On Saturday, Nov. 19, when Michael J. Fox took the stage at the Governors Awards, his family was looking on proudly from the audience. Michael and his wife, Tracy Pollan, have four children together: Sam, Aquinnah, Schuyler, and Esmé Fox. All of them were in attendance to watch their father accept his honorary Oscar, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, and give a speech about his career and history of advocacy for others with Parkinson’s disease.
Watching the speech, Sam stood out to viewers because of his resemblance to his famous father. But it’s not just looks that they share. Like his dad, Sam also works in entertainment. Read on to find out more about Sam, Michael’s big award, and their bond.
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Michael, Pollan, and all four of their kids attended the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ Governors Awards on Saturday, at which Michael was honored for his work in Parkinson’s disease advocacy and research with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. Michael was diagnosed with the condition in 1991, and in 2001. he founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, which has since raised over $1 billion. The family posed for photos together, and could be seen in the audience during Michael’s speech.
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In his acceptance speech, Michael mentioned his family members as some of the many good things that have happened to him.
“Just when you think things couldn’t get any better, they got better,” he said. “‘Cause before they got worse, I met Tracy: better. Sam was born: better. Eventually we had three fantastic daughters, Aquinnah, Schuyler, and Esmé: better, better, better. Somewhere in there around 29, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.”
Like his dad, Sam works in the business, but he’s not in front of the camera. According to LinkedIn, Sam works as a coordinator at 72nd Street Productions. He was also a producer for the short film Good Grief and the music video for “11:11” by actor and singer Ben Barnes.
Sam did make a couple of onscreen appearances before embarking on his behind-the-scenes career, however. In 1998, he made an appearance on his dad’s series Spin City. Then, in 2013, he was a Golden Globe Ambassador for the awards ceremony. Each year, children of celebrities are chosen to help hand out the evening’s trophies.
Michael frequently posts about his family on Instagram. In May, he marked Sam’s birthday by posting a photo him as a child wearing a hockey uniform. “Happy 33rd, Sammy,” he wrote. “Unlike hockey player’s teeth, yours grew back. Love you, buddy. Happy happy. I’m proud to be your Pops.”
For his birthday the previous year, the actor shared a picture of them standing together on a beach, with Sam towering over him. “Sam from my POV you’re not getting older, you’re just getting taller. Happy birthday @palekidd Love you.”
Similarly, in June, Sam celebrated Michael’s birthday with an Instagram post. “Happy birthday pop! I might have a couple inches on you but I bet you could still take me in a fight…” he wrote.