Michael J Fox’s Son, Who Was Just a Toddler When Actor Was Diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Helped Dad Deal with a Troll

• Michael J. Fox's only son, Sam, was just a toddler when the actor was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
• Sam helped his dad deal with an online bully who trolled him due to his illness.
• Fans now say Sam, who works in the entertainment industry like Michael, resembles his father.

Michael J. Fox is a phenomenal actor who has a variety of roles to his name. Fox, who starred in "Back to the Future," is also a dad. The actor shares four kids, Sam, 34, Aquinnah, 28, Schuyler, 28, and Esmé, 22, with his wife, Tracy Pollan.

Sam was born on May 30, 1989. He is the couple's only son and the child who made them parents for the first time. Fans of Michael love to point out the striking physical similarities between Michael and Sam.

When Michael and Tracy were expecting their first child, they were so excited that they did what they called the "whole womb music deal," which involved putting headphones on Tracy's stomach and playing "everything from Vivaldi to the Allman Brothers."

The two knew they wanted to have more kids after Sam was born, but when the boy was around 2 or 3 years old, Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, in 1991. Michael and Tracy faced the disease side by side, but it took a toll on them.

Michael admitted that he and his wife were going through the toughest time ever when he got diagnosed. The actor quit drinking and was trying to turn his life around, but whenever he brought up having more kids, Tracy would change the subject.

However, one day, the two saw Sam playing in the bushes with his cousin, and Tracy turned to the actor and told him, "He'd be a great brother." That's when Michael knew that his wife trusted him enough to have more kids with him. Soon after, they welcomed their twins, Aquinnah and Schuyler, and finally, Esmé.

Now, Tracy and Michael have four kids who support their father as he battles Parkinson's disease. The actor has survived 33 years with the illness that kills most of its patients within 20 years of diagnosis. His wife and kids have helped him weather the difficult periods that come with the illness.

In 2018, the actor had what he called the worst year of his life, as he described it in his memoir, "No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality." He underwent a risky spinal cord surgery to remove a tumor, and soon after, he experienced a painful arm break. The year ended with his recovery, and he took his family on a trip to Africa to relax and bond.

Fans who saw the pictures Michael shared of Sam on his 34th birthday pointed out just how much he looked like his dad.

Michael always knows that he can lean on his family to help him through challenging times. The Emmy Award-winning actor said his kids make adjustments due to his illness. When he reaches for something, his kids just do it for him and carry on. The actor's family is really affectionate, loves to laugh, and has lots of fun together.

Michael's kids also encourage him to step out of his comfort zone. In 2020, the actor made a cameo appearance in Lil Nas X's "Holiday" music trailer, with the urging of his kids. When his agent told him about Lil Nas X's request for partnership, his kids told him he had to do it. The actor went ahead with the production and said it turned out great.

Tracy and Michael are proud of their kids and the career paths they have taken. Aquinnah and Schuyler both work for media companies; Esmé is a student at Duke University, while Sam works in the entertainment industry. The couple's oldest son not only looks like his father, but he has also followed in his father's footsteps.

Michael's Relationship with Sam and Their Striking Resemblance

Michael and his son are close. The two share fond memories, some of which the actor has spoken about in his interviews. Michael once revealed that he let Sam go to bed in his cowboy boots because the little boy insisted. The actor allowed Sam as he realized he had no good reason to prevent him from going to bed with his shoes on.

The 62-year-old also opened up about a time Sam helped him deal with a troll on Twitter, now known as X. According to Michael, someone said something nasty about Parkinson's online, and instead of letting it slide as he often did, he decided to respond, and Sam gave his father the perfect response.

Sam told his dad to reply with the letters, "SMH." Though oblivious to what this meant, Michael did as he was told, and was surprised when the online bully apologized to him and called him "The king of the internet." He asked his son, what SMH was, and Sam told him it stood for "Shaking my head."

Sam, just like Michael, is in the entertainment industry, producing various media, including Ben Barnes' "11:11" music video. His other works include "Good Grief," a short film, and his dad's documentary, "Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie."

The producer said it was fun being a part of show business and doing stuff behind the scenes in a way that's different from what his dad did growing up. Sam also views red carpet events as a break from his normal life, where he works with farmers in New York.

Michael is proud of his son. When Sam turned 34 on May 30, 2023, the actor shared a picture of his son blowing off candles on a cake. He captioned the photo:

"Happy Birthday to my big bouncing baby boy @palekidd you are the best. Proud to be your pops. Love you!"

Sam is now a tall, grown man. Fans who saw the pictures Michael shared of him on his 34th birthday pointed out just how much he looked like his dad. "Actually he looks just like his daddy. And he's gorgeous," a fan commented. "Gosh, he looks SO much like you at that age!" another fan agreed.

More fans agreed that Sam and Michael were "like twins." "Such a mini you Sam is❤️Happy Birthday," a fan wrote. Fans were amazed by how greatly the producer takes after his father in appearance. "Never realized how much he looks like you until now!" a shocked fan said.

Michael retired from acting in 2020, but now Sam is in the entertainment industry, doing his father proud. The actor finds joy in watching who his kids are becoming in adulthood. Michael and Tracy are also still deeply in love and happily spending their time as empty nesters traveling.