The actor Michael J Fox was born in Edmonton Alberta in 1961. From 1982-1989 he played the character of Alex P. Keaton the neo-conservative, yuppie son of two ageing hippies in a US television show called Family Ties.

The actor saw big screen success in the Back To The Future film series playing time traveller Marty Mcfly (he might just make a good Dr Who companion). He had several successful movies afterwards, but returned to tv in the comedy Spin City from 1996-2000 and won an Emmy for his role. The show carried on for another two years after his departure due to Parkinson's disease.

Since leaving he has written a memoir called Lucky Man, and established the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

I was fortunate enough to meet Mr Fox briefly during the filming of Life with Mikey in 1993, and he was a super nice guy.