Tied to Family Ties

Taking on the lead in Back to the Future was a dream role for Michael J. Fox - but it also kicked off one of the most exhausting stretches of his career.

At the same time, the actor was juggling his commitments to the NBC sitcom Family Ties, meaning his days were packed from morning till night.

Fox would spend his days filming for TV, then head straight to the movie set to shoot through the night.

Reflecting on that gruelling schedule, he shared: “At that point, I’d climb into the back of a production van with a pillow and a blanket, and yet another driver would take me home again - sometimes literally carrying me into my apartment and dropping me into my bed.

“I’d catch two or three hours sleep before teamster driver number one would reappear at my apartment, let himself in with a key I’d provided, brew a pot of coffee, turn on the shower, and then rouse me to start the whole process all over again.”