Back to the Future: 5 Favorite Michael J. Fox Roles

There was something infectious about his quirky little smile and, even though I wasn't a big fan of the obnoxious Alex P. Keaton, I couldn't stop watching "Family Ties" as a teenager. There was a likeable quality to the Canadian-American actor that you simply had to watch, no matter what role he was playing.

Through the years, I found myself drawn more and more into his movies and different roles. While I wouldn't have ever called him one of the sexiest actors in Hollywood, he was that type of actor that you could imagine living next door or someone that you could, I don't know, do something cheesy like hold hands and walk along the beach with. Unlike some of the steamier actors like Robert Downey Jr. or Johnny Depp, Michael J. Fox seemed real and approachable. He wasn't a Hollywood star - he was that cute guy from school...that just happened to make a fortune in movies.

Michael J. Fox recently made the news again, when he landed a role on the CBS drama "The Good Wife." Apparently he will be playing a shrewd and cynical lawyer when the second season of the show premieres with the Fall TV shows in September. To celebrate his return to television, I thought I'd take a walk down memory lane and share my five favorite Michael J. Fox roles. Check and see if you've seen these great performances:

1. Marty McFly in "Back to the Future" - What's not to love? This was teen-dream Michael J. Fox at his finest - I don't think I knew a girl in the 80's who didn't wish she knew a super-sweet cool boy like Marty.

2. Scott Howard in "Teen Wolf" - It was kind of a cheesy movie, in retrospect, but it was filled with funny lines and great moments. After having grown up watching the classic black and white werewolf horror flicks, it was really great to watch one that poked fun at the whole fuzzy face situation.

3. Dr. Benjamin Stone in "Doc Hollywood" - Easily my favorite Michael J. Fox movie, Doc Hollywood is a hillarious tale of a hotshot young doctor who crashes his Porsche through a fence in a small town. Unfortunately for him, the fence belongs to the local judge, who sentences the would-be cosmetic surgeon to a total of 32 hours of community service in their local hospital.

4. Pvt. Max Eriksson in "Casualties of War" - I really didn't expect to enjoy this movie, or to like Michael J. Fox's role as the Vietnam veteran. Typical of Michael J. Fox's roles, though, it wasn't long before I completely forgot who I was watching and found myself totally immersed in the story. This isn't one of Fox's funny roles, so be prepared. This is a gritty and dark movie but Fox shines in this dramatic role.

5. Chance in "Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey" - I believe this was the first voice role that Michael J. Fox took. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991 and this touching classic was released 2 years later. It would prove the start of many voice roles for Michael, who stated that it was easier for him to do the voice parts due to the troubles he was having with controlling his body. I had always loved this story of two dogs and a cat that set out in search of their owners. Michael Fox breathes a sweet puppy-like boisterousness to American bulldog, Chance, and keeps it entertaining and believable. It's a must-see for animal fans or anyone with children.

It's exciting to hear that Michael J. Fox is returning to television and I'm sure there will be a big audience tuning in to see him in "The Good Wife." His role sounds like a very interesting one, where he won't be trying to hide his condition, but the character is rumored to use a neurological condition to manipulate his clients. Seeing Michael cast as a conniver will definitely prove interesting!

Sources:

http://www.showbizspy.com - Breaking news about Fox's return to television

http://www.imdb.com - Michael J. Fox's Filmography