it runs – the DeLorean is widely thought to lack power and performance as a vehicle. As Fox continues in Future Boy:

As Fox notes, it wasn’t just any DeLorean. Production decked out the cars used on set with all sorts of extra embellishments that made it even more difficult to drive. It sounds like the car was giving Fox bumps and bruises all the time, making it a particularly difficult part of filming for him. Of course, from the outside in, we might think it’s an absolute dream to drive what’s now such a memorable vehicle, but Fox had to withstand some discomfort in order for us, the audience, to believe he was driving a time machine.

Flatiron Books was kind enough to send us a copy of Future Boy in advance of the memoir officially hitting shelves this week, and my eyes darted what felt like 88 miles per hour to learn the true story of what it was like for the actor to take the role of a lifetime as Mary McFly. In Future Boy, the actor breaks down how he ended up getting to work on the film at the same time as he was in production on Family Ties Season 3 after the original Back To The Future star, Eric Stoltz, was fired due to his approach to the character just not working for director Robert Zemeckis.

I definitely gained new insight about the making of a movie that I’ve watched with my family countless times that makes me appreciate Michael J. Fox’s place in the legacy of the film. You can read Future Boy yourself for Fox’s whole story on the making of Back To The Future right now.

One of my favorite Hollywood “what ifs” is imagining Back to the Future, one of the best '80s movies, without Michael J. Fox. It’s wild to think about now, but Eric Stoltz was originally cast as Marty McFly in the sci-fi classic movie, before being replaced by the star of one of the best sitcoms of the era, Fox. Forty years later, the Life With Mikey actor is opening up about finally meeting Stoltz after the switch.

The meeting happened in New York City while the Spin City veteran was gathering memories for his new book, Future Boy, which revisits the chaotic stretch when he shot Back to the Future at night and Family Ties by day. The account comes via People, which first reported the reunion. About the meeting with the Pulp Fiction star, Fox says:

If you’ve followed the saga, you likely know Stoltz was initially cast as the time-tripping teen and filmed for several weeks, though only one scene remains available to see, before director Robert Zemeckis and Universal pivoted to the Family Ties actor. That change has fueled years of rumor and internet archaeology. Fox, now 64, says the truth is simpler and far less dramatic. He explained:

The Frighteners alum says he reached out to “key players” while writing Future Boy, including Zemeckis, Back to the Future co-star Lea Thompson and Family Ties co-star Justine Bateman. Stoltz declined to be interviewed for the book but later agreed to meet at Fox’s office, where the conversation stayed private and respectful. MJF adds that he’s a longtime admirer of Stoltz’s work and that the sit-down helped them contextualize a formative moment in both of their careers.

The two actors even discovered a shared pre-Hill Valley history. Back in the early ’80s, they auditioned together for Franc Roddam’s military school drama, The Lords of Discipline. The For Love or Money actor recalls that the read got so “intense” that Stoltz nearly tore his shirt, but neither actor landed the part. The timing of the meeting dovetails with Fox’s broader look back. The memoir from the beloved actor chronicles not just the recast but the grueling split schedule that produced one of the defining performances of the ’80s.

For longtime Back to the Future fans, the takeaway is refreshingly anti-mythic. There’s no secret feud here, but instead, just two professionals who lived through the same high-pressure pivot from opposite sides of the lens, and who can now compare notes.

Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum arrives Oct. 14, and an audiobook edition narrated by Michael J. Fox folds in interviews with collaborators from Back to the Future and Family Ties, plus archival audio cues that should delight DeLorean diehards.

Be sure to check out our 2025 movie release schedule to see what new movies are headed to a theater near you.

I’m not kidding, when it was announced that Michael J. Fox would be returning to acting to play a role in Shrinking Season 3, I screamed. He’s one of my favorite actors, and in the past, the show’s co-creator, Bill Lawrence, has spoken about how Fox has impacted the way Parkinson’s has been represented on the show. So, this is a very meaningful addition to the cast, and recently, Harrison Ford got candid about why it’s also been “essential.”

Over the course of Shrinking’s first two seasons, we’ve seen Ford’s character, Paul, learn how to live with his Parkinson’s, which has been impacting him more and more as the show goes on. In Season 3, it’s been revealed that Fox’s character will play a role in Paul’s life. When the Indiana Jones actor spoke to Variety about the Back to the Future star joining the ensemble, he noted just how impactful it’s been, explaining:

As I stated earlier, Bill Lawrence, who co-created Shrinking with Jason Segel and Brett Goldstein, was inspired by how Michael J. Fox has handled his Parkinson’s, and it has impacted how it’s represented in his show. He worked with the actor on Spin City, which was when Fox publicly announced he had Parkinson’s. And he told People that they wanted to represent living with this disease in “hopefully an inspiring and not sad or tragic way.”

Over the years, Fox’s tenacity and courage have been on full display, and the work he’s done to help others with Parkinson’s is remarkable. This journey is beautifully depicted in Still, by the way, which is an incredibly candid Apple TV+ documentary about the actor’s career and how his life has evolved and changed since his diagnosis.

Now, while we don’t know exactly who Fox will play on Shrinking, we know his character will have Parkinson’s and he’ll interact with Paul. To that point, Ford explained how his new co-star has inspired how he plays his character, saying:

The entire time Shrinking has been on, it’s been clear how much they care about representing Parkinson’s in a respectful and realistic yet optimistic way. Like Fox has for a long time now, Paul is working well into his diagnosis, and he’s learning to adapt to life in new ways while leaning on, trusting and loving the people around him. It’s honestly an uplifting story, and the way Ford plays it is both tear-jerking and heartwarming.

Now, I can’t wait to see how he interacts with Michael J. Fox in Season 3 of Shrinking, because I’m positive it will be moving, wonderful, and funny, of course. In the meantime, you can see Harrison Ford’s performance as Paul by streaming Seasons 1 and 2 of Shrinking with an Apple TV+ subscription.

Shrinking Season 3 is currently in production, and many of the details are being kept underwaps. What has been confirmed, however, is that the upcoming season will mark Michael J. Fox’s return to acting. Not too much information has been shared in regard to the Emmy winner’s role, though there’s been rumor for plenty of speculation on Fox’s character. Now, series co-creator Bill Lawrence is giving fans a taste of what they can expect from his former collaborator’s presence on the show, and I’m relieved for one particular reason.

For some time now, Michael J. Fox has discussed his decision to step away from regular acting due to the fact that he has Parkinson’s Disease. So it was a pleasant surprise when it was reported that he’d be getting back in the game for Shrinking. Of course, even after that confirmation there was still a question of how big his role would be. Well, as Bill Lawrence revealed to TVLine, Fox’s involvement amounts to more than a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo:

To say that I’m delighted to find out that the Family Ties icon will appear on multiple episodes of the therapy-centered dramedy series would be an understatement. Surely, I assumed that Fox’s health would have to be taken into consideration upon his casting, so the possibility of his role being small was definitely significant. As someone who’s long been a fan of the Canadian actor, this is all music to my ears.

Bill Lawrence and Michael J. Fox have history, as the two worked together on the hit sitcom Spin City. Fox ultimately left the show after the fourth season to spend more time with his family amid his Parkinson’s diagnosis and inform the public on the disease. In 2024, Lawrence admitted that Fox’s experiences with the medical condition influenced how he approached its depiction on Shrinking. (Harrison Ford’s character, Paul Rhodes, has it.) Lawrence shared more details on how the disease relates to Fox’s character:

Michael J. Fox isn’t the only newcomer headed to Season 3 of Shrinking. Jeff Daniels is joining the already-stellar ensemble and is playing the estranged father of Jason Segel’s Jimmy Laird. Fans will also see more of Cobie Smulders’ Sofi, who may or may not form some kind of bond with Jimmy. I’m excited for what lies ahead within the new episodes, especially now that I know Fox will show up on multiple episodes.

For now, stream the first two seasons of Shrinking using an Apple TV+ subscription. That same membership will also grant users access to the critically acclaimed documentary Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.

For a multitude of reasons, my dream guest star for Shrinking has always been Michael J. Fox. So, when it was announced that Fox would be joining Shrinking in Season 3, I properly freaked out. Now, I’m overwhelmed with anticipation and hope that new episodes might premiere on the 2025 TV schedule. So, as we wait for those and to see who he plays, I’ve been thinking a lot about the possibilities, and these are three of the ideas I’ve come up with.

Michael J. Fox Could Be A Mentor For Harrison Ford’s Character, Paul

This feels like the most obvious way to include Michael J. Fox in the show. Paul, Harrison Ford’s character, is learning to live with his Parkinson’s, and it’s been implied that it’s going to get harder for him. So, it would be meaningful to see the Family Ties actor play a mentor to him.

It’s no secret that Fox’s own journey with Parkinson’s has impacted how the disease has been represented on Shrinking. The show’s co-creator, Bill Lawrence, worked closely with the Back to the Future actor on Spin City and cast him as a guest star on Scrubs. During a conversation with People, he noted that Fox was his “first mentor,” and that relationship helped them depict living with Parkinson’s in an “inspiring” way.

Knowing that and knowing how much positive light Fox has helped shine on Parkinson’s, it’d make a lot of sense if he played Paul's mentor. Maybe he leads a support group. Maybe he’s a friend of a friend whom Paul befriends to learn more about living with the disease.

I feel like this would be a super meaningful and direct way to incorporate Fox into Season 3 of Shrinking. Plus, it’d mean we would see him and Ford sharing scenes, and that’d just be a dream come true.

Maybe Michael J. Fox Will Play A Therapist

The last time we saw Fox act on screen was on The Good Fight in 2020, as he reprised his role of Louis Canning. He first played the lawyer while guest-starring on The Good Wife, and seeing him go toe-to-toe with the other attorneys on the show was always really fun. So, with that in mind, it could be entertaining to see him in the same occupation as many of the characters on Shrinking.

This would open a door for him to work with Ford, Jason Segel and Jessica Williams at the very least, seeing as they’re the three therapists on the show. Then, hopefully, it could open the door for him to potentially therapize and interact with the other members of the iconic Shrinking cast.

I Wonder If Michael J. Fox’s Character Could Be Related To Jimmy Or Liz

My final guess, and this feels like a stretch, is that the Family Ties star could be introduced onto this show as a relative of Jimmy or Liz. We know Jeff Daniels has been cast in Season 3 to play Jimmy’s dad, and it’d be nice to meet other members of these characters’ families.

I’d love to see Christa Miller -- who plays Liz, is married to Bill Lawrence, and was on Scrubs -- share some scenes with Fox. I also think their quick wit would complement each other quite well.

It’d be entertaining to see how Jimmy interacts with Fox’s character, too, especially if they’re related somehow.

Obviously, all of these are just guesses, and we’ll find out who the actor is playing when we’re finally able to watch Season 3 of Shrinking with that handy Apple TV+ subscription. Considering how shocking Brett Goldstein’s role was in Season 2, I’m sure they’ve created a meaningful and surprising character for Michael J. Fox. So, I truly cannot wait to see him return to the screen in this beloved comedy.

Back to the Future is one of the most iconic franchises in movie history. The fact that it’s been 35 years since we got a new movie and series, and despite a lack of sequels, remakes, or reboots, the movies are still popular. Anybody who has an original prop from the film is in possession of a piece of cinema history, and now the cast of the movie is coming together to find one of them.

Apparently, the red Gibson ES-345 guitar that Marty McFly plays “Johnny B. Goode” on in the film has been missing since shortly after Back to the Future was shot. Now, Gibson, along with Michael J. Fox, Lea Thompson, Huey Lewis, and others involved in the movie have come together to launch Lost to the Future, a hunt for the missing item. Check out the promotional video below.

In a movie full of famous moments, Marty McFly playing guitar is among the most well-known. Michael J. Fox actually plays guitar, so the scene was nearly as real as it looked on screen. That said, Fox worked hard to get it right.

It’s maybe not that much of a shock that the Back to the Future guitar disappeared. There certainly was no way to know that Back to the Future was going to be a massive hit and spawn two sequels back when it was made. Most of the movie's props were probably not preserved in any significant way.

And we know that sometimes, cast and crew will help themselves to props as mementos of the experience of making the film. The Gibson guitar would be the sort of prop that, if somebody played, would also be something they could actually use. Possibly to recreate the scene below.

Of course, if somebody from the Back to the Future production took the guitar, you’d think it would have been uncovered in the last 40 years. If it hasn’t turned up, it’s because the guitar ended up somewhere unexpected, and not only does nobody know where it is, but it seems there aren’t even any leads, leading to this campaign.

Having recently been to Universal Studios’ Fan Fest Nights, where I actually stood on the Clock Tower set of the Universal backlot, I know firsthand just what it’s like to experience a piece of Back to the Future history firsthand.

Hopefully, if somebody has the guitar and knows they have it, the campaign will become popular enough that the person in question will reveal their possession. Based on the video, it doesn’t appear that anybody is necessarily focused on obtaining the guitar, simply ascertaining its location. Although, depending on just how the person who has the guitar got it, it’s possible they might not want to talk about it. It wouldn’t be the first time that props were obtained through less-than-legal means.

Shrinking Season 3 is on the way, which shouldn’t be a surprise considering how critically acclaimed the first two seasons were. While it’s doubtful we’ll see it premiere on the 2025 TV schedule, exciting news continues to trickle in for the next batch of episodes. The latest update on that front is that Michael J. Fox will make his acting return in the next season of Shrinking, and I already know which character I want him to cross paths with.

Fox is set for a guest-starring role in Shrinking Season 3. This will reunite him with Bill Lawrence, who co-created the series with Segel and Brett Goldstein. Fox and Lawrence first worked together on the sitcom Spin City, where the former was a series regular for the first four seasons. They later teamed back up when Fox had a two-episode arc on Scrubs. Fox’s appearance on Shrinking will mark his first acting job since he reprised his The Good Wife character Louis Canning on two episodes of the spinoff The Good Fight in 2020.

While no details have been revealed about who Fox will be playing on Shrinking, I’m hoping we see him spend time with Harrison Ford’s Paul Rhoades. After all, there’s already a narrative reason built in to bring those two together. Paul has Parkinson’s disease, which Fox has in real life. His struggle with this condition was covered in the documentary Still: A Michael J. Fox Story, which can also be streamed with an Apple TV+ subscription.

It stands to reason Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s will be acknowledged on Shrinking (especially since it’s directly impacted the show), whether he’s playing a fiction version of himself or an original character. Either way, I want a scene where Fox is sharing his experience with the disease with Paul Rhoades. Ideally some comedic moments could be sprinkled in between the two during the episode, but I’m more eager for some kind of poignant moment where Fox helps Paul look at the disease differently or give him some kind of new understanding about it.

Michael J. Fox is the second big actor who’s been added to Shrinking Season 3. In March, it was announced that Jeff Daniels will also guest star as the father of Jason Segel’s Jimmy Laird. Segel has also indicated that we might see more of Cobie Smulders’ Sofi, who briefly popped up in Season 2, though this hasn’t been officially confirmed yet. Christa Miller has also teased a baby coming into Liz's life.

We’ll continue to keep you apprised on more notable updates concerning Shrinking Season 3. Until then, feel free to break out your Paramount+ subscription if you’d like to see Michael J. Fox’s work on The Good Wife and The Good Fight.

We're still living in the Golden Age of Superhero movies in Hollywood (some might argue it's sputtering to an end). That doesn't mean there haven't been superhero movies and TV shows in the past, though. In the '80s, there was actually way more than you might remember. We all love Christopher Reeve as Superman and Michael Keaton as Batman, but the list is so much longer than that.

Helen Slater (Supergirl)

After Superman starring Christopher Reeve became a massive hit, the studio started lining up sequels and spinoffs. Supergirl, starring Helen Slater as the titular hero, was one of those. While it exists in the same universe and uses much of the same music, or version of it, it's, frankly, not as good as the first two movies in the franchise. There is one crossover moment, Marc McClure starring as Jimmy Olsen, that's a lot of fun, though. That's not to say it doesn't have its moments, but sadly, it pretty much bombed at the box office.

Michael Keaton (Batman)

Towards the top of any list of iconic superhero portrayals has to be Michael Keaton as Batman in Tim Burton's Batman. People may have winced when Keaton was cast, but he proved all the doubters wrong when he led the character into a new era. Gone was the campiness that marked the 1960s' Batman TV show, and in was a new, darker, grittier version of the Caped Crusader.

William Katt (Ralph Hinkley/Ralph Hanley)

The TV show The Greatest American Hero starring William Katt as the titular hero is mostly remembered today for its banger of a theme song. The show, while fun for a certain demographic of pre-teen boys, somehow managed to last three seasons on ABC before it was canceled with five episodes yet to air in early 1983. Still, the song endures.

Sam J. Jones (Flash Gordon)

Flash Gordon was a different kind of superhero. He didn't have any special powers aside from being a great quarterback, but he was certainly a hero. Sam J. Jones played the titular character in Flash Gordon in 1980 in a wild movie that updated the character, who dates all the way back to the 1930s. Of course, it also has that amazing, unconventional soundtrack by Queen, which has helped it stay relevant for decades.

Gil Gerard (Buck Rogers)

In the late '70s and early '80s, old Depression-era comic strip characters were en vogue, and one of the most popular both in the 1930s and in the '80s was Buck Rogers. The sci-fi show Buck Rogers in the 25th Century was briefly a minor hit for two short seasons on NBC, which was based on a 1977 movie, and is fondly remembered by many Gen X guys, despite its abbreviated run.

Peter Weller (Buckaroo Bonzai)

The 1980s were full of cool, unconventional superheroes, and no hero personified that better than Buckaroo Banzai in 1984's The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. Buckaroo, played by Peter Weller, was a scientist, adventurer, musician, and more. He and his team do everything they can to stop an alien invasion, and the cast of the movie is totally stacked. Some people may hate the cult classic, but if you grew up with it, you likely love it.

Joe Morton (The Brother)

In The Brother from Another Planet, Joe Morton plays "The Brother," who, like Superman, is an alien with all kinds of powers. The movie, directed by John Sayles, was actually a surprise hit when it was released in 1984 and has since become a cult classic. It was also fairly progressive at the time and wasn't afraid to address race and other social issues head-on.

Casey Kasem (Robin)

Between 1973 and 1985, there were multiple versions of the cartoon Super Friends, but one constant throughout them was legendary DJ Casey Kasem voicing Batman's iconic sidekick, Robin.

Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk)

Perhaps the most successful superhero show of the era was The Incredible Hulk, starring Lou Ferrigno as The Hulk (and Bill Bixby as his alter ego, David Banner). The show ran for five seasons on CBS, and not only did it make it 80 episodes, but it also produced five made-for-TV movies.

Tanya Roberts (Sheena: Queen of the Jungle)

The first adaptation of the Golden Age comic Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, was a TV show in the 1950s starring Irish McCalla as the titular hero. In 1984, Columbia Pictures revived the hero for Sheena: Queen of the Jungle, starring Tanya Roberts as the female version of Tarzan, an orphan who grew up in the jungle. If we're honest, the movie is pretty cheesy, and the box office reflects that, as it pretty much completely bombed when it was released in 1984. It's a movie that just doesn't know what it is. Comedy? Maybe. Action flick? Sometimes. Melodrama? Sadly, yes.

Jerry O'Connell (Andrew Clements)

The Canadian production My Secret Identity was a good, low-cost option for U.S. syndication, and the show ran for 72 episodes over three seasons as such. The most notable thing about it is that it starred Jerry O'Connell as Andrew Clements, the teenage superhero lead in the show.

Christopher Reeve (Superman)

Of course, we're going to include Christopher Reeve on this list! The first Superman movie, directed by Richard Donner, was released in 1978, but Reeve continued to play the character well into the 1980s with the three sequels. starting in 1980 with Superman II. It could be argued, in fact, that the first sequel is better than the original, but you can't go wrong with either. You can't say the same thing about the final two in the series, which are pretty mediocre at best.

Dick Durock (The Swamp Thing)

Swamp Thing has been a popular comic book anti-hero since the early 1970s. In 1982 Wes Craven brought the character to the big screen, with actor Dick Durock playing the character in The Swamp Thing. Durock returned to the character in 1989 with The Return of Swamp Thing.

Dolph Lundgren (The Punisher)

The history of The Punisher on the big and small screen has been hit or miss, though mostly miss. The very popular Marvel anti-hero first hit the silver screen in 1989, starring Dolph Lundgren, in The Punisher. No one loves that version. In fact, no one loves any of the versions that have appeared in movies, and Jon Bernthal's version in the Netflix-era Marvel shows has proved more enduring.

Ed Gale/Chip Zien (Howard The Duck)

Two actors played the lead character in Howard the Duck, the 1986 box office bomb about the Marvel character. Ed Gale was in the suit, while Chip Zien did the character's voice. He's not really a superhero, per se, but he is a giant duck who can speak and think like a human (or an alien, really), and that has to count for something. More recently, Seth Green has voiced the character in the MCU.

Robin Williams (Popeye)

Some of you might disagree that Popeye is a superhero, but come on, the guy eats spinach and gets super-strength when he does? Sounds like a superhero to us! While 1980's Popeye starring Robin Williams as the sailor man and Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl was lambasted at the time, it has since found its place as a somewhat beloved cult classic.

Chuck Wagner (Automan)

What if you took the ideas of Tron and flipped them around so that the humanoid computer programs could exist in the real world... and fight crime! That's pretty much the premise of Automan, starring Chuck Wagner as the program-come-to-life. Yeah, it's pretty much as bad as it sounds, and it only lasted 12 episodes on ABC in the mid-1980s.

Mitch Cohen (The Toxic Avenger)

Though it's a classic "B-movie" from the 1980s, The Toxic Avenger has an enduring legacy. The first movie starred Mitch Cohen as The Toxic Avenger. The character has been part of four sequels in the years since, with a different actor playing the character each time, including, most recently, Peter Dinklage.

Michael Crawford (Condorman)

Disney is responsible for some of the biggest superhero movies of all time, with the giant success of the MCU movies in the last couple of decades. Those were the first time the company tried its hand at the genre, though. In 1981, they produced Condorman starring Michael Crawford as the titular hero. If you've forgotten the movie existed, you're not alone.

Micheal J. Fox (Teen Wolf)

Okay, okay, we admit that we're pushing the envelope here, but in our opinion, Teen Wolf definitely belongs on this list. The classic '80s comedy stars Michael J. Fox as a meek teenager who transforms into a powerful wolf with some serious basketball skills. We dare you to tell us he's not a superhero!

Peter Weller (RoboCop)

RoboCop is a classic anti-hero from the 1980s. The first appearance of the character came in the wild 1987 movie directed by Paul Verhoeven, named after the character. That movie, starring Peter Weller, was followed by two direct sequels in the 1990s and a 2014 reboot starring Joel Kinnaman as the cop-turned-android.

John Ritter (Steve Nichols)

1980's Hero At Large starring the late, great John Ritter as Steve Nichols, an out-of-work actor who turns himself into a hapless superhero after a casting call, is actually better than it's remembered for.

Courteney Cox (Gloria Dinallo)

One of Courteney Cox's earliest roles was a superhero in the short-lived TV show Misfits of Science. The show only lasted 16 episodes on NBC in the 1985-'86 television season. Though the show, about a group of teenagers with superpowers, bombed, it sure didn't slow down Cox in her career.

Alan Arkin (Captain Invincible)

1983's The Return of Captain Invincible is a wild movie. It stars Alan Arkin as Captain Invincible, a washed-up superhero who had been forced into retirement, but is forced to suit up when his arch-nemesis returns 30 years after disappearing.

Simon MacCorkindale (Manimal)

One of the many crazy TV shows created by Glen A. Larson in the 1980s was Manimal. The show, which starred Simon MacCorkindale as the titular shape-shifting hero, lasted just eight episodes in 1983. It's a good thing Larson also created Magnum, P.I. and Knight Rider.

Bruce Boxleitner (Tron)

1982's Tron quickly became a cult classic after decent results at the box office in 1982. Bruce Boxleitner starred as Tron, and while he's not a traditional superhero, he was as close as it came in the early '80s when superhero movies weren't really being made. Or, at least, good ones, so we had to include this on the list.

John Newton (Superboy)

Amid all the adaptations of Superman over the years, one that tends to get lost in the shuffle is the '80s show Superboy starring John Newton as the young hero. In Season Two, Newton was replaced by Gerard Christopher. The lasted two more seasons before it was pretty much relegated to the dustbin of TV history, but it really wasn't a bad show for its time.

Mia Farrow (Alura)

Even the great Mia Farrow has starred as a superhero. Sort of. Farrow played Alura, the mother of Supergirl, in 1984's Supergirl. While we don't see her in her traditional costume from the comics, it's impossible to leave such a legend off the list.

Jeff Lester (Captain Justice)

Arguably, the worst example of a TV superhero show on the list (and that's saying something) has to be Once A Hero starring Jeff Lester as Captain Justice. The show aired just three episodes on ABC before being canceled in 1987.

Lewis Van Bergen (Jon Sable)

Like a couple of other examples on this list, Jon Sable is pushing the definition of a superhero, but since he started out as a comic character and at times shows superhuman abilities, we're including him here. Lewis Van Bergen played the character on the ABC show simply titled Sable.

Dolph Lundgren (He-Man)

Toys being turned into multimedia franchises were all the rage in the 1980s, and one of the biggest hits across media was He-Man. In 1987, the cartoon was adapted into a live-action film starring Dolph Lundgren as the Prince of Eternia. The movie, Masters of the Universe: The Motion Picture, wasn't well received and failed to find an audience that matched the popularity of the cartoon or the toys. Maybe there is a future for the franchise, but only time will tell.

Sam J. Jones (The Spirit)

Sam J. Jones is best remembered for starring in Flash Gordon, but that wasn't the only hero he played in the 1980s. In 1987, Jones starred in The Spirit, a made-for-TV movie based on a World War II-era comic of the same name. It's campy and fun, but it's easy to understand why it's not well remembered.

One of the breeziest network TV reboots that I can think of, NBC’s Night Court has excelled at giving the flagship sitcom’s fans both a slew of references and returning stars (such as Brent Spiner and Annie O’Donnell) from the flagship show, as well as an abundance of guest spots from other comedy vets. And the creative team is going all out for the Season 3 finale, which will feature another stellar Big Bang Theory reunion, complete with a Young Sheldon fave.

Oh yeah, and let’s not ignore the fact that the episode in question will be a modernized callback to the ‘80s sitcom’s second ever episode, which featured an early career appearance from then-Family Ties breakout MIchael J. Fox.

Melissa Rauch Is Reuniting With Her Big Bang Theory Hubby Simon Helberg

For Night Court’s third-season capper, which will arrive on May 6 amidst a bunch of other upcoming 2025 TV finales, Melissa Rauch will share the screen once more with Simon Helberg, who played her small-screen significant other for nearly a decade. As Big Bang Theory fans are well aware, Helberg’s Howard began dating Rauch’s Bernadette after the latter joined the CBS sitcom in Season 3. They later wed, and by the time TBBT ended, the couple shared daughter Halley and son Neil Michael.

It doesn’t sound like their Night Court characters will be nearly as close, and I can’t say for certain that any children will be conceived during the episode’s runtime. However, Deadline does note that Helberg’s character is currently being kept under wraps, but with the intriguing tease that it’s a “game-changing cameo” that could potentially have a major effect on Abby’s life.

Here’s how his appearance is worded in the episode synopsis:

It's gonna be really weird if the big reveal ends up being that Simon Helberg's character is a long lost child of Harry Anderson's Harry Stone, and that he's actually Abby's half-brother, or something of that sort. Not that a new sibling reveal is the only way Abby's life could be rocked to the core, but it'd be a big one.

Helberg's arrival marks the latest Big Bang Theory alum to step into the courtroom, and we're not even talking about recurring star Kate Micucci, who also recurred on TBBT as Lucy. Rauch has brought in Kunal Nayyar back in Season 2, while Mayim Bialik entered the fray earlier in Season 3 for a wild episode that featured a Blossom-referencing dance scene.

Young Sheldon's Raegan Revord Will Join Melissa Rauch For The First Time

Meanwhile, the impending Season 3 finale will welcome another major star from the life and times of Sheldon Cooper, even if she wasn't specifically a Big Bang star. Rather, Young Sheldon's Raegan Revord will pop up in Night Court to cause a bit of lovestruck chaos in the courtroom.

And while her presence won't specifically tie into any memories of Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady's co-creations, the storyline will reflect Night Court's January 2984 episode "Santa Goes Downtown," which featured Michael J. Fox and Olivia Barash as star-crossed teen lovers who get caught shoplifting while attempting to run away and get married. The episode also involved a transient who believes he's the real Santa Claus.

It's not clear at this point who Revord's romantic interest will be for the episode, but it would be a hoot if they somehow landed Michael J. Fox to play the Santa impersonator. That's almost definitely not the case, given the actor's ongoing Parkinson's issues, and the fact that he would be promoted just as heavily as the other two guest stars. But still fun to think about.

As if those weren't enough already, but the two part Season 3 finale will also welcome back another very familiar face for Night Court fans, with Marsha Warfield popping back in as Roz. Elsewhere, viewers will also see an appearance from Shrinking's Michael Urie and a return from Veronica Mars vet Ryan Hansen.

I can't wait to see Melissa Rauch and Simon Helberg back together on the small screen, but I'm pumped that there are still a few episodes left to go before “Funnest Judge in the City” and “A Decent Proposal” arrive on NBC on Tuesday, May 6, at 8:00 p.m. ET.

In any case-of-the-week procedural, you get a slew of guest stars popping in and out. However, in The Good Wife, the army of talent Robert and Michelle King’s show assembled to support the cast of regulars is next level. From actors we already knew and loved when the show was airing on CBS in the 2010s to performers who have since become A-list names, this list is really a who’s-who of Hollywood’s finest talents.

Pedro Pascal - Nathan Landry - 6 Episodes

These days, we know Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic in the Fantastic Four or Joel in The Last of Us. However, before all that – and even before he died on Game of Thrones – he played the prosecutor Nathan Landry in six episodes of The Good Wife across Seasons 1 (Episodes 8, 13, 14 and 15) and 2 (Episodes 1 and 12).

Cristin Milioti - Onya Eggertson - 1 Episode

A handful of years before she was revealed as the mother of the How I Met Your Mother cast and over a decade before she stunned us all with her portrayal of Sofia Falcone in The Penguin, Cristin Milioti played the paranoid Onya Eggertson in Season 2, Episode 1 of The Good Wife.

Brian Tyree Henry - Randall Simmons - 1 Episode

In Season 2, Episode 2, Brian Tyree Henry plays Randall Simmons, a man Will and Alicia defend in military court. Of course, after this brief role, the actor went on to have an illustrious career as he starred in the hit show Atlanta and films like Causeway (for which he earned a 2023 Oscar nomination).

Rachel Brosnahan - Caitlin Fenton - 1 Episode

Rachel Brosnahan is Lois Lane in James Gunn’s Superman, and before that, she was The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Before those career-defining fast-talking roles, she played Caitlin Fenton, a client Alicia worked with during Season 2, Episode 6.

Michael J. Fox - Louis Canning - 26 Episodes

I think there’s an argument to be made that The Good Wife should be considered one of Michael J. Fox’s best projects. Yes, there’s Family Ties, Back to the Future and Spin City. However, his cunning and sly lawyer Louis Canning is an incredible character who he plays to perfection in 26 episodes across Seasons 2 through 7.

Ana Gasteyer - Judge Patrice Lessner - 5 Episodes

Making sure the lawyers say “in my opinion” in their various statements is Judge Patrice Lessner’s signature move, and it’s hilarious. That funny element of this character is perfect, too, considering she’s played in Seasons 1, 2, 4 and 6 by Saturday Night Live alum and comedy genius Ana Gasteyer.

Mike Colter - Lemond Bishop - 21 Episodes

Mike Colter has become a Michelle and Robert King repertory player thanks to his leading role in the show Evil, and you likely also recognize him for playing the titular Luke Cage in the Marvel series. However, before that, he played the drug lord Lemond Bishop in 21 episodes of The Good Wife between Seasons 1 and 6.

Melissa Benoist - Molly - 1 Episode

I was introduced to Melissa Benoist when she appeared on Glee. Then, The CW’s Supergirl made her a household name. However, long before all that, she had a small guest starring role on The Good Wife as Molly, Cary Agos’ first cousin, in Season 2, Episode 9.

David Oyelowo - Judge Edward Weldon - 1 Episode

From Selma to Lawmen: Bass Reeves, David Oyelowo has become well known for playing very powerful people. That was true back in 2010, too, when he played Judge Edward Weldon in Season 2, Episode 11 of The Good Wife.

Jeremy Strong - Matt Becker - 5 Episodes

Long before playing the “eldest boy” in the cast of Succession and winning an Emmy for his portrayal of Kendall Roy in the HBO hit, Jeremy Strong played pollster Matt Becker in five episodes of The Good Wife. While we’ve come to know this actor for his big roles in film and television, his early career features this fun, smaller and memorable character who appeared in Seasons 2 (Episodes 13, 15, 16 and 17) and 4 (Episode 21) of the CBS hit.

Rita Wilson - Viola Walsh - 6 Episodes

There’s a rotating cast of entertaining lawyers who pop in from time to time to be a thorn in the side of Lockhart/Gardner. This includes Michael J. Fox and Martha Plimpton’s iconic defense attorneys. It also includes Rita Wilson’s lawyer, Viola Walsh, who was featured in six episodes of the show between Seasons 2 and 6.

America Ferrera - Natalie Flores - 4 Episodes

The year after Ugly Betty ended, America Ferrera joined the cast of The Good Wife for three episodes in Season 2 (Episodes 15, 18 and 20), then popped up again during Season 5, Episode 8. She played student Natalie Flores in the show. After that, she went on to lead the comedy Superstore and played a major role in the cast of 2023’s Barbie.

Taye Diggs - Dean Levine-Wilkins - 3 Episodes

I was introduced to Taye Diggs thanks to his role as the Bandleader in one of the best musicals, Chicago. He’s also very well known for films like House on Haunted Hill, Rent, and Set It Up. So, it was fun to come see him play on The Good Wife when he appeared in Season 6, Episodes 2, 3 and 5 as the lawyer Dean Levine-Wilkins.

Sarah Silverman - Stephanie Engler - 1 Episode

Sarah Silverman had been in the comedy game for a long time before playing Stephanie Engler in Season 2, Episode 22 of The Good Wife. And she brought that sense of humor to the show while also showing off her more dramatic side while playing this client of Lockhart/Gardner.

Michael Kelly - Mickey Gunn - 2 Episodes

Michael Kelly is one of those actors who seemingly has shown up in everything. He’s a well-known character actor who has been in projects like Jack Ryan, Lioness, The Penguin, House of Cards and so much more. And in Season 3, Episodes 2 and 8 of The Good Wife he played Mickey Gunn, a political strategist who spent a lot of time verbally sparring with Alan Cumming’s Eli Gold.

Sterling K. Brown - Andrew Boylan - 1 Episode

Sterling K. Brown is a staple on television, thanks to his starring roles in This Is Us and Hulu’s Paradise. However, as he was coming up as an actor, he guest-starred on a whole bunch of network procedurals, including The Good Wife, where he played complicated eyewitness Andrew Boylan in Season 3, Episode 4.

Meghann Fahy - Shelby Hale - 1 Episode

Meghann Fahy’s leading role in Freeform’s The Bold Type introduced me to her, then she broke big because she was part of The White Lotus’ Season 2 cast. In the lead-up to all that, she guest-starred in Season 3, Episode 6 of The Good Wife as Shelby Hale.

Matthew Perry - Mike Kresteva - 3 Episodes

Matthew Perry’s Mike Kresteva proved to be a snarky adversary of Alicia in his introductory episode (Season 3, Episode 19). And seeing him come back in Season 4, Episodes 1 and 18, was always fun! Overall, while the actor brought the sarcastic sense of humor we know and love him for thanks to Friends, this show also let him show off a more dramatic side.

Kristin Chenoweth - Peggy Byrne - 2 Episodes

The Good Wife loves its Broadway guest stars, and one of their biggest gets on this front was Kristin Chenoweth. The Tony winner and Wicked alum played Peggy Byrn in Season 4, Episodes 1 and 6 and it was always fun to see her interact with Alan Cumming’s Eli Gold.

Nathan Lane - Clarke Hayden - 15 Episodes

In the beginning (Season 4), Clarke Hayden is a trustee assigned to Lockheart/ Gardner, and he worked on their horrendous financial situation. Later, he worked with the firm as a lawyer. This character who appears in 15 episodes across Seasons 4 and 5 is played by the remarkable Nathan Lane, who you most definitely know from his legendary work in films like The Birdcage, The Producers and The Lion King.

Carrie Preston - Elsbeth Tascioni - 14 Episodes

Carrie Preston’s Elsbeth Tascioni was so iconic on The Good Wife and The Good Fight that she got her own show. After starring in 14 episodes of the flagship show across every season (except Season 2) and five episodes of the spinoff and winning an Emmy for her work, the Kings created Elsbeth, a hit CBS show based around Preston’s lawyer-turned-crime-solver.

Stockard Channing - Veronica Loy - 11 Episodes

Who do you hire to play Julianna Margulies’ on-screen mother? Stockard Channing, of course. In 11 episodes across Seasons 4, 5, 6, and 7, the Grease actress appeared as Veronica Loy, the mom of our leading lady, Alicia Florrick.

Will Patton - Mike Tascioni - 4 Episodes

Elsbeth talks a lot about her ex-husband and her son. While we didn’t meet her kid, Teddy, until Elsbeth, we did meet her former spouse, Mike Tascioni, in four episodes of The Good Wife during Season 7, Episodes 15, 16, 17 and 19. He was played by Will Patton, who you likely recognize from one of the best sports movies, Remember the Titans, and shows like Yellowstone.

Parker Posey - Vanessa Gold - 3 Episodes

Who can go toe-to-toe with Alan Cumming and play his ex? Parker Posey, of course. The indie film darling played Eli Gold’s ex-wife in Season 3, Episodes 6, 15 and 20, and she was the perfect person to play this vital character in the political consultant’s story.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph - Margie - 1 Episode

Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph appeared in one episode of The Good Wife, Season 4, Episode 21, to be exact. She played Margie on the show. These days, she’s best known for her turns in The Holdover, Dolemite is My Name and Only Murders in the Building, so it’s cool to think that this CBS procedural was one of her first-ever on-screen gigs.

Gillian Jacobs - Sonia - 1 Episode

In an almost blink and you’ll miss it role, Gillian Jacobs (of Community fame) appeared in the pilot of The Good Wife as Alicia and Cary’s assistant.

Christina Ricci - Therese Dodd - 1 Episode

Before The Good Wife, we knew Christina Ricci from The Addams Family and Casper. In more recent years, she and the Yellowjackets cast are all the rage. However, for one episode in 2012, Season 4, Episode 7, to be exact, she played comedienne Therese Dodd in the hit CBS drama.

Wallace Shawn - Charles Lester - 3 Episodes

We know and love Wallace Shawn for saying “inconceivable” in The Princess Bride, and we also adore him for his roles in The Incredibles, Toy Story and more. We also know and love him for playing the Lemond Bishop’s lawyer, Charles Lester, in both The Good Wife and The Good Fight. And for the sake of this story, he was specifically in three episodes of the flagship series, appearing in Season 4, Episode 16, Season 5, Episode 13 and Season 6, Episode 22.

Kyle MacLachlan - Josh Perotti - 4 Episodes

Kyle MacLachlan is a TV legend. Obviously, Twin Peaks is what he’s best known for, and more recently, he and the cast of Fallout have made quite the splash on streaming. Between all that, he appeared in four episodes of The Good Wife (Season 4, Episodes 14 and 15 and Season 6, Episodes 5 and 6). He played Josh Perotti on the show, a federal prosecutor.

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor - Linda Underwood - 1 Episode

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is best known for her work in movies like Origin, King Richard and Nickel Boys, and she’s reached great acclaim for them. In the earlier days of her career, though, she was featured in Season 1, Episode 5 of The Good Wife, where she played Linda Underwood.

Matthew Lillard - Rowby Canton - 2 Episodes

It’s honestly a joy to see Matthew Lillard in anything. Of course, we know him best as one of the original Ghostfaces in Scream and Shaggy from Scooby-Doo, and he’s made waves in recent years for Five Nights at Freddys. However, he can do more than genre work, as proven by his two episodes of The Good Wife (Season 5, Episode 11 and Season 7, Episode 12) where he played musician Rowby Canton.

Vanessa Williams - Courtney Paige - 4 Episodes

Vanessa Williams is well known and loved for her roles on long-lasting shows like Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives. However, she’s also a King repertory player. She appeared in four episodes of The Good Wife, Season 7, Episodes 7 through 10, as CEO Courtney Paige, and then she showed up as a totally different character years later in the spinoff series, Elsbeth.

This list is honestly barely scratching the surface of the iconic actors who have been recruited to guest star on The Good Wife. The list is honestly elite, and it’s always fun to go back and see so many performers during so many different stages of their careers.

Actors playing multiple roles in entertainment go back to the dawn of drama. Even the ancient Greeks did it. This is certainly true of the film era, where actors have been playing roles all the way back to the beginning. Sometimes it's as simple as playing twins, like Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin in Big Business, and sometimes it's more complex, like the great Peter Sellers playing three very different roles in Dr, Strangelove. In honor of those actors, here are some of our favorite examples of actors playing multiple roles in movies.

Peter Sellers - Dr. Strangelove

No list like this would be complete without the great Peter Sellers in his three fantastic performances in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Sellers plays the resourceful Captain Mandrake, the bumbling President of the United States, and the completely over-the-top Dr. Strangelove in the movie. Sellers was also supposed to play the character Major Kong, but injured himself on set and the the role went to Slim Pickens instead.

Kate Hudson - Alex & Emma

Films with stories within stories are often a good place to find actors playing multiple roles, as is the case with Kate Hudson in Alex & Emma. In the "real" story, Hudson plays Emma, a stenographer helping Alex (Luke Wilson) complete his novel. As Alex and Emma work on the story, viewers are taken inside the story of a novel where both Wilson and Hudson play characters in the novel. Hudson, in fact, plays four different versions of a nanny in the book.

Michael J. Fox - Back To The Future Part II

While nothing will ever live up to the original Back To The Future, Back To The Future Part II is still pretty fun. One of the things that make it so is Michael J. Fox playing Marty (of course), and his son Marty, Jr., and his daughter Marlene in the movie. Thomas F. Wilson, who plays Biff Tannen, also plays multiple roles in the movie as the various members of the Tannen family.

Jodie Comer - Free Guy

This one is a little bit of a fudge, because in Free Guy, Jodie Comer is playing her character and her character's avatar. So in some ways they are kind of, sort of the same character. Still, she plays the roles different and for that reason, she deserves to be on this list.

Rory Kinnear - Men

Men is an odd movie, but in a good way. Rory Kinnear is what makes it unique. On the surface, Kinnear plays the owner of an inn in a small town, but he also plays most of the rest of the men in the town, all of whom are pretty odd characters.

Lupita Nyong'o - Us

Jordan Peele's horror classic Us features all of the cast members playing both their main character and "Tethered" character with that excellent cast being led by Lupita Nyong'o, who plays Addy and Red. It would be fair to put any of the cast members on this list though, about 20 in total, but we don't want to make this whole list about Us, despite how great it is.

Paul Dano - There Will Be Blood

It'll come as no surprise that a few entries on this list are actors playing identical twins in a movie. We had to include Paul Dano as both Paul and Eli Sunday in There Will Be Blood because Dano's performance, especially as the preacher Eli, is transcendent. The final scene between Eli and Daniel (Daniel Day-Lewis) is one of the most intense scenes ever to appear in a film.

Scarlett Johansson - Astroid City

Director Wes Anderson's Astroid City has a movie within a movie telling the story of the movie. As such, and as you'd probably expect, there are a few actors playing both their "real life" characters and the actors playing them in the movie inside the movie. Scarlett Johansson plays both Midge Campbell and the actor playing Midege, Mercedes. Jason Schwartzman also plays two roles, as do Matt Dillon, Maya Hawke, and others.

George Burns - Oh, God! You Devil

The legendary George Burns played God in not one, but three movies in the Oh God series. In the third installment, he added another character, the Devil. The best scene in the movie comes when God and the Devil play a game of poker for the soul of Bobby Shelton, played by Ted Wass.

Bette Midler And Lily Tomlin - Big Business

Movies about twins separated at birth have been popular in Hollywood forever, but in 1988, director Jim Abrahams upped the ante with two sets of twins separated at birth. Lily Tomlin and Bette Midler are two sets of sisters who discover they were separated from their identical twin. It's a decent movie that hasn't really been remembered by many movie fans.

Eddie Murphy - Coming To America

Of course, we had to include Eddie Murphy on this list! There are multiple movies where the great comedian plays multiple roles, but in the interest of brevity, we're just including the best Eddie Murphy movie, Coming To America. Murphy's main character, Prince Akeem, is the only one that he plays in the movie. Clarence, the barber, is also Murphy, as is Saul, the guy who just hangs out at the barbershop all day. Finally, Murphy also plays the character you may remember from the "What's Going Down" episode of "That's My Mama," Jackson Heights' own Randy Watson!

Christian Bale - The Prestige

The Prestige is a movie that gets a little lost in director Christopher Nolan's fimography, though, like most of his movies, it's excellent. Nolan teamed up with Christian Bale again on the heels of Batman Begins for this movie about rival magicians. Bale plays Alfred Borden and Borden's assistant, Fallon, who are living with a secret that we'll keep in case you haven't seen the movie.

Mel Brooks - History of the World, Part I

Mel Brooks is a one-man force of nature. Not only did he write, direct, and str in most of his movies, but he usually played multiple roles as well. One of the best examples was in History of the World, Part I, where he plays four characters, one in each segment of the film.

Tilda Swinton - Suspiria

There is little that Tilda Swinton can't do, including playing multiple roles in movies. She first did it in 2002's Teknolust, before playing oddball twins in the Coen Brothers' Hail, Caesar! In Suspiria, she plays three roles, Madame Blanc, Dr. Josef Klemperer, and Mother Helena Markos.

Leonardo DiCaprio - The Man In The Iron Mask

The titular character in The Man in the Iron Mask, was, supposedly, a prisoner kept by King Louis XIV during his reign. In the movie, the mysterious prisoner is Louis' twin brother, the fictional Philippe Bourbon. Both the king and the man in the iron mask are played by Leonardo DiCaprio in this historically dubious retelling of a classic Four Musketeer tale.

Janelle Monáe - Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

As the title implies, there are a lot of layers in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. by writer and director Rian Johnson. One of those layers is just who Janelle Monáe's character is, either Andi Brand, the ex-partner of Edward Norton's character, or Helen Brand, her twin sister investigating Andi's unexpected death.

Arsenio Hall - Coming To America

Like his co-star Eddie Murphy, Arsenio also plays multiple roles in Coming To America. His main role, Semmi, is Murphy's trusted servant. Hall also plays one of the women the two meet at a club and one of the barbers, but the funniest character he plays has to be the preacher. Every line he delivers is hilarious.

Armie Hammer - The Social Network

Of all the double (and more) roles on this list, maybe the easiest to do double duty for is that of the Winklevoss twins in The Social Network. Don't get us wrong, Armie Hammer nails the role(s) as the swarmy twins who actually came up with the idea that would become Facebook. They may have had a case against Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), but that didn't make them good people.

Graham Chapman - Monty Python And The Holy Grail

This is really an entry for all of the members of Monty Python, as all of them play at least four different roles in the movie. Graham Chapman plays King Arthur, so naturally, he gets top billing, but John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, and Eric Idle deserve the spotlight here. Actors Neil Innes, Sandy Johnson, and John Young also play multiple roles in the movie.

Halle Berry, Tom Hanks, Ben Whishaw, And More - Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas tells a story that spans centuries and in each timeline, the same core group of actors play different roles. This includes Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, and many more. It's a wild movie to follow, but all the actors are on point, for sure

Jack Nicholson - Mars Attacks!

While Mars Attacks! may not be the first movie you think of when you think of the great roles Jack Nicholson has played over the years, you should because he's actually really great in both of the roles he plays. It's not often thought of as one of Nicholson's best movies, but maybe it should be, because it is hilarious and he's a big reason why,

Hayley Mills - The Parent Trap

Both versions of The Parent Trap, the original starring Hayley Mills as twins separated at birth and the remake starring Lindsey Lohan as the twins are great movies. Mills and Lohan are both great at playing the dual roles of the twins who discover their parents separated them when they were babies and they never knew.

Mike Myers - Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

As the Austin Powers franchise chugged on, Mike Myers kept adding roles, but in the original, he started brilliantly as both the hero, Austin Powers, and the villain, Dr. Evil. It's hard to decide which character is funnier, but it's safe to say that without Myers playing the roles, neither would be as iconic and we wouldn't have as many classic lines from Myers.

Peter Sellers - The Mouse That Roared

While Dr. Strangelove is the most famous and revered example of Peter Sellers playing multiple roles in a movie, it wasn't the first time he did. A few years before the Stanley Kubrick classic, Sellers started in the wildly underrated war movie farce The Mouse That Roared. Sellers carries the movie in three different, ridiculous, and hilarious roles and it really should be better remembered today.

Margaret Hamilton - The Wizard Of Oz

Margaret Hamilton plays two different villains in The Wizard Of Oz. Of course, she plays the iconic Wicked Witch Of The West and Dorothy's obnoxious neighbor Almira Gulch, who takes Toto after claiming to be bitten by the innocent dog. Hamilton isn't the only actor in the movie to play dual roles, but both of her characters are the most developed of them.

Eddie Murphy - The Nutty Professor

Coming To America may be the best example of Eddie Murphy playing multiple roles, but The Nutty Professors and its sequel, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps definitely has him playing the most characters. Across both movies, he plays eight different characters. While both movies have their moments, neither quite reach the comedic heights of Coming To America.

Mia Goth - X

In The X series, Mia Goth plays both Maxine Minx and Pearl Douglas. the former is in Goth's wheelhouse, but the latter, an elderly woman who is the villain of both of the first two movies, X and Pearl. Goth is unrecognizable and brilliant in both.

Richard Pryor - Which Way Is Up?

Years before his Harlem Nights co-star Eddie Murphy started starring in multiple roles in movies, Richard Pryor pulled off the feat in Which Way Is Up? in 1977. While it's an uneven movie, it does have some funny moments, especially Pryor in one of his roles, the Reverend Lenox Thomas.

Cate Blanchett - Coffee & Cigarettes

Director Jim Jarmusch's Coffee & Cigarettes is a collection of short stories, 11 in total, that pay tribute to, you guessed it, those two popular vices. In one of them, Cate Blanchett plays a fictionalized version of herself and her fictional cousin, Shelly, who meet for a coffee and a smoke. The story is really just an uncomfortable conversation between Cate and the jealous Shelly, but it's one of the best stories in the movie.

Tom Hardy - Legend

Tom Hardy is never afraid to take on a tricky role and in Legend he takes on two, playing the psychotic Cray twins, Reggie and Ronnie. Based on the true story of the mobsters who gained fame in the mid-'60s as the owners of a popular nightclub frequented by celebrities in the "Swinging London" era.

Hilary Duff - The Lizzie McGuire Movie

Okay, we'll admit the plot of The Lizzie McGuire Movie is pretty silly. In it, Lizzie, played by Hilary Duff, of course, travels to Rome on a school trip and ends up in a weird love triangle of sorts with her Italian doppelganger, Isabella. Is it a great movie? Nah, not really, but it does fit on this list.

Adam Sandler - Jack And Jill

If you're an Adam Sandler fan, then you'll love Jack And Jill because you get twice as much Sandler as usual, as he plays the brother and sister, Jack and Jill. Honestly, unless you're a big Sandler fan, this is a movie you can skip, though it does seem to have fans for some reason.

When it comes to great movie trilogies, Back to the Future may stand on its own. The original film is seen today as a classic, and while the sequels may not have been quite as perfect, as a series, it’s one of the best. One need only take a look at how popular it still is all these decades later. Fans recently showed up at a fan convention and got a double dose of Back to the Future in the form of both Michael J. Fox and one of his amazing co-stars.

While we’ve occasionally seen Fox reunite with Christopher Lloyd or appear with Lea Thompson, there’s another member of the Back to the Future cast who is often overlooked, despite the fact that he appeared in all three films just like the others. James Tolkan played Principal Strickland in the first two Back to the Future films, and Marshal Stickland in the third film. He and Fox both recently attended Fan Expo New Orleans and got a picture together recreating a famous pose.

As somebody who still remembers seeing the original Back to the Future in theaters when it was released, I am absolutely loving this picture. James Tolkan is 93 years old, and here he is wagging a finger at 63-year-old Michael J. Fox. It makes me feel so old, but seeing these two having fun all these years later is just adorable.

James Tolkan is one of the great character actors of the last few decades. In the 1970s, he appeared in classics like Serpico and the original The Amityville Horror. In the ‘80s, he was in WarGames and Top Gun. However, he is likely known, first and foremost, as the angry bald high school principal in Back to the Future. Tolkan has mostly retired from acting, having not appeared on screen since 2015’s Bone Tomahawk, save playing his old character in a fan remake of Back to the Future.

Add to this the fact that it’s just great to see Michael J. Fox continuing to make public appearances whenever he’s able to do so. Nobody would mind if the actor, who is suffering from Parkinson’s disease, kept his appearances to a minimum, but he regularly appears at fan conventions, allowing his fans to see him, get pictures and see amazing moments like this one.

Back to the Future is so iconic that today it is still incredibly popular, despite the fact that we’ve seen nothing new from the franchise in decades. Discussion of sequels or remakes or reboots have never fully gone away, but when the original is this good, how do you even try to do it again?

Few Hollywood actors are as beloved as Michael J. Fox is, as the former actor has endeared himself to the masses through his exceptional work. The now-63-year-old star is still widely known for his portrayal as conservative teen Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties, his charming turn as Marty McFly in the highly rewatchable Back to the Future films and more. On top of all that, he’s been involved in a plethora of charitable efforts. Now, Fox can say that he’s a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and his BTTF co-stars reached out to show support.

On Saturday, U.S. President Joe Biden honored multiple people with the aforementioned honor at the White House. Among their ranks were actor Denzel Washington, U2 icon Bono and former U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. Needless to say, the Spin City alum was in good company, and fans took to social media to share their well wishes. Someone else who joined the chorus of praise was Christopher Lloyd, who famously played Emmett “Doc” Brown in the Back to the Future flicks. The veteran actor honored his co-star on X:

I’m not sure what I love more – the message or the sweet clip from the ceremony that was shared in the Addams Family alum’s post. Another lovely message came from Lea Thompson, who notably played the Marty actor’s mother, Lorraine Baines-McFly, in Robert Zemeckis’ classic trilogy. Thompson, who recently recalled her on-set experience, paid tribute to her on-screen child with a sweet message and well-timed gif:

As a longtime fan of Michael J. Fox, it warms my heart to see Michael J. Fox receive such a tremendous honor. I’m also a massive fan of Back to the Future, so I’m certainly smiling over the fact that Lea Thompson and Christopher Lloyd honored their friend and colleague with some sweet messages. Fox himself also released a statement via his foundation after he was named an honoree:

It goes without saying that the Canadian actor has turned in some of the most iconic performances in the history of cinema and TV. And he’s long remained humble about his accomplishments, even admitting that it wasn’t until recently that he realized he nailed his portrayal of Marty.

Acting aside, Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with early on-set Parkinson’s disease in 1991 but didn’t publicly disclose his condition until 1998. Since then, the American President alum has been a staunch advocate for research regarding the disease. Much of those efforts have been done through the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Considering the good work he’s done on and off camera, it’s no surprise that Fox received the prestigious medal.

Though it’s been nearly 35 years since the last Back to the Future film hit theaters, some of the primary cast members have remained close. The BTTF cast have even reunited for conventions and other events over the years, and those public appearances have led to sweet moments amongst them. Lea Thompson and Christopher Lloyd’s latest messages are simply a testament to the ties that continue to bond these actors together. I hope these relationships continue to endure.

You can buy/rent the Back to the Future movies on multiple digital platforms or purchase them on physical media. Also, check out the must-see documentary Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie by streaming it with an Apple TV+ subscription.

Throughout Shrinking’s two seasons, we’ve seen Harrison Ford’s therapist Paul learn to live with his Parkinson’s, which is an ongoing and increasing challenge. It’s a big part of the show too, and it’s handled with great care. Now, the show’s co-creator, Bill Lawrence, has opened up about how they depict the disease on the comedy and how his relationship with Michael J. Fox has impacted how they depict Parkinson’s on the incredible Apple TV+ series.

After Shrinking Season 2 wrapped up on the 2024 TV schedule, Bill Lawrence spoke about how his friendship with Fox has influenced how they show Parkinson’s on the Apple TV+ project with People. The creator explained that both he and his fellow co-creator Brett Goldstein have personal connections to their disease, because both their fathers had it. Lawrence is close to Michael J. Fox too, which also impacted the show, as he explained:

In Shrinking, Paul is a working therapist who is in the earlier days of his Parkinson’s diagnosis. In Season 1, he realizes he shouldn’t drive anymore and in Season 2 his shakes get worse and there’s a lot of talk about his medication and when he should take it. While what he’s going through is hard, it’s never sad or tragic. As Lawrence said, like the way Fox has handled Parkinson’s, Harrison Ford’s character’s strength and resilience as he works to figure out his new normal is "inspiring."

For a bit of context on why Lawrence has such a deep connection to Fox, the two collaborated on one of the best sitcoms, Spin City. As the actor revealed in his great documentary Still, he tried to hide his Parkinson’s while filming the first few seasons of that show. However, in 1998, the Back to the Future star publicly disclosed his diagnosis and continued to work on the comedy until it ended in 2002.

After that, Fox guest starred in Lawrence’s comedy Scrubs, and as the producer said, he’s always been inspired by his collaborator’s work. To that point, the Ted Lasso co-creator said:

You can feel that spirit in the show. Paul works so hard and he’s so emotionally vulnerable about what he’s going through – as proven in dividends by the tearjerking Season 2 speech Ford gave during the finale.

Lawrence went on to say that he takes inspiration from the people in his life all the time, and he credited the Family Ties star as the first collaborator he did that with.

As you likely know, Fox has become a leading voice in the fight against Parkinson’s, and his advocacy for it and research is more than admirable. Plus, his general optimism and drive to keep going, despite the challenges he’s faced, is extremely uplifting. Like Paul, people are inspired by him, and I 100% understand why Bill Lawrence is too.

If you are looking to watch Shrinking and Michael J. Fox’s documentary Still, which candidly addresses how his life has changed as he’s lived with Parkinson’s, you can stream both with an Apple TV+ subscription.

I cannot count how many times Scrubs has come up when discussing the best TV sitcoms of all time. Over the course of nine seasons (and two networks), the Zach Braff-led medical comedy introduced audiences to some of the most iconic and endearing small-screen characters of the past 25 years, as well as some legendary celebrity guests. With Academy Award winners, Star Wars alumni, and on-the-rise comedians, Sacred Heart Hospital was a hopping place when these 32 actors popped up on Scrubs.

Brendan Fraser

Though Brendan Fraser is best known for roles in movies like The Mummy, The Whale, and Encino Man, the Oscar winner played a small yet pivotal role as Ben Sullivan on Scrubs. Dr. Cox’s (John C. McGinley) brother-in-law, Ben was at the center of several of the best episodes of Scrubs as well as one of the most emotional TV moments of all time. Seriously, Ben is one of the best characters to ever appear on the show, which is saying a lot.

Michael J. Fox

One of several Spin City cast members to show up on Scrubs, Michael J. Fox appeared in a pair of episodes during the show’s third season. Taking on the role of Dr. Kevin Casey, a confident and talented doctor and surgeon dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Ryan Reynolds

Before he was leading some of the best Marvel movies and showing up in great romantic comedies, Ryan Reynolds had a one-off appearance on Scrubs. Showing up in the show’s second season, Reynolds played Spence, J.D. (Zach Braff) and Turk’s (Donald Faison) college friend who comes to visit while in town for a wedding.

Courteney Cox

A few years after Friends came to an end and a few months before Cougar Town premiered, Courteney Cox had a brief fun on Scrubs. During her handful of appearances in the show’s eighth season, Cox played Dr. Taylor Maddox, the new Sacred Heart chief of medicine following Dr. Kelso’s (Ken Jenkins) sudden departure.

Dick Van Dyke

Probably the Scrubs celebrity guest with the most prolific career, Dick Van Dyke showed up for a single episode partway through the show’s second season. The legendary actor/singer/dancer took on the role of Dr. Doug Townshend, a Sacred Heart doctor who no longer wanted to stick around and keep up with technology and decided to retire.

Elizabeth Banks

In terms of guest spots, few actors appeared in as many episodes as Elizabeth Banks. Between Seasons 5 and 8, Banks popped up in a total of 15 episodes as Dr. Kim Briggs, a urologist at another hospital who eventually became the mother of J.D.’s son before it was all said and done.

Colin Farrell

Colin Farrell was just about everywhere in the 2000s, including Scrubs. The In Bruges actor played Billy Callahan, an Irishman who was sticking around to watch over a man he knocked out in a bar fight, partway through Season 4. Though his arrival caused a stir at Sacred Heart, it all eventually worked out in the end.

Aziz Ansari

Before he became one of the biggest comedians on the planet thanks to Parks and Recreation and Master of None, Aziz Ansari had a supporting role on Scrubs. Ansari appeared throughout the show’s eighth season where he played Dr. Ed Dhandapani, one of J.D.’s young interns, and possibly the laziest person at Sacred Heart.

Heather Graham

A major player throughout Scrubs Season 4, Heather Graham took on the role of Dr. Molly Clock, a psychiatrist at Sacre Heart who kept referring to J.D. as “Johnny.” She appeared in nine episodes during her single-season run on the show.

Billy Dee Williams

Billy Dee Williams, of Star Wars and Brian’s Song fame, showed up in a single episode of Scrubs Season 5. But like other guest stars, Williams played himself, or at least a version that was Julie Quinn’s (Mandy Moore) godfather.

Matthew Perry

The late Matthew Perry (appearing alongside his real-life father, John Bennett Perry) showed up for an episode of Scrubs back in the show’s fourth season. In his one-off appearance, Perry played Murray Marks, a man who comes to Sacred Heart Hospital to donate a kidney to his ailing father.

Mandy Moore

Several years before she led another all-time great NBC series, This Is Us, Mandy Moore showed up on Scrubs as Julie Quinn. Though she only appeared on a pair of episodes during the show’s fifth season, Moore’s character made quite an impact on the staff at Sacred Heart, especially J.D. Their romance was short-lived, but one the hopeless romantic doctor wouldn’t forget.

Richard Kind

Harvey Corman is definitely one of the most iconic (and annoying) guest characters on Scrubs, and that’s all thanks to the brilliant work by Richard Kind. A hypochondriac like no other, Corman was in and out of Sacred Heart Hospital with all kinds of issues and medical emergencies throughout Seasons 2 through 4.

Masi Oka

Before having a massive breakout role on Heroes, Masi Oka appeared on Scrubs off and on between Seasons 1 and 4, in which he took on the role of a lab tech named Franklyn. Though he only appeared in a handful of episodes before leaving the show, Oka’s character showed up in some of the most memorable moments in Scrubs history.

Tom Cavanagh

In addition to leading the comedy series Ed, Tom Cavanagh also had a sizable guest spot on Scrubs. Every once in a while, Cavanagh would show up as J.D.’s older brother, Dan Dorian. There for a life, a shoulder to cry on, or an important life lesson, Dan was there for some of his brother’s most trying moments.

Tara Reid

Tara Reid was part of the Scrubs cast for 11 episodes, with all but one coming from the show’s third season. During her run, Reid took on the role of Danni Sullivan, Ben Sullivan’s younger sister, who became one of J.D.’s many girlfriends at one point.

Phill Lewis

Phill Lewis has appeared just about everywhere throughout his prolific TV career, including Sacred Heart Hospital for a stretch. During his run on Scrubs, Lewis portrayed Hooch, an orthopedic surgeon with a wild and dangerous side, to say the very least.

Jason Bateman

Jason Bateman popped up for a single episode of Scrubs during the show’s fifth season. During his one-off appearance, Bateman plays Mr. Sutton, a garbageman who refuses to thank J.D. after being treated.

John Ritter

The late John Ritter showed up in two episodes of Scrubs as Sam Dorian, J.D.’s dad. The cash-strapped and constantly unemployed character had his issues, but still cared deeply for his song.

Taran Killam

Before landing a steady gig on Saturday Night Live, Taran Killam had a recurring role on Scrubs during the show’s penultimate season. Killam took on the role of Jimmy, one of J.D.’s interns at Sacred Heart.

Jimmie Walker

Jimmie Walker, best known for his portrayal of J.J. Evans and his “Dynomite” catchphrase from Good Times, appeared in two episodes of Scrubs. During the show’s first season, Walker played himself as he appeared in two of the J.D.’s signature daydreams.

Sean Hayes

Best known for his roles as Jack McFarland on Will & Grace, Sean Hayes has made a ton of other appearances over the years. This includes Scrubs, where he played Nick Murdoch, an intern whose time at Sacred Heart was shortlived because he couldn’t handle the stress and emotional toll of watching a young patient’s slow demise under his care.

Ricky Schroder

Ricky Schroder’s career got off to a hot start as a child actor, including multiple appearances and a leading role on Silver Spoons, one of the most beloved sitcoms of the ‘80s. That career would continue well into adulthood for the former teenage star, including a four-episode turn on Scrubs. During the show’s second season, Schroder played Paul Flower, a male nurse Elliott Reid (Sarah Chalke) was embarrassed to admit she was dating.

Kelli Williams

If you look at the list of the best TV shows of all time, you’ll find multiple featuring the work of Kelli Williams. In addition to Law & Order, Quantum Leap, The Practice, and Ally McBeal, there’s also Scrubs. During her two episodes back in 2001, Williams played Kristen Murphy, a surgical student at Sacred Heart Hospital.

Cheryl Hines

In the middle of her run as Larry David’s wife on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Cheryl Hines made a brief appearance on Scrubs. During a single episode in the show’s fifth season, Hines played Paige Cox, Dr. Perry Cox’s very religious sister who shows up at Sacred Heart Hospital and forces the temperamental doctor to think about memories he long locked away in the deepest and most secure vaults of his mind.

Dave Foley

Dave Foley, best known for his time on The Kids in the Hall and movies like A Bug’s Life and Toy Story 2, had a pair of appearances on Scrubs during the middle of the show’s nine-season run. Foley took on the role of Dr. Lester Hedrick, a Sacred Heart grief counselor who was like a softer, kinder, and more easy-going mentor for J.D. when compared to the easily angered and annoyed Dr. Cox.

Julianna Margulies

E.R. wasn’t the only NBC-based show set in a hospital to feature the work of Julianna Margulies, as she also popped up on Scrubs for a couple of episodes during the show’s fourth season. But instead of playing a doctor this time, Margulies took on the role of Jenna Broderick, a candidate for the scariest lawyer award. The malpractice attorney had a habit of showing up and causing trouble, especially with J.D. Not much is known about the character’s whereabouts about J.D. put an end to things.

Keri Russell

Keri Russell, best known for her work on shows like Felicity and The Americans, had a short run on Scrubs, appearing in two episodes. In the show’s sixth season, Russell took on the role of Melody O’Harra, Elliott’s sorority sister who shows up and brings her easy-go-lucky personality and philosophy on life to the core group of the cast, but mostly J.D.

Heather Locklear

Heather Locklear added Scrubs to her long list of TV credits when she appeared for a pair of episodes during the show’s second season. During her time on the show, Locklear played Julie Keaton, a pharmaceutical rep who showed up at Sacred Heart Hospital to sell her company’s latest and greatest product. But she got more than she could chew when she started a relationship with Dr. Perry Cox, which provided a short-lived reprieve for everyone who had grown tired of his anger and outbursts while making rounds.

Christopher Meloni

Christopher Meloni played one of the most sadistic prisoners in the Oz cast as well as a dedicated and complicated detective on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but did you know he played a pediatrician on Scrubs? Well, that was the case for an episode during the show’s third season in which he played Dr. David Norris, Dr. Cox and Jordan Sullivan’s (Christa Miller) son’s pediatrician. Though a far stretch from his turn as Chris Keller on the landmark HBO series, Dr. Norris was still a wild card, to say the very least.

Amy Smart

Amy Smart showed up in movies like Varsity Blues, Road Trip, and The Butterfly Effect throughout the late ‘90s and early 2000s, but she also had quite a few TV appearances during that stretch of time. This included a spot on Scrubs as Jamie Moyer, aka “Tasty Coma Wife,” the wife of a car crash victim. This led to one of J.D.’s most ridiculous relationships on the series, which is saying something.

Nicole Sullivan

Mad TV star Nicole Sullivan appeared in a handful of episodes of Scrubs. Sullivan played Jill Tracy, a recurring troubled patient at Sacred Heart who made an impact on everyone she encountered, for better or worse. Her death, which ultimately led to one of the show’s most heartbreaking sequences (it features The Fray’s “How To Save a Life”), is one that had a massive impact on the medical staff for years to come.

It’s hard to envision a time when Lea Thompson and Michael J. Fox weren’t friendly with one another, as they spent a great deal of time together making the Back to the Future movies and have frequently interacted with each other in the decades since the trilogy concluded. However, it’s not as though these two have always been on good standing with one another. Thompson admitted that when she first met Fox on the first Back to the Future movie’s set, she was “snooty” to him, though she had some understandable reasons for that.

While appearing on the Still Here Hollywood podcast, Thompson, who played Lorraine McFly in all three Back to the Future movies and Maggie McFly in Part III, recalled to host Steve Kmetko that she “probably” didn’t hit it off right away with Fox. That was in part due to her being friends with Eric Stoltz, who was originally set to play Marty McFly, but was fired after director and co-writer Robert Zemeckis deemed he wasn’t right for the role after all. On top of that, though, Thompson shared that she looked down on Fox for the following reason:

While she is correct that there was a larger divide between movie and TV actors back then, let’s no forget that Family Ties was one of the more popular shows of the ’80s and is still considered to be one of the best sitcoms of all time. But what’s really funny about Lea Thompson’s recollection is that Michael J. Fox was actually courted to play Marty before Eric Stoltz. The only reason it didn’t work out the first time around was because he was busy with Family Ties, but after things with Stoltz fell through six weeks into filming, Fox was approached again, and they figured out a way to shoot Back to the Future (one of the best sci-fi movies) with him without it disrupting the sitcom’s production.

Despite her initial iciness towards Michael J. Fox, Lea Thompson did believe that the Marty McFly recasting would improve Back to the Future’s chances of success, reasoning that the filmmakers must have known what they were doing because of how it expensive it was to change the actors this far along into the creative process. The actress also said:

34 years after this sci-fi saga concluded with Back to the Future Part III, Lea Thompson and Michael J. Fox remain “friendly” with one another, with the former mentioning that she sees the latter a few times a year at fan conventions. Thompson and Fox’s co-stars in all three Back to the Future movies included Christopher Lloyd and Thomas F. Wilson. Crispin Glover and Claudia Wells respectively played George McFly and Jennifer Parker in the first movie, but Jeffrey Weissman and Elisabeth Shue took over those roles for the other two.

Currently the Back to the Future movies can be streamed if you’re subscribed to Star, either directly or as an add-on for something like a Hulu subscription. Lea Thomson can currently be seen on the TV series The Chicken Sisters, which airs on Hallmark+.

Sometimes, a character and a project come around that impacts the zeitgeist deeply, and when that happens, the role becomes permanently attached to an actor’s legacy. This list includes over 30 actors from some of the greatest movies and TV shows who will forever be remembered for one role. 

Daniel Radcliffe – Harry Potter, Harry Potter 

While Daniel Radcliffe’s list of best movies is long and notable – with entries like Swiss Army Man and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story – he will always be known first and foremost as The Boy Who Lived. The actor took on the titular role of Harry Potter when he was 12 years old, and he’s the face of a franchise of movies that have raised countless people. So, while he is beloved for lots of things, nothing will ever be as big and prominent as his role in the Wizarding World.  

Aaron Paul – Jesse Pinkman, Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad and its cast truly took the world by storm, and the guys leading the charge, Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, became certified legends because of it. It’s hard to separate Paul from Jesse Pinkman, and the impact he made with his fellow ensemble members in this incredible show.  

Sarah Michelle Gellar – Buffy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

When you play one of the greatest TV characters of all time, obviously, it’ll be the thing you’re most remembered for. For Sarah Michelle Gellar, she’ll always be known as the legendary Buffy the Vampire Slayer after playing the empowering and strong titular character for seven seasons in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s. 

Robert Downey Jr. – Iron Man/Tony Stark, Iron Man

Yes, Robert Downey Jr. won an Oscar for Oppenheimer, and yes, he’s well known for roles in other films, like Sherlock Holmes. However, when you single-handedly help successfully start a cinematic universe like the one Marvel has and star in nine of those projects, yes, you are going to be known for playing that character forever.

So, when it comes to RDJ’s legacy, his role as Iron Man/Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be the thing he’s remembered forever for.  

Elijah Wood – Frodo, Lord of the Rings

Like Daniel Radcliffe and Harry Potter, so many grew up with Elijah Wood and Lord of the Rings. His portrayal of the hobbit Frodo Baggins was incredibly impactful, and while he has gone on to play a variety of memorable roles, there’s no denying the power of the Rings. 

Carrie Fisher – Princess Leia, Star Wars

You can’t talk about the late great Carrie Fisher and her career without mentioning Princess Leia and the Star Wars movies. She inspired a whole generation as her intelligent, stubborn and empowering princess, and the five films she was a part of helped define sci-fi in film. 

Leonard Nimoy – Spock, Star Trek

Live long and prosper, my friend. Forever and always the legendary Leonard Nimoy will be known for originating the role of the half-Vulcan, half-human Spock in Star Trek. 

Christopher Reeve – Superman, Superman

Christopher Reeve’s legacy is rooted in him playing Superman in four films. Even the documentary that came out about his life in 2024 leans into his time playing Clark Kent, as it’s called Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story. 

James Gandolfini – Tony Soprano, The Sopranos

The Sopranos is considered one of the greatest shows on television, and James Gandolfini’s performance as Tony Soprano is a major reason why. The actor won three Emmys for his performance in the series, and his name, face and voice are synonymous with the beloved HBO drama. 

Alicia Silverstone – Cher Horowitz, Clueless

When I think of Alicia Silverstone, I immediately think of Cher, because she is and always will be best known for her iconic performance in one of the best movies of the ‘90s, Clueless. 

Sigourney Weaver – Ellen Ripley, Alien

Sigourney Weaver changed the sci-fi game when she starred in Alien. Ellen Ripley is a magnificent and strong leading woman in this sci-fi horror flick, which in 1979, was not something we saw very often. 

Jim Parsons – Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory

“Bazinga!” Will always follow Jim Parsons, and that’s because of his tenure playing Sheldon Cooper in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The actor has four Emmys for playing the role, he starred in all 280 episodes of the comedy, and his character even inspired a spinoff, Young Sheldon, which came to an end in 2024 after its own seven-season run. 

Kit Harington – Jon Snow, Game of Thrones

The world was introduced to Kit Harington because of Game of Thrones, and he will always be remembered as the heroic Jon Snow. His role in the GOT cast was vital, and over the years, as we watched him battle it out at The Wall and work toward saving Westeros from winter, it was impossible not to fall for him. Now, while Harington has been in numerous other projects since then, it’s impossible not to think of him as this epic fantasy hero first. 

Emma Watson – Hermione Granger, Harry Potter

These days, Emma Watson doesn’t act anymore, and she’s killing with her gin company Renais. However, she’ll also always be remembered as a wonderful actress who brought life to the beloved witch Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films. 

The Entire Cast of Friends

Yes, the cast of Friends all went on to have successful careers after the NBC sitcom. However, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox are best known as Rachel, Ross, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Monica, and they always will be, because they’re the ones with a hit TV show. 

Ralph Macchio – Daniel LaRusso, The Karate Kid

After three Karate Kid movies, and six seasons of its highly successful spinoff Cobra Kai, you’d be silly not to think that Ralph Macchio will always be remembered for playing Daniel LaRusso. 

Linda Hamilton – Sarah Connor, The Terminator

Linda Hamilton played Sarah Connor in The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Terminator: Dark Fate. She’s beloved for portraying the protagonist in this sci-fi franchise, and she’s synonymous with this series that she starred in alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

Chris Hemsworth – Thor, Thor

While many Marvel actors have become synonymous with their characters, one who really stands out is Chris Hemsworth and Thor. Physically, the Australian actor perfectly embodies the God of Thunder, and throughout his time playing the character he added an unexpected sense of humor to the role – especially post-Thor: Ragnarok – that he’ll be remembered forever for. 

Kristen Stewart – Bella Swan, Twilight

Twilight, the debate about Team Edward vs. Team Jacob and Kristen Stewart’s Bella Swan took over the zeitgeist between 2008-2012. To this day, while she’s gone on to star in incredible films like Spencer and Love Lies Bleeding, the role that made her a household name is one of the parts she’ll always be remembered for. 

Heath Ledger – The Joker, The Dark Knight

Heath Ledger is widely regarded as the best Joker, because of his commanding performance as the legendary Batman villain in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. This movie was also one of his last before his untimely death, and he won a posthumous Oscar for his incredible take on the infamous big bad. 

Millie Bobby Brown – Eleven, Stranger Things

Millie Bobby Brown has made quite a few successful films, like the Enola Holmes movies. However, it’s undeniable that the role that will define her career is Eleven in Stranger Things. She was only 12 when she started playing the mysterious super-powered human, and over the course of the show’s five-season run, both she and the ensemble of the Netflix series, have become pop culture icons because of the show. 

William Shatner – Captain Kirk, Star Trek

If you take a look at the four projects listed at the top of William Shatner’s IMDb page, all of them are Star Trek movies where he played Captain Kirk. The man starred in seven films and a long-running TV show as the beloved captain, so of course it’s what he’s best known for. 

Michael J. Fox – Marty McFly, Back to the Future

From Family Ties to Teen Wolf, Michael J. Fox and his shows and movies were ‘80s staples. However, there’s no denying that the project he’ll always be remembered for is Robert Zemeckis’ Back to the Future. To this day, the project is considered one of the best ‘80s movies, and Fox is still beloved for playing the charismatic, funny and heroic Marty McFly. 

Reese Witherspoon – Elle Woods, Legally Blonde 

In the over two decades since Legally Blonde’s release, so many have been inspired to pursue their dreams and wear lots and lots of pink. That’s because Elle Woods truly left an amazing mark on the zeitgeist, and it’s because of Reese Witherspoon’s heartfelt, funny and preppy performance as the incredible lawyer-in-training. 

As Elle Woods would say, “What like it’s hard” to create one of the best characters and movies of the 2000s? 

Jon Hamm – Don Draper, Mad Men

While Jon Hamm is a wicked comedic actor, and he’s starred in a myriad of fun movies, nothing will ever come close to Mad Men. For 92 episodes, Hamm led the Mad Men cast as Don Draper – which he took an Emmy home for in 2015 – and he’ll always be recognized for playing the charismatic creative director of Sterling Cooper.

Judy Garland – Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz is a film that has raised generations of kids since 1939, and it’s still a family classic. So, when you lead a beloved musical like that, as Judy Garland did, and it remains relevant and loved for over eight decades, obviously, the role you’ll always be known for is that one. 

David Tennant – The Doctor, Doctor Who

While everyone who has played the titular timelord on Doctor Who is known for that role specifically, David Tennant is a fan-favorite Doctor, and it’s single-handedly the project he’s best known for. While he’s dabbled in many other critically acclaimed projects, like Good Omens and Broadchurch, he is and always will be the beloved actor who graced our screens as the Tenth and Fourteenth Doctors first and foremost. 

Anthony Hopkins – Hannibal Lecter, The Silence of the Lambs

Silence of the Lambs is one of the greatest horror movies of all time, and it’s in part thanks to Anthony Hopkins' truly terrifying cannibal Hannibal Lecter. In fact, his character became so popular that it inspired three more movies and a TV show. 

Sarah Jessica Parker – Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City

I’m sure Carrie Bradshaw inspired many women to become writers, and I know she left many of us fantasizing about living out our lives in New York City. Sarah Jessica Parker truly slayed the role, and her own sense of style and charismatic personality meshed perfectly with Carrie. Along with playing the writer in the OG series Sex and the City, SJP has also portrayed her in two movies and the series And Just Like That. 

Emilia Clarke – Daenerys Targaryen, Game of Thrones 

Khaleesi, Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen, those are all the names Emilia Clarke’s dragon rider went by in Game of Thrones, and she gave an absolutely commanding performance as her. While her ending wasn’t what most wanted, there’s no denying how amazing it was to see Daenerys rise from a woman trying to survive to a powerful leader, and that’s because of how brilliant Clarke was in the role. 

Mark Hamill – Luke Skywalker, Star Wars

He was the face of the original trilogy, and you can’t think about Star Wars without thinking about Mark Hamill and Luke Skywalker. While the actor is well-known for other roles, especially in the world of voice acting, his most prominent part has to be this. 

Gal Gadot – Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman

Sadly, there aren’t many superhero movies led by women. However, luckily, we do have a few wonderful ones, and that includes Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman. She played the beloved hero with so much grace, poise and strength, and she’ll 100% always be remembered for it. 

Obviously, while all these actors have played other prominent roles in well-known movies and shows, there’s no question that when we consider their legacies, these parts will be the first ones we think about. They’re that iconic, and we have these performers to thank for them. 

Some of the first words said in Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie are “I’m a tough son of a bitch,” and that fully sets the tone for the journey the beloved actor takes us on in this documentary. The film walks us through the life of Fox, from his days on Family Ties and Back to the Future to his ongoing battle with Parkinson’s. It’s a raw, candid and fast-paced look into his career and mind, and if you are a fan of his like I am, here's why you should really check this project out with your Apple TV+ subscription.  

Still Brilliantly Juxtaposes Michael J. Fox's Past With His Present

There are many instances in Still where it smashes between Michael J. Fox’s past on some of the best sitcoms – Family Ties and Spin City – and movies and the present, where he’s talking about life with Parkinson’s. It’s a jarring juxtaposition, and it’s meant to be, because the actor very clearly explains that he never stopped moving when he was young, and now he’s forced to slow down.

A prime example came at the start of the film when he was talking about getting cast in Family Ties. It goes from this heart-pounding story about how he got the life-changing role and proved to be a star and then it cuts to the present where he’s talking about how hard Parkinson’s makes it to emote. 

By juxtaposing these two points in Fox’s life not only do we get an understanding of his life and accomplishments, but we also feel the struggle of what he’s gone through in a way. It’s a big change to go from moving at a million miles an hour to being forced to slow down to survive, and by watching Fox toggle between the past and present in such a raw and visceral way, we feel that in full as viewers. 

The Documentary Offers An Incredibly Raw Look Into How Michael J. Fox Lives With Parkinson's

Fox disclosed his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 1998, but he lived with it for seven years before doing that. So, he’s been living with this disease since 1991, and the documentary takes viewers through how it’s impacted him over the last three decades. 

Through reenactments and clips, Fox tells stories about finding out about his diagnosis and trying to hide it while he shot Spin City. He said that disclosing what was going on to the public was like a “new beginning,” and in the documentary, he gets into the nitty-gritty of that and how he lives with Parkinson’s.

By showing him at physical therapy and seeing all the energy it takes for him to simply walk, I could feel Fox’s emotions radiating off the screen as he persisted through the challenges. 

The documentary also didn’t shy away from getting into the struggles that came with making this project specifically. He does the voice-over for it all, and while it sounds seamless in the film, there’s a moment where they show him working through the VO and stopping occasionally to take a breath or re-say a line. It’s not easy for him to speak, and this moment really showed that and just how difficult it is to work with Parkinson’s. However, it also highlighted his strength and ability to push through the challenges, which is a through line within Still. 

The Way The Doc Depicts How He Worked On Back To The Future And Family Ties Simultaneously Is Mind-Boggling 

Along with the raw and new look into the actor's past and present, we also got his version of very famous stories. This included, of course, the tale of how he ended up leading one of the best movies of the ‘80s, Back to the Future, while simultaneously working on Family Ties. He was told he couldn’t miss an hour of work on the sitcom, and so the deal was he’d spend his days there and nights on the movie. 

What followed was a relentless cycle of him being rushed from place to place and barely getting sleep. They depicted that process through a reenactment that was scored to music that only got more and more frantic as it jumped from one set to another and back to his apartment, and at one point Fox said:

Both projects are considered some of Michael J. Fox’s best work, and the fact that he did them at the same time is astonishing, especially when you understand just how exhausting it was. It’s a testament to his talent and his perseverance, which is something he’s continued to exhibit throughout his entire life. 

Michael J. Fox Does Not Sugar Coat His Story

What overtook me the most while watching this documentary was how candid Michael J. Fox was during it. There was absolutely no sugarcoating in the present or the past. At one point, he explained that he wasn’t looking for sympathy, and that was clear as day in Still. 

While they talked about the wild success of Back to the Future, he also noted how much he’d drink and party when he was young. They’d bring up his acclaimed performances in Family Ties and Spin City, and Fox would then talk about his ego. He was a workaholic and not always there for his family, and he directly said that to the camera. What struck me most was just how honest he was about his marriage. He's been with Tracy Pollan for nearly four decades, and he's open about both the incredible love they share and the struggles they've faced as he worked too hard. 

All of this culminates into a full picture of Fox. It doesn't feel like we're seeing a caricature or just one side of the actor, we're getting what seems to be his true self and all the good and bad that comes with it. 

I deeply appreciated how open Fox was about his flaws and struggles. While he’s always been a hero to me, and continues to be, hearing about the challenges he’s faced in his life and his struggle through them was eye-opening. It felt like we were getting the whole Michael J. Fox because he was so open about his story, and I think that it’s why Still works so well. 

It's downright impossible to not be impressed by the resilience of Michael J. Fox. Not only has he demonstrated incredible fortitude living with Parkinson's disease, but his activism and spirit is powerful symbol of hope to all who have or know people with the condition. One can't help but marvel at his fight and what he's able to accomplish – like playing guitar during a Coldplay performance of "Fix You" this weekend at Glastonbury 2024.

The sprawling concert and entertainment festival in England ended today after beginning last Wednesday, and Coldplay took the main Pyramid Stage on Saturday night. Michael J. Fox joined Chris Martin and his soft rock outfit to play of the band's most famous songs, jamming on peach-colored axe. You can watch the full performance below:

Michael J. Fox has been a skilled guitar player for decades, with his talents wonderfully reflected in director Robert Zemeckis' time travel classic Back To The Future (behind the scenes trivia: it's not actually Fox that we hear playing "Earth Angel" and "Johnny B. Goode" in the film, but that's a fiction merely masking a true musical skill the performer possesses). It goes without saying that it's lovely and awesome to see him pick up the instrument for a live performance in front of 120,000 people (the capacity of the venue).

Following the performance, Michael J. Fox reflected on the experience with a post on his personal Instagram account – thanking everybody involved who helped make the cameo appearance possible. He wrote,

You can check out some of the photos that Michael J. Fox took from the event in the Instagram post below.

I also don't feel like it would be proper for me to write this article and not include a clip of one of the greatest scenes in one of the most beloved films of the 1980s (not to mention one of the best science-fiction movies of all time). Watching the scene, the musicianship you're hearing is credited to Tim May, but Michael J. Fox unquestionably sells the hell out of the performance:

If you now find yourself with a hankering to watch Back To The Future, the bad news is that it is not currently available to stream on any major streaming service. The good news is that you can purchase or rent it from various digital retailers, and the entire Back To The Future trilogy is on 4K UHD.

Michael J. Fox is an example of an extraordinary human being. Not only has he starred in great movies and TV shows that have shaped his career, but the Canadian-American actor has done incredible work toward research funding to find a cure for Parkinson’s. Now, his good pal, Ryan Reynolds, has made sure to give the Back to the Future actor all his flowers in a touching Instagram post.

Since Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991, he has faced difficulties in his career because of an inability to remember dialogue and several falls. Fox recounted the good and bad times of his life in the Apple TV+ documentary film Still. But as Ryan Reynolds wrote about his friend for Time100, he pointed out that Fox’s best quality is his ability to persevere through the adversity put in front of him. Starting out his Time100 piece, the actor wrote (via Instagram post):

Everything Ryan Reynolds said about Michael J. Fox is on point considering all that the Family Ties actor has accomplished. Fox was recognized for his work at the 2022 Governors Awards when he won the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for raising $1 billion for fighting Parkinson’s. While Ryan Reynolds plays a superhero, he made it clear that Fox is a real-life superhero. The Emmy winner wrote in the comments how appreciative he was of his friend’s kind words to him. He said:

Like the Deadpool actor mentioned in his tribute, he has been a great admirer of the Teen Wolf star, and he hopes to teach his young daughter the lessons the talented actor taught him about not being afraid to fall. Telling a sweet story about showing his young one Back to the Future, Reynolds wrote:

Before Still had its streaming premiere, The Adam Project actor expressed his excitement towards Fox’s documentary and how he was looking forward to learning about his "role model's" story. 

In the post, Reynolds also noted the personal connection he has to Fox and his work, explaining that his father passed away in 2015 from a long battle with Parkinson’s:

After his father’s death, People reported that the IF actor encouraged people on X to donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation where he’s been on the board of directors since 2008. Having celebrities like Michael J. Fox bring the challenges he's faced to light proves that we’re not alone in our battles and that good friends like Ryan Reynolds can help raise awareness about the vital need for cures.

Ryan Reynolds wrote an endearing tribute to Michael J. Fox for Time100's list of this year's influential people. With the mark that Fox has left on the entertainment industry and the medical community, he’s a celebrity that deserves all of the praise in the world. 

You can watch Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie with an Apple TV+ subscription. Make sure to look at our 2024 movie releases too so you don't miss Ryan Reynolds' upcoming projects, IF and Deadpool & Wolverine, too.

Whether it's doing stunts or just freak accidents, even the biggest Hollywood stars aren't immune to getting injured on set. While we mostly think of stars chilling in their posh trailers while their stunt people take the biggest risks, sometimes it's the celebrities themselves who get the worst of things. Here is our list of big stars who have been injured while filming, and what happened after. 

Daniel Craig 

You can't just pick one of the James Bond movies that Daniel Craig was injured during the filming of, because the truth is, he's been injured a lot. In No Time To Die, it was his ankle, which required surgery and he was off-set for a couple of weeks recovering. In Casino Royale, he knocked out two teeth filming a fight scene. In Quantum of Solace, he injured his shoulder, and in Spectre, it was his knee. It's easy to see why Craig has retired from the role, filming James Bond movies can be dangerous. 

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise famously does many of his most intense and dangerous stunts himself. It's become his brand, but it doesn't mean he doesn't get hurt. In fact, while filming Mission: Impossible – Fallout, it was one of his more innocent stunts, jumping from building to building, that caused an injury when Cruise broke his leg landing the jump. Filming halted for a few months while Cruise recovered, but the footage was included in the movie. 

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford has a long history of getting injured on movie sets. Maybe the most high-profile time was when a door fell on his leg while shooting Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He broke his leg and director JJ Abrams injured his back helping pull the door off the Han Solo actor. 

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone is one of the premiere action stars of the last 50 years, and as such, he's been injured a few times on set doing stunts. The worst, according to Stallone, came while filming the boxing match with Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in Rocky IV. Lundgren hit him so hard in the chest at one point that it caused his heart to swell and he ended up in intensive care for eight days. 

Isla Fisher 

One of the best scenes in Now You See Me is when Isla Fisher's character performs the underwater escape trick. It wasn't so great for the actress though, as she nearly drowned during the filming. Luckily a stuntman was there to flip the safety switch and save her. 

Leonardo DiCaprio

One of the most intense scenes in Django Unchained is Leonardo DiCaprio's speech after dinner. He bangs his hand on the table and slices his hand on a glass. DiCaprio, ever the pro, kept going without missing a beat. It's so good, director Quentin Tarantino left that take in the final cut. 

Kristin Chenoweth

TV stars aren't safe either. Kristin Chenoweth was almost killed on the set of The Good Wife when part of the lighting rig fell on her. According to the actress, she had a "skull fracture and a rib issue and a hip issue" as a result. 

Bruce Willis

Like a lot of action stars, Bruce Willis has had his fair share of injuries in stunts gone wrong. In Live Free or Die Hard, the Hollywood legend suffered a serious cut above his eye that required stitches, after Maggie Q's stunt doubled kick him with high heels on. 

Mariska Hargitay

Sometimes, the extent of the injury isn't immediately understood, as was the case with Mariska Hargitay after a fall on the set of Law & Order: SVU. Hargitay performed a stunt that required her to land on some pads, but, in her words, something went wrong. She shook off the injury at first, but a few months later, she felt a sharp stabbing pain and ended up in the hospital with a collapsed lung. She recovered after surgery, though a second surgery was needed later. 

Charlize Theron

Æon Flux is not one of Charlize Theron's best movies, and it did almost leave her paralyzed. The actor fell on her neck performing a stunt and had she not been lucky and fallen just a centimeter differently, according to her, it could have been very bad. 

Malcolm McDowell

One of the more terrifying scenes in A Clockwork Orange is when Malcolm McDowell's character is "rehabilitated" by being forced to watch violent videos while his eyes are held open. For McDowell, it was even worse, as the setup caused his corneas to be scratched and he was blinded temporarily as a result. 

Brad Pitt

In the weirdest of coincidences, there is Brad Pitt in Troy. In the film, Pitt plays the Greek hero Achilles. Achilles is famous for one thing, his armor not covering that one tendon in a person's heel... Well, it just so happens that while filming Troy, Pitt tore his Achilles Tendon. 

Uma Thurman

During the filming of the Kill Bill movies, Uma Thurman crashed a car she was driving into a palm tree in Mexico and suffered injuries to her knees and a concussion. Years later she exposed what she claimed was a cover-up by the film's producers in an Instagram post. 

Orson Welles

The great Orson Welles really gave everything he had to make Citizen Kane. That includes chipping a bone in his ankle that forced him to use a wheelchair on set for two weeks while he directed. The injury occurred when he fell down some stairs while filming, and the scene made it into the final cut. 

Linda Blair

During the iconic scene in The Exorcist when Linda Blair's character, Regan, thrashes around as the bed levitates, the scream queen injured her back due to a mechanical default. The injury caused scoliosis, which still causes her problems today, though she's found ways to make it less painful. 

Jim Caviezel

The list of injuries that Jim Caviezel suffered while filming The Passion of the Christ has become the stuff of internet legend. Some injuries are hard to verify, but others aren't, the most notable of which is that as Caviezel prepared for the Sermon on the Mount scene, he was actually struck by lightning. That's got to be some sign, right?

George Clooney

The head injuries George Clooney sustained while filming the torture scene in Syriana were so debilitating that the actor says he even contemplated suicide. Eventually, doctors were able to alleviate the headaches after surgery, but in the meantime, Clooney called it "the most unbearable pain I've ever been through."

Orlando Bloom

There were a few injuries on the set of the Lord of the Rings movies, and one notable one was Orlando Bloom. Bloom broke some ribs when he fell from a horse while filming LOTR: The Two Towers. His fellow cast members gave Bloom a little...uh... ribbing in a behind-the-scenes video as well. 

Martin Sheen

There may be no more infamous Hollywood production than Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now. No one had it worse than the film's star, Martin Sheen. As told in the documentary about the filming, Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse, Sheen not only suffered a near-fatal heart attack during production, but he also suffered a nasty cut on his hand. In the famous opening scene, Sheen punched a mirror and sliced his hand open and it bled badly. If you've seen the movie, you know what it looked like, because Sheen continued the scene and all the blood is very real.  

Michelle Yeoh

As an actor known for doing her own stunts, it's no surprise that Michelle Yeoh has been injured a few times on set. The most notable came when Yeoh tore her ACL during the production of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. She was flown from China to Baltimore where surgery was performed to fix the injury at Johns Hopkins. 

Tom Hanks

Sometimes the most innocent-sounding injuries can be the worst. Such is the case for Tom Hanks, who cut his leg filming Cast Away. While a cut doesn't seem all that serious, it caused sepsis and landed Hanks in the hospital, who almost died as a result of the blood poisoning. 

Buddy Ebsen

The Beverly Hillbillies star Buddy Ebsen could claim one of the weirder injuries on this list. Ebsen was the original actor cast to play the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz and as part of the role, he was painted silver. The aluminum powder in the paint caused a reaction that landed Ebsen in the hospital due to breathing problems and he was recast by actor Jack Haley in the role. 

Winona Ryder

Accidents happen, even on movie sets of comedies, not action movies. Such was the case for Winona Ryder while filming Mr. Deeds with Adam Sandler. While filming the scene on the bike in Central Park, Ryder took a tumble off it and broke her arm in three different places. Ouch. 

Matt LeBlanc

Injuries even happen on sitcoms. Even the biggest ones. While filming a scene for Friends, Matt LeBlanc fell into a chair and dislocated his shoulder. Production was delayed briefly, but the evidence is still on the screen, as LeBlanc was seen wearing a sling for a couple of episodes as his shoulder healed. 

Michael J. Fox

One of the scariest injuries didn't happen during a proper stunt. In Back To The Future III, Michael J. Fox almost died in the scene where his character, Marty McFly, is hanged. A mishap meant that he was actually getting choked and at first no one noticed. He passed out before he was lowered to the ground. 

Ed Harris

Ed Harris was almost killed while filming The Abyss. In one of the many underwater scenes in the movie, Harris ran out of oxygen and no one else on set realized he'd signaled that he did. He passed out from a lack of oxygen, but luckily someone finally noticed and they got him some air. 

Vincent D'Onofrio

Marine boot camp is intense, even for actors just playing Marines. Vincent D'Onofrio, who played Private Pyle in Full Metal Jacket, injured his knee so badly during filming one of the training scenes that he ended up needing surgery to fix it. 

Melanie Griffith

One of the most notoriously dangerous movies ever shot is Roar by director Noel Marshall. In the 1970s, Marshall was married to Tippi Hedren, which also made him Melanie Griffith's stepfather. The movie filmed Hedren and Griffith (who was a kid at the time) living with lions. Real lions. According to legend, at least 70 people were injured by the big cats, including Griffith, who was "mauled near the eye" and needed plastic surgery to fix it. 

Jackie Chan

One actor you won't be surprised to see on this list is Jackie Chan. The martial artist and stuntman has pulled off some of the most insane stunts in film history, so it's no surprised he's been injured along the way. One notable time was while shooting Police Story. In one scene, Chan slides down a metal pole, which he did so quickly he suffered third degree burns on his hands. The shot was used in the movie. 

Al Pacino

Injuries can occur when actors don't quite make the best decisions. Take, for example the great Al Pacino. While filming a scene in Scarface, Pacino grabbed the business end of a gun that had just been fired and severely burned his hands. According to Brian De Palma, the actor was off for the next two weeks. 

Matthew Fox

Every now and then, one actor will injure another one, as is the case with Terry O'Quinn and Matthew Fox on the set of Lost. In a fight scene, O'Quinn stabbed Fox with a knife, which O'Quinn thought, incorrectly, was a prop knife, but it was very real. Thankfully, Fox was wearing a protective Kevlar vest that saved him from actually being stabbed. 

Dylan O'Brien

Dylan O'Brien was almost killed while shooting The Maze Runner: The Death Cure. While shooting a scene, the star of the movie was struck by a car. According to Vulture, O'Brien had a "concussion, facial fracture, and brain trauma among his injuries." Production on the movie was halted as he recovered, which, according to O'Brien, was one of the worst periods in his life. 

Dominic Purcell

Even without stunts and other action, injuries happen. Prison Break star Dominic Purcell broke his nose and had other facial injuries while filming for the show in Morocco. It was a freak accident as a lighting truss fell from the set and hit him. It could've been very scary, as those kinds of accidents have killed people, but luckily for Purcell, his injuries healed quickly and production on the show wasn't impacted.

Most of the time, when actors are injured on set, the injuries are minor, thankfully. Of course, that isn't always the case, and though deaths on movie sets are rare, they happen, so anytime someone is injured seriously, production is usually halted. Just looking through this list, you can see just how close some of these big names came to serious injury, and in a way, they're lucky (and we're lucky) that they are still around.   

Sometimes, if you love a movie enough, you might want to try and own a piece of it. However, the buying movie props business can get to be an expensive one. Here are some of the most expensive pieces of memorabilia ever sold.

 The Spy Who Loved Me's Submarine Car 

Sold For:  $864,600 

James Bond has had some of the coolest cars in all of movie history, but none are quite as wild as the car that transformed into a submarine in The Spy Who Loved Me. The vehicle driven by Roger Moore was a white Lotus Esprit and while multiple cars were used in the film, only one was given the submarine transformation. The vehicle sold for 550,000 pounds at auction in 2013.

Steve McQueen's Le Mans Suit 

Sold For: $336,000

Most of the most expensive movie props ever sold are from major blockbuster movie franchises, but sometimes they're just worn by the coolest people to walk the earth. In 2017 the racing suit worn by Steve McQueen for the racing movie Le Mans sold for $300,000.

Audrey Hepburn's Breakfast at Tiffany's Dress 

Sold For: $800,000

Somebody was a big Breakfast at Tiffany's fan in 2007, because they paid $800,000 for the dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the classic film. The price blew away the early estimates of what the dress would sell for. It was good news for a lot impoverished children, as the dress was sold for charity. 

Darth Vader's Empire Strikes Back Helmet 

Sold For: $898,420

Darth Vader is one of the most iconic villains in film history, so it's no surprise that his equally iconic helmet would be a prized possession. Specifically, the helmet from The Empire Strikes Back sold in 2017 for 1 million British pounds, or just short of $900,000 dollars.

 Saturday Night Fever's Dance Floor  

Sold For: $1,200,000

Most movie props are something you can put on a shelf and display. It's unclear how the person who spent over $1 million on the Saturday Night Fever dance floor planned to show it off. You don't let people walk on something that costs that much, do you?

Judy Garland's Wizard of Oz Dress 

Sold For: $1,560,000

The Wizard of Oz is one of the most popular films ever made, and Judy Garland one of the most beloved movie stars ever. There are probably a lot of people who would spend more than $1.5 million on Garland's Dorothy dress, assuming of course they had the cash.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Sold For: $805,000

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang wasn't exactly a high-performance automobile in the Dick Van Dyke musical, but it certainly sold like one, as the car sold for over $800,000 back in 2011. While it's one of the most expensive movie props ever purchased at auction, it was actually expected to go for a lot more.

R2-D2 From Star Wars

Sold For: $2,760,000

These days looking at R2-D2 on screen is as likely to be a CGI creation as it is a physical prop. Perhaps that's why one of the original R2-D2 creations for Star Wars: A New Hope sold for well over $2 million in 2017. There simply may not be as many of them in the future.

Casablanca's Piano 

Sold For: $3,400,000

"Play it, Sam." One of the most famous lines in movie history is often misquoted, but however you say it, you can play "As Time Goes By" on the actual piano used in Casablanca, or at least one person who had $3.4 million to purchase the piano can. Assuming they can play the piano at all.

The Wizard of Oz Ruby Slippers

Sold For: $2,000,000

There are multiple pairs of Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz in the world that have all gone for significant sums. The most expensive was sold for $2 million in 2012 by a group that was buying them to add to the collection of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences museum.

The Maltese Falcon

Sold For:  $4,085,000

The Maltese Falcon is a movie about a lot of people who are willing to do, or pay, anything, to get their hands on a small statue of a falcon. It's fitting then that when the actual statue from the film was put up for sale, it sold for over $4 million, a record sum for a movie prop at the time.

Audrey Hepburn's My Fair Lady Dress 

Sold For:  $4,551,000

My Fair Lady won eight Oscars in 1965 and one of them was for the film's costume design. Audrey Hepburn's "Ascot" dress is probably the most well-remembered outfit in the film. The incredible dress that Eliza Doolittle wore for her coming out would sell for over $4.5 million in 2011. 

The Wizard of Oz's Cowardly Lion Costume

Sold For:  $3,077,000

Sometimes you don't know what you have. The Cowardly Lion costume was reportedly going to be thrown away by MGM before somebody saved it. Many years later the costume, which is made of real lion fur, sold for over $3 million. It makes one wonder what other valuable props may be lost forever.

Marilyn Monroe's The Seven Year Itch Dress 

Sold For:  $4.6 million 

Few pieces of clothing in the world are as famous as the white dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch. The dress was previously owned by actress Debbie Reynolds, for a museum project that never happened. The dress sold for $4.6 million, before the $1 million fee the auction house took home.

Robby the Robot From Forbidden Planet

Sold For:  $5.375 million 

Forbidden Planet was a groundbreaking science fiction film that influenced nearly every movie in the genre that came after it. Today the film is likely best known for Robby the Robot, a completely unique design for a robot character at the time. When Robbie sold for over $5 million in 2017 he became the most valuable movie prop ever sold.

 James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 From No Time To Die

Sold: For:  $3.5 million 

Few movie cars are as iconic as James Bond's Aston Martin. Actors from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig have driven different versions of the classic vehicle. Many replicas have been built and sold over the years but one vehicle that was actually used for stunts in Craig's final outing No Time to Die, sold in 2022 for £2,922,000, or about $3.5 million.

The Ax From The Shining

Sold For: $175,000

Stephen King famously didn't love The Shining from Stanley Kubrick, but millions of movie fans certainly feel otherwise. One apparently loved the movie so much, they dropped six figures on the ax Jack Nicholson swung into doors in the film, spending more than double what the weapon had gone for at a previous auction.

Marty McFly’s Hoverboard From Back To The Future Part II

Sold For:  $501,200

Ever since Back to the Future Part II came out, we've been waiting for hoverboards to become real. We're still waiting for that, so we'll have to make do with the props from the film. One of which, sold in 2021 for over a half million dollars. There were two added features that helped boost the sale, it was autographed by stars Michael J. Fox and Tom Wilson.

 Han Solo’s Blaster From Star Wars

Sold For: $1,057,500

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side. That blaster, however, can get expensive. The last remaining Han Solo DL-44 blaster -- three were originally designed -- from the original Star Wars sold for just over $1 million in the summer of 2022. 

Indy's Hat From Raiders Of The Lost Ark And Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom

Sold For: $500,000 (and $300,000)

Harrison Ford has created more than one iconic character in film history, but none look as good in a hat as Indiana Jones. Different hats worn by Ford for different movies have all been sold for high prices. A Raiders of the Lost Ark hat has the record at $500,000, but one from Temple of Doom did almost as well selling for $300,000

 Charlie Chaplin's Cane And Hat  

Sold For:  $139,250

Charlie Chaplin was one of the first true movie stars, and his Tramp was one of the first movie franchise characters. Recognizable by his bowler hat and twirling cane, several sets have been auctioned off in the past, with a set in 2006 selling for almost $140,000.

 Superman Costume From Superman: The Movie

Sold For: $350,112

Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and before the endless iterations of Batman, there was Superman. Christopher Reeve made us believe a man could fly in 1978's Superman, a full set of Reeve's hero costume from the movie sold at auction for $350,000

 The Sound of Music Costumes 

Sold For:  $1.3 million

In The Sound of Music, Julie Andrews' Maria Von Trapp makes the children some play clothes out of curtains. If only she knew they would become so valuable. A collection of the costumes including the childrens' costumes and one of Andrews' dresses, sold for $1.3 million in 2013.

 2001: A Space Odyssey Space Suit 

Sold For: $370,000

2001: A Space Odyssey is considered one of the best sci-fi movies ever made, so its little shock props from the movie would be in demand. One of the movie's spacesuits sold for $370,000 in 2020.

 Gandalf's Staff From The Lord Of The Rings

Sold For: $390,000

When Gandalf's white staff from The Lord of the Rings went up for auction in 2017, it was expected to sell for around $25,000. Instead, the piece sold for over 10 times that amount. 

The Seventh Seal Chess Set 

Sold For:  $143,300 

Even if you've never seen Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal you likely know of the game of chess against death that has been referenced and parodied countless times. Bergman held on to the actual chess set used in the film, and it was sold after his death for 1 million Swedish crowns or a little under $150,000.

Chris Pratt's Guardians Of The Galaxy Helmet 

Sold For: $160,000

With so much of the Marvel Cinematic Universe being created by digital effects, there may be a minimum, of physical props to actually own. However, Star-Lord's helmet from Guardians of the Galaxy is very real, and it sold for six figures in 2017. 

 Prince's Purple Rain Costume 

Sold For:  $192,000

The death of Prince in 2016 was a shock to fans around the world, but it may be the reason that an auction of two items from his Purple Rain wardrobe a few months later ended up selling for $96,000 each, much more than had been expected. 

Back To The Future's DeLorean   

Sold For:   $541,200

There were seven DeLorean cars used in the original Back to the Future, but today only three are believed to exist, so of course they are quite valuable. One of the remaining models sold for over a half million dollars in 2011, with a portion of the funds going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

Luke Skywalker's Lightsaber From Star Wars

Sold For:  $240,000

There may be no more iconic weapon in movie history than the lightsaber, and while the "real" one has no blade, one of the models Mark Hamill used in the first two Star Wars movies sold for nearly a quarter million dollars in 2008. Another item was listed for sale in 2018, but it was pulled after Hamill himself questioned its authenticity. 

Aragorn's Sword From The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King

Sold For:  $437,000

Andúril was reforged from the shards of Narsil in the Elvish enclave at Rivendell. With a lineage like that, it's no shock that the blade of Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King sold for over $400,000. 

 Poltergeist Clown Doll 

Sold For:  $656,250

Why somebody would spend $650,000 on a scary clown doll is a real question. Yes, it's from Poltergeist, an iconic horror movie, but now you have a scary clown doll in your house. Why would you do that? 

Harrison Ford's Blade Runner Costume

Sold For:  $287,500 

Blade Runner wasn't a box office hit in its day, but the film has become a cult classic and a defining part of Harrison Ford's career. His Deckard costume from the original film sold in 2023 for almost $300,000.

And those are just some of the many iconic movie props that sold for a huge sum of money.

Earlier this month, Marty McFly and Doc Brown became Broadway stars for the first time with the arrival of Back to the Future: The Musical to New York City. After the show got its start in Manchester, England in 2020, it premiered at the Winter Garden Theatre on August 3 and is currently going to keep running into early next year. Amidst this, the show’s Marty McFly actor, Casey Likes, shared his sweet encounter with Michael J. Fox last month. 

Michael J. Fox is, of course, the original Marty McFly who really brought the role of a teen who travels back to the ‘50s to meet his parents at his age to life. 21-year-old Casey Likes recently recalled getting to meet the Back to the Future star while at a gala in July for the musical. In his words: 

While speaking to People, Likes recalled the encounter on a night where Christopher Lloyd and Leah Thompson, along with musician Huey Lewis and the movie’s director Robert Zemeckis, were in attendance. As he continued:  

How sweet! As you may recall, Fox was quoting a line in Back to the Future that is a Doc Brown saying. It sounds like it was the perfect way for the Broadway actor to be passed the torch of the role in one of the best sci-fi movies of all time. You can check out Casey Likes portraying Marty McFly for theater on Good Morning America last week below: 

Clearly Back to the Future: The Musical is a bit of a different thing than the ‘80s movie, but it certainly pays tribute to Michael J. Fox’s role through a new medium. The filmmakers of the beloved trilogy have been adamant over the years about Hollywood not rebooting the movies, but  a musical is the next best thing, right? It’s especially great to see the original cast be involved as the musical comes to Broadway. Lloyd also previously helped celebrate the announcement of the musical heading to NYC as well. 

In the musical, Doc Brown is played by Roger Bart, who debuted the role in Manchester along with Hugh Coles’ George McFly, who also moved to the Broadway production. Casey Likes is the second Marty McFly after Olly Dobson began the role across the pond. Before Back to the Future: The Musical, Likes made his Broadway debut in Almost Famous: The Musical, which is yet another Broadway show based on a famous movie. 

We’re even more excited about Likes being in the Marty McFly role after his moment with Marty McFly. What an amazing moment! 

How do you pick just one of the ‘80s movies for the biggest movie stars of the decade? It’s a challenging task, but we figure we’re up for the job. So if you find yourself only able to watch a single '80s film starring each of these icons, here’s the only list you’ll need. 

Tom Cruise - Top Gun

This one is obvious, right? Top Gun is the movie that made Tom Cruise a superstar and his career has never wavered since. It was such a cultural phenomenon at the time that not only did it make an astounding $357 million at the box office (against a $15 million budget), it became the best-selling VHS tape of all time, based on pre-orders alone! Everyone saw it that summer, and again when it was released on home video. He revived the franchise 36 years later and dominated at the box office again with Top Gun: Maverick. 

Steve Martin - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Steve Martin had a string of hits in the 1980s, but his best of the bunch was Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. It’s a perfect example of how varied Martin’s comedy could be. At times refined, at others completely physical and off the wall. Martin puts everything into this performance and it shows in the results. It’s just a brilliantly hilarious film. 

Whoopi Goldberg - Jumpin’ Jack Flash

Whoopi Goldberg burst onto the big screen in The Color Purple (more on that film in a minute). Her performance was lauded by critics, with Roger Ebert calling it “one of the most amazing debut performances in movie history.” It’s certainly a film worth watching for her Oscar-nominated performance, but if you really want to get a great idea of what Goldberg was all about in the ‘80s, check out  Jumpin’ Jack Flash. Goldberg is, after all, a comedian at heart, and she brings all her comedic skill to bare in this early tech/spy thriller. It’s another A+ performance from the star of The View.

Goldie Hawn - Overboard

Goldie Hawn was already a veteran in show business by the time the ‘80s started, but she saved some of her best performances for the decade. In her final movie of the decade, she teamed up with Kurt Russell for Overboard, and the chemistry between the two is right there on the screen for all to see. Both actors are amazing, and Hawn truly is one of America’s sweethearts. 

Morgan Freeman - Lean On Me

By 1989, Morgan Freeman had been steadily working in Hollywood for more than two decades, but it was that year that his career jumped to superstar levels. He starred in 4 films in the final year of the decade, including Driving Miss Daisy and Glory. Those two films garnered 14 Oscar nominations between them, including a Best Actor nod for Freeman. It was a third film though, Lean On Me that really lit the screen on fire. Based on the true story of a principal named Joe Clark who is charged with cleaning up a Paterson, NJ school. Freeman’s performance is powerful and set the stage for all that came after it in his career. 

Demi Moore - About Last Night

One of the actors to emerge out of the 1980s “Brat Pack,” Demi Moore forged a career that lasted well into the ‘90s and beyond, with some of her finest work coming in her first few films. One of those, About Last Night, holds up incredibly well. It’s a unique take on the rom-com and is at times much more serious than so many others from this era, due in large part to the grittier story it was adapted from (David Mamet’s play, Sexual Perversity in Chicago) and Moore’s excellent performance alongside Rob Lowe.  

Harrison Ford - Raiders Of The Lost Ark

Sure, there are a few movies that would fit here for Harrison Ford, like that one about the space wars or whatever it’s called. But for pure, distilled Ford, nothing beats Indiana Jones and nothing beats the OG Raiders of the Lost Ark. It’s Ford at his very best: snarky, charming, witty, and tough. No Nazi is safe with Indy after them. 

Oprah Winfrey - The Color Purple

Oprah Winfrey’s rise to all-powerful media queen began in the ‘80s and a very big piece of that was her acting performance in 1985’s The Color Purple. She was nominated for an Oscar in her film debut and almost four decades later, the film’s powerful message of overcoming abuse still resonates with audiences. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, though it shockingly didn’t win any, which is a shame. 

Chevy Chase - Fletch

Like Harrison Ford, you could go in a lot of directions with Chevy Chase, but, like Raiders, you need to go with the purest form of Chase and for that, there is nothing better than the original Fletch. He's at his sarcastic best as Irwin Fletcher. No one can quite be as charmingly condescending as peak Chase and no one is spared here. Order up a couple of steak sandwiches and some caviar; Fletch just hit a water buffalo.

Meryl Streep - Out Of Africa

In the 10 Academy Awards shows of the ‘80s, Meryl Streep was nominated seven times. She won her first (and only of the decade) for 1982’s Sophie’s Choice, but let’s get real, as amazing as she is in it, no one really wants to sit down with a bowl of popcorn and watch that one. Instead, consider a performance just as good, but slightly more upbeat (only slightly, though). Out of Africa is beautiful, as are Streep and Robert Redford in the lead roles, and the tragic story comes to life like magic with her performance. 

Geena Davis - Beetlejuice

Geena Davis made steady progress in her career in the early ‘80s but really found a new level in Beetlejuice. Her on-screen partnership with Alec Baldwin as two ghosts frustrated with the people living in their house is excellent, as they more or less play the “straight man” to Micheal Keaton’s titular character. It’s not an easy gig, but Davis is amazing. 

Jackie Chan - Police Story

Jackie Chan didn’t break big in the United States until the ‘90s and by then he was the biggest action star in Hong Kong. It was 1985’s Police Story that solidified his spot at the top and if you’ve never seen it, you definitely need to. While Chan has always been an amazing stuntman, it’s Police Story that brings all his skills to the forefront, from amazing fight scenes to the epic opening car chase with Chan hanging onto a bus with an umbrella as he pursues the baddies. It’s one of the most insane stunts in Chan’s history of insane stunts. 

Kathleen Turner - Romancing The Stone

Romancing the Stone is one of the great comedies of the 1980s and features some amazing performances from Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito, but Kathleen Turner’s Joan Wilder takes the cake. Or the bail of pot, as the case may be here. Walking that line between an intrepid explorer looking for her kidnapped sister and a damsel in distress, Turner shines. Her chemistry with Douglas and DeVito is so good, they made two more films together, the sequel Jewel of the Nile and the unrelated The War of the Roses, but it’s Stone that remains the best. 

Michael Douglas - Wall Street

Michael Douglas is great as Jack in Romancing The Stone, but it’s his portrayal of Gordon Gekko in Wall Street that makes for one of the greatest movie villains in cinema history. Of course, he won an Oscar for the performance, but it’s how quotable the movie and his character are that makes it one of the best of all time, even if those quoting don’t always understand the heavy-handed irony in each line. 

Edward James Olmos - Stand And Deliver

With Stand And Deliver, director Ramón Menéndez told the true story of math teacher Jaime Escalante who sought to raise the level of education single-handily in an East LA high school by daring to teach underprivileged Hispanic kids calculus. Edward James Olmos plays Escalante brilliantly, earning himself an Oscar nomination in the process. 

Tom Hanks - Big

Tom Hanks grew up with Big, literally and figuratively. It marks the point in his career when he jumped from a wild and wacky comedian to an actor who can take on any role, no matter how serious, and make it his own. There are the wilder moments, but there is also a real vulnerability to the man-child Josh Baskin that Hanks makes so authentic for the audience. It’s no wonder it earned him his first Oscar nomination. 

Daryl Hannah - Splash

Another Hanks movie also happens to be the great Daryl Hannah’s finest performance. Before Ariel, there was Madison, the mermaid who longed to walk on the land with humans and falls in love with an average Joe. Hannah’s performance magically convinces audiences that it’s exactly what a fish out of water would be like. 

Mel Gibson - Lethal Weapon

Back before Mel Gibson was a lightening rod for controversy, he played some pretty amazing roles and none more so that Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon series. From the very first scene, audiences see that classic “Mel Gibson Crazy Eyes” face and it sets the tone for the movie and the franchise, one that had remarkable life to it. That first scene is also why Lethal Weapon should be in the conversation for the best Christmas movie, alongside Die Hard. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger - The Terminator

The decade wouldn't be as big and as over the top as it was without Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Austrian bodybuilder took the movie world by storm and there are any number of enjoyable performances, but if you're looking at 1980s movies, you have to choose The Terminator. It launched him to superstardom, and it kicked off a franchise of Terminator movies that's lasted for decades. Sure, he only has a handful of lines, but no one could top his performance as a relentless killing machine that we all somehow fell in love with… later. 

Sylvester Stallone - First Blood

Not only did First Blood launch one of the most enduring franchises of the era, but it’s also just a really good film. It could be argued that it’s Sylvester Stallone’s best. His performance as a down-and-out Vietnam vet highlighted the plight of returning soldiers from that war. Brian Dennehy plays the antagonist perfectly as the angry sheriff that doesn’t take kindly to strangers in his town. A+. 

Michelle Pfeiffer - Scarface

Scarface really hasn’t aged all that well. Sure, the memes are fantastic, but as a film, it feels as dated as neon green headbands and electric typewriters. The lone exception is Michelle Pfeiffer’s performance. It’s still great, and made her one of the biggest stars of the 1980s. 

Molly Ringwald - Sixteen Candles

Molly Ringwald was once called John Hughes’ muse and it’s easy to see why she became such a mainstay in many of his hit movies from the era. Sixteen Candles is truly one of the funniest movies of the ‘80s, in part because of the side characters, but mostly it’s due to Ringwald’s fantastic performance as the girl the family forgot. 

Denzel Washington - Glory

Denzel Washington was nominated for his first Oscar for 1987’s Cry Freedom, but he won his first for 1989’s Glory. The cool thing about Glory is that it’s actually one of his most powerful performances, as audiences didn’t know him as DENZEL yet. The movie follows one of the few Black companies fighting for the Union during the Civil War and tells a story that had sort of been forgotten in the public consciousness at the time. The success of Glory and of Washington’s performance, especially in the scene where he is whipped, is one of the reasons that story will never be forgotten again. 

Jodie Foster - The Accused

The Accused is not an easy movie to watch. It begins with one of the most brutal rape scenes in cinema history and follows Jodie Foster’s character, Sarah Tobias, on the quest to get justice. The subject matter was so intense, the role was reportedly turned down by a number of A-listers at the time. It was fortuitous for Foster, who had struggled to re-ignite her career after attending Yale. Her performance won her an Oscar and the rest is history. 

Sally Field - Steel Magnolias

There are great Sally Field movies in every decade since she jumped from TV to the big screen in the mid-70s. For the ‘80s, you can’t go wrong with Steel Magnolias. It may be a tad melodramatic at times, but it stays grounded with the acting by Field and other stars like Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, and Shirley MacLaine. 

Bill Murray - Ghostbusters

Bill Murray had so many great movies in the 1980s, it’s difficult to pick just one, but in the end, you have to go with Ghostbusters. His turn as Peter Venkman is so funny, so quotable, and so lovable, that without him, it would be a completely different movie. John Belushi in the role was the original plan, but after his death, Murray ended up in the role, and now we can’t imagine it any other way. 

Robin Williams - Good Morning Vietnam

Good Morning Vietnam was an important movie in Robin Williams' stellar career. It was the movie that truly showed audiences just how great his acting chops were. He was no longer just the frenetic comedian running around the stage inspiring laughs. Williams showed his dramatic side, especially after the bomb went off in his favorite cafe. Of course, there is plenty of off-the-wall zaniness from him that we all love, which makes it one of his most well-rounded performances. 

Glenn Close - Fatal Attraction

There are few more quintessential scenes from the 1980s than the boiling bunny in Fatal Attraction. Glenn Close’s performance as the unpredictable, jilted lover is just as iconic. Like the bunny in the pot, her character comes to a slow boil, getting more and more intense as the movie moves along. It’s a masterclass in acting from the legend. 

Micheal J. Fox - Back To The Future

No way we were going to leave Michael J. Fox off this list. Between Family Ties, and Teen Wolf, there is no actor that defines the decade quite like him. Of course, it’s no surprise that the essential movie for any Fox fan is the great Back to the Future. It’s a movie that has been introduced to, and loved by, countless people from Generation X and the following generations. It’s beloved by all. 

Jane Fonda - 9 To 5

Jane Fonda, like Sally Field, has decades of outstanding movies and performances, but when she teamed up with Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin to make 9 to 5, she became an icon to a whole new generation. It’s been more than forty years since its release, but the chemistry between Fonda and Tomlin remains, as they proved last year with Moving On.

Eddie Murphy - Coming To America

Last, but certainly not least, we have one of the biggest breakout stars of the 1980s, Eddie Murphy. Like others, it’s hard to decide on just one, but in the end, it simply has to be Coming To America. It’s the quintessential Murphy film filled with memorable quotes and amazing performances from the entire cast, especially Murphy. 

This list could go on and on. The 1980s were a magical decade in theaters and crafting exhaustive list would prove to be impossible. Luckily, you can find the best ‘80s movies, and even '80s movies that don't get enough love if you need more. 

Michael J. Fox will always be Back to the Future’s Marty McFly to multiple generations. Most fans would agree that Fox nailed the role and inhabited the bewildered time-traveling teenager in every way. Compared to the Back to the Future fanbase though, the film and TV icon wasn’t sure about his performance as McFly. Unlike viewers, it took the acting veteran decades to realize he was “really good in” his now-iconic breakthrough film role.

Before one of the best sci-fi movies of all time hit theaters, the Back to the Future star juggled the film’s night shoots with his commitment to the NBC sitcom Family Ties. During this period, Fox felt like he wasn’t giving his all to the iconic role since he was exhausted from pulling double duty on both productions. The lack of time on set led him to think his performance might be terrible. After admitting he only saw the film twice, the Marty McFly actor revealed to Empire the moment he realized how great his performance was.

Watching Back to the Future during Christmas seemed fitting for the beloved actor. Like many actors, Fox was fearful of what people might think of his performance in the blockbuster film. However, his trepidation was understandable considering he was playing Alex P. Keaton during the day and Marty McFly by night. He just felt his movie role was suffering because he was spreading himself thin. Thankfully, his commitment paid off as the character became enshrined in pop and cinematic culture.

While the first installment became a critical and commercial success, Michael J. Fox didn’t see Back to the Future having much impact. He felt his performance would tank the movie. Fortunately, that didn’t happen, as the retired actor recalled getting wind of the cult classic’s success while working in London.

Like any young man with a hit film under his belt, Fox was ready to cash in on his new notoriety. Being TV famous in the 1980s was one thing, but joining the Hollywood A-list was another level of fame. It was the one-two punch of Back to the Future and Teen Wolf that solidified the Parkinson’s disease activist’s place in the film industry. The first film’s runaway success spawned a thriving franchise complete with two sequels, a beloved theme park ride, an animated series and an acclaimed stage musical.

Despite Michael J. Fox retiring from acting, he will always be ingrained in millions of fans’ minds (and popping up for the occasional Back to the Future reunion). If you want to revisit Fox’s time as Marty McFly, watch the Back to the Future trilogy through an Amazon Prime Video subscription.

One of the best sci-fi movies of all time is almost 40 years old, and its cast is still getting together like it happened yesterday. Back To The Future fans are certainly blessed, especially those who attended Fan Expo Portland over the weekend and perhaps got to see a rare reunion between Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Tom Wilson. 

Following the big event, Lea Thompson took to Instagram to share some sweet photos and videos alongside her cast mates of the classic 1985 movie. Check these out: 

Along with the photos, Thompson shared a cute video where she was all smiles with Christoper Lloyd, as well as a funny moment with Tom Wilson where the actor gets into character for a moment to channel Biff Tannen in between calling the actress “fabulous.” It’s fun to see the pair slip in between being actors and their iconic roles as they met fans at the expo. The actress also got a fan moment with Star Trek: Picard’s Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden and Brent Spiner, who are returning to their Star Trek: The Next Generation roles for Season 3, and were there to greet Star Trek fans on the same day. 

Lea Thompson shared she had “so many fun fan moments” at the expo over the weekend, after the actress, who famously played Marty McFly’s mother, Lorraine, met with fans who love Back To The Future. The premise of the classic movie involves Fox's Marty finding himself in 1955 rather than 1985 after using the time machine of Lloyd's Doc Brown, he meets a young version of his mom, who instantly crushes on him instead of his father (Crispin Glover), putting his own existence into jeopardy. 

Thompson went on to play Lorraine throughout the Back To The Future trilogy, which has impressively never gotten a reboot over the years, and Back to the Future III alos saw her appearing as Maggie McFly, Marty's great-great grandmother. We’ve certainly seen Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd get back together over the years after becoming close on the movies. Many of them are still in the business too, despite Fox greatly stepping away from acting due to his long fight with Parkinson’s.  Seeing all four of these core BTTF actors all together is a rare treat. 

Many of them did come together virtually in 2020 for Josh Gad’s Reunited Apart series, but there’s nothing like being together in person, is there? 1985’s Back To The Future has a special place in so many of our hearts, it’s great to see them so happy to be all together! 

Canadians have a reputation for being awfully nice people, so perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise that Ryan Reynolds is showering his countryman Michael J. Fox with praise. But it turns out Reynolds is apparently a huge fan. Reynolds took to social media to drum up support for Fox’s newest endeavor, a film about his battle with Parkinson’s Disease, and also to give a shoutout to a Fox film many may not be as aware of The Frighteners.

Following a successful career in television and film Michael J, Fox has become the public face of Parkinson’s Disease and the battle against it. A new movie coming to Apple TV+, Still, will act as a sort of documentary/biopic that will tell his story from his own perspective. One person who is really looking forward to the movie is Ryan Reynolds. The actor came to Twitter to say that he apparently keeps all Michael J. Fox movies close to his heart and thinks one of them, 1996’s The Frighteners, doesn’t get the credit it deserves.   

I for one have to be on team Ryan Reynolds here. The Frighteners is an excellent movie that only a few people seem to remember. It starred Michael J. Fox as a con man capable of seeing the spirits of dead people. It’s also one of the pre-Lord of the Rings projects from Peter Jackson, who directed the movie and co-wrote it with Fran Walsh. 

For a lot of people, it feels like Michael J. Fox’s career starts and stops with Back to the Future. While that’s certainly a great movie, Fox starred in many films from the late ‘80s to the early 2000s and while they may not have all been cultural touchstones like Back to the Future, there is some good stuff in there.

Certainly, anybody who is a big Michael J. Fox fan is going to know The Frighteners and that apparently includes Ryan Reynolds. The Deadpool star calls Fox a role model, but also a friend. But their connection doesn’t end there, as Reynolds mentions that his father died from Parkinson’s disease, so he also has first-hand experience seeing what the disease does to people.

Still certainly sounds like a unique and interesting film that may be worth an Apple TV+ subscription. It will apparently combine documentary footage with scripted elements to tell the story of Michael J. Fox’s life, both as a movie star and as a man who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 29. The film doesn’t have a release date yet, but when it does arrive Ryan Reynolds will not be the only person looking forward to seeing it.  

Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd will forever be intertwined in moviegoing fans’ collective pop culture imaginations. An occupational hazard that accompanies being Hollywood A-listers, especially two who starred in one of the best trilogies of all time, Back to the Future. Not all co-stars get along on set or go on to spark a lifelong friendship, but Fox and Lloyd have shared a bond for decades since they co-starred in the beloved franchise threequel. The Marty McFly actor says their affection for one another came into focus when the two actors connected differently during Back to the Future III (which has plenty of merits as a sequel). 

Michael J. Fox opened up about the connection during a Variety Studio discussion presented by Audible at Sundance. The actor revealed that his and Lloyd’s friendship didn’t crystalize until the third movie and that it took him a while to get to know his co-star. The Frighteners star said the Doc Brown actor is sometimes hard to interpret, though they ultimately found a way to bond on the set of the third chapter in the Robert Zemeckis-directed series. He told the trade:

Michael J. Fox’s admiration for his friend’s talent is palpable and spot on, and it's interesting to hear that they bonded over a shared love of Shakespeare. Most '80s and '90s kids will recognize Christopher Lloyd for his best movies in his many, such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Addams Family, and The Pagemaster. However, the actor has taken on several memorable parts in dramatic works throughout his 50-year career. Who can forget Lloyd’s performance as the belligerent Max Taber in 1975s One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest?

The Family Ties icon says his acting pal is incredibly skilled when it comes to determining the worth of a film's story. While talking up his good buddy even further, he explained just how that ability is a rarity amongst performers in the entertainment industry:

Over the years, Michael J. Fox has been vocal about how Lloyd has been there for him while on his Parkinson’s journey. Going through an illness such as that can be overwhelming for anyone, and Fox has been candid about the dark moments he’s faced due to his illness. It’s heartwarming to hear that the two can remain connected and there for each other, so many years after their time on set has ended. 

While Michael J. Fox is seemingly retired from acting, the performer continues to spread Parkinson’s awareness through filmmaking. The Atlantis: The Lost Empire star’s 2023 new movie release is a documentary titled Still, which garnered him a standing ovation following its world premiere at Sundance. The documentary explores the '80s icon’s legendary career rise and his subsequent diagnosis with the aforementioned disease. 

Fox said that while the film would highlight his battle with his condition, he did not want to make a Parkinson’s movie. Instead, he wanted to highlight his “wild life,” which includes many ups and downs. One can imagine the story of how the actor was brought on late into the production of Back to the Future to replace Eric Stoltz (who had a large impact on the production) will be touched on. One now has to consider that if that late-in-production decision had it not been made, the adorable friendship between Fox and Lloyd would never have happened. 

Still is set to premiere later this year and can be streamed by anyone with an Apple+ subscription. 

More than thirty years after his tragic death, many in Hollywood are still talking about River Phoenix. The talented child star turned Oscar nominee had seemingly limitless potential, and it was obvious from a very early age. Acting legend Michael J Fox certainly saw it, and decades later, her reflected on meeting Phoenix for the first time and hanging out with him again later after he was a huge star.

Michael J Fox sat for an extensive interview with People recently, and during the conversation, he talked about shooting 1991’s Doc Hollywood in a small town in Florida. Apparently River Phoenix and his brother Joaquin (who later named his son River) had a house there, and the two brothers would drive down and grab Fox from the set to hang out and barbecue at their place. To some, it may have seemed random, but Fox traces it all back to conversations he shared with Phoenix on the set of Family Ties.

The year was 1985, and Michael J Fox was a huge star. Family Ties was a top 5 show on television (and would later feature a young Courteney Cox), and the beloved Back To The Future had just come out. River Phoenix was an experienced child actor, but Stand By Me, in all its glory, hadn’t come out yet and he was still finding his place. To Fox who was nine years older, however, his talent was obvious immediately. So, when the young actor struggled with a scene, he went out of his way to talk to him. Here’s his reflection…

If you read enough interviews, you start to realize how common this story is. Obviously, the details are specific to Michael J Fox and River Phoenix, but this overall structure has been repeated countless times in Hollywood. Not every actor is particularly receptive or particularly willing to chit-chat with one-off guest stars, but most huge stars have a story about a time when they were first trying to make it in the business and a legend was unexpectedly kind or thoughtful with them. 

During his interview, Fox called his hanging out with Phoenix and making barbecue at his house “an act of kindness that was built on an act of kindness.” It’s one of Hollywood’s great tragedies that River wasn’t able to grow up and become that veteran actor building his own acts of kindness by offering advice to the next generation of stars. 

Hollywood is still going through a phase that sees a number of iconic film and TV properties being revived or rebooted. Said productions have been met with varied results, and that’s one of the reasons why some would likely prefer that certain IPs are left alone. The Back to the Future franchise definitely falls into that pile, as fans (and some of the series’ creators) are very protective of it considering it's seen as one of the best sci-fi movies of all-time. That doesn’t mean no one’s thought about what such a project could entail, though. As of matter of fact, series lead Michael J. Fox revealed that he has an idea for a potential reboot. 

It’s likely Michael J. Fox would want any potential Back to the Future revamp to maintain the essence of the ‘80s/early ‘90s blockbuster trilogy. However, it sounds like he wouldn’t exactly want to see such a production tread the exact same territory. Following his viral appearance at New York Comic Con (where he reunited with co-star Christopher Lloyd), Fox discussed the franchise’s legacy during an interview with ET. It was during that discussion that he revealed his pitch for a reboot, which would theoretically make a major change to the time travel tale's lead character: 

I’d honestly be down for this particular idea, as it would be a solid way to freshen up the story just a bit. I mean, why not introduce a new character named Martina, who goes by the nickname “Marty?” Of course, then you have the massive challenge of casting a performer who can produce the charm (and occasional manic energy) that the OG Marty McFly actor so effortlessly exuded. Though it’d be a massive task, it certainly wouldn’t be impossible. 

While some fans have expressed hesitation about a reboot or sequel, others have long hoped that Robert Zemeckis’ classic film franchise would get a continuation of sorts. The chances of that happening seem slim now, however. In 2016, producer Frank Marshall shot down the notion of a reboot, saying that such a thing wouldn’t happen as long as he had a say. In 2020, Christopher Lloyd spoke about a potential fourth film and humorously mused that it probably won’t happen. Lloyd, nevertheless, insisted that if it were to be made, Back to the Future 4 should have a story that connects to a contemporary social topic like climate change. 

The only downside to any legitimate sequel of sorts would be that Michael J. Fox himself likely wouldn’t play a major role. Over the past several years, Fox has battled Parkinson’s and has been candid about his struggles. A cameo of sorts could still be a viable option, if such a project were to actually get off the ground.

Again, this is all hypothetical but not impossible. As Michael J. Fox said during his interview, the time travel-infused story just “connects with people on every level.” So perhaps it could “come around again,” with a lady in the lead. 

The Back to the Future films can be streamed using a Peacock subscription. Those hoping to check out sequels and/or reboots that are indeed hitting the big screen soon can check out CinemaBlend’s schedule of upcoming movies.