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Monday, June 15, 2020

Eternal Optimism ... And Excellence


“I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God's business.” – Michael J. Fox

Born Canadian and now American, Fox is fast approaching geezerhood, turning 59 on June 9.  But he’s staying exceptionally busy despite his ongoing struggle with Parkinson’s Disease, working on causes ranging from finding a cure for the illness to eradicating hunger and housing shortages.

Probably one of the most iconic faces in acting, especially for the two roles for which he will always be remembered – Alex Keaton on Family Ties and teen adventurer extraordinaire Marty McFly in the Back to the Future series – he also is a gifted writer.    He uses his writing skills to spread the word about the disease from which he suffers, ever optimistic that with enough attention and support a cure can be discovered – if not in his lifetime then at least for future generations.  Lucky Man, his book about dealing with the disease, is a must read for those interested in how to overcome the odds.

His Family Ties acting role almost didn't happen.  The director wanted him for the the part, but producer Brandon Tartikoff felt Keaton was “too short (he’s 5-foot-4) and not the kind of face you’d like to see on your kid’s lunchbox.”  Five seasons and 3 Emmy Awards later, when the series ended, he presented Tartikoff a lunchbox with his face emblazoned on the cover.

A self-proclaimed “enternal optimist,” Fox said: “I like to encourage people to realize that any action is a good action if it's proactive and there is positive intent behind it.”
  

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