Today, Michael J. Fox turns 60 and while he remains a passionate activist for Parkinson’s disease research, he has also left an impressive legacy as an actor.
But of course, unless you’re a big Family Ties fan, you’d likely agree that his most iconic role was his turn as Marty McFly in the Back To The Future trilogy. Honestly, the fact that he can confidently say he was in a film trilogy that people actually like every part of is worth celebrating on its own.
But as he recalled in an interview on The Tonight Show , one of the opportunities that came from this breakout role turned out to be a lot more uncomfortable for him than he expected.
Back in 1985, Fox attended the world premiere of *Back To The Future* in London and happened to be seated right next to none other than Princess Diana.
As he said , “She was sitting next to me and she sits down and I looked at her and realized I’m one fake yawn and outstretched arm from being on a date with her.”
But even if Prince Charles wasn’t also present at the time, there was no hope that this chance encounter would become anything like a date as it progressed.
And that’s partially because there was one big problem distracting Fox from getting to know Diana better.
And that was the fact that he desperately had to pee soon after the movie started.
In Fox’s words, “So then I’m sitting there, I’m dying. I can’t say anything to her and I can’t walk away from her cause I can’t turn my back on her. So what could’ve been the greatest night of my life was a nightmare.”
And that’s partially because there was one big problem distracting Fox from getting to know Diana better.
And that was the fact that he desperately had to pee soon after the movie started.
In Fox’s words, “So then I’m sitting there, I’m dying. I can’t say anything to her and I can’t walk away from her cause I can’t turn my back on her. So what could’ve been the greatest night of my life was a nightmare.”
But although Fox had a miserable time trying to keep his bladder in check, it at least seemed like the late princess had an enjoyable evening.
According to People , she seemed pretty invested in the movie and Fox can distinctly remember her laughing a few times.
But of course, that’s as far as anything went between them.
But at least on the relationship front, it all worked out for Fox as two years later, he would truly connect with the love of his life.
As Fox told People , he and his Bright Lights, Big City costar Tracy Pollan have now been married for 32 years and from the sounds of it, they’re more in love than ever.
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As he put it, “The kind of support she gives me, I feel like a husband, a father and a friend first, and then somewhere way down the line, I’m someone with Parkinson’s.”
He also said that every day, there’s at least one moment they have together where they laugh for a solid two minutes. And hopefully, that’s just as true now that he’s celebrating his 60th birthday.
h/t: People