Matthew Broderick Almost Played Alex P. Keaton
While the role of Alex P. Keaton is notably played by talented actor Michael J. Fox, the role was almost given to famous actor Matthew Broderick. However, Broderick ultimately turned down the opportunity, as he did not have any intentions of relocating to Los Angeles, California to shoot the show.
Though Fox ultimately became the center of the show, when Goldberg, the show’s creator, first saw Michael J. Fox’s audition tape, he didn’t feel Fox was right for the role of Alex. However, after much convincing by casting director Judith Weiner, Goldberg finally agreed to give Fox a chance.
Crispin Glover Was Also on "Family Ties"
Like “Family Ties” actor Michael J. Fox, Crispin Glover—who played the role of Doug, a friend of Alex’s, on the show—also appeared in the blockbuster movie, “Back to the Future,” acting alongside Fox in this hit film. Beyond his roles in “Back to the Future” and “Family Ties”, Glover also went on to act in a number of other movies, including Hot Tub Time Machine, and Charlie’s Angels.
Additionally, Glover also established himself as a recognized and talented director. In 2013, he got recognition for his work by New York City’s Museum of Arts and Design. More recently, Crispin is credited with the role of Mr. World on the television series, “American Gods” (2017-2019).
Courteney Cox Also Appeared
Before Courtney Cox earned the prominent role as Monica on “Friends,” she actually had a recurring role on “Family Ties” from 1987 to 1989. Cox played the role of Lauren Miller, Alex’s girlfriend. Obviously, this was just the beginning of a very successful acting career.
Even after “Family Ties” and “Friends”, Cox continued to land lead roles, such as her character Jules Kiki Cobb on “Cougar Town". Recently, 54-year-old Cox has been the subject of much scrutiny, after deciding to remove her fillers and embrace herself and her aging beauty. “You have to accept getting older, and that’s something that I had a hard time doing,” said Cox in one interview.
Michael J. Fox's Inspiration for Alex Was His Own Brother
Upon securing the role of Alex on “Family Ties,” Michael J. Fox immediately decided to put all his time and effort into making the character shine. For inspiration, Fox ultimately decided to draw on the views and opinions of his real-life brother, who, according to Fox, was a real comedian at their family dinner table.
In explaining the inspiration he got from his brother in an interview with the Archive of American TV, Fox said: "I was basically just playing my brother... I never understood the concept of timing, but I knew my brother was so funny that you'd wait for what he had to say. He'd put his glass of milk down, and from the minute he took the glass away from his mouth, you waited for what he had to say. Later on that all became a part of Alex."
“Family Ties” and “Back To The Future” Overlap
At one point during the filming of “Family Ties,” Fox was also shooting the feature film, “Back To The Future”. At the time, “Family Ties” would not give Fox any time off from playing the role of Alex.
But, as we now know, this minor set back did not put a damper on Fox’s fruitful acting career. In the end, Fox would ultimately decide to ambitiously take on both roles at the same time.