Back to the Future cast now - Parkinson's battle and films they've been in since
Back to the Future is firmly in the past, with the three films having been released over 30 years ago. The 1985, 1988, and 1990 hit movies, which follow the antics of high school student Marty McFly and eccentric scientist Dr. Emmett Brown as they travel through time in California, went on to win huge success with a cult following, and even achieved a dedicated Back To The Future day in its honour.
Since the sci-fi classic franchise was released, many of the cast members have gone on to do great things. As we celebrate the official national day this October 21st, the Mirror takes a look at what the original cast of the Back to the Future trilogy is up to now...
Michael J. Fox (Marty McFly)
Michael J Fox now raises awareness for Parkinson's disease (Kristin Callahan/REX/Shutterstock)
Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd (TWITTER)
Michael J. Fox played the time-travelling lead Marty McFly in the hit franchise, and since he appeared in the first film in 1985, his career went from strength to strength. The actor would no doubt have been very impressed with himself if he had travelled to the future! Throughout the nineties, he had a successful film career and even voiced the lead in the animated film Stuart Little.
The now 62-year-old won Emmy awards for his role in shows such as Family Ties and Spin City, and had his own sitcom, The Michael J. Fox Show, from 2013 to 2014 as well as starring in many films. The famed actor was sadly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the late 1990s, aged just 29, and has since thrown himself into fundraising and advocacy work for the degenerative condition. In 2000, he launched The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which the New York Times hailed as "the most credible voice on Parkinson's research in the world."
Speaking with CBS Sunday Morning, the actor described his Parkinson's as a "gift that keeps on taking". He said: "“It sucks, having Parkinson’s ... It’s getting tougher, it’s getting harder, every day you suffer but that’s the way it is." Fox revealed he suffered a string of injuries as a result, from breaking bones to a benign tumour in his spine.
Inside hoax claims and secrets of world's richest dog Gunther in new Netflix doc
He continued: "All these subtle ways that get you, you don’t die from Parkinson’s, you die with (the condition). I’m not going to be 80. I won’t be 80... I recognise how hard this is for people and recognise how hard it is for me but I have a certain set of skills that allow me to deal with this stuff and I realise, with gratitude, optimism is sustainable. If you can find something to be grateful for then you find something to look forward to and you carry on."
In 2022 he was honoured with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his work in raising awareness. And earlier this year, a documentary film on his life, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, was released.
Christopher Lloyd (Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown)
Christopher Lloyd and Michael J Fox as Doc Brown and Marty McFly in the hit films (BACK TO THE FUTURE)The eccentric Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown, with his wispy white hair and classic one-liners, was played by actor Christopher Lloyd. Although the actor had already starred in big films before his casting - such as opposite Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest in 1975 - he continued to have a stellar career following the franchise.
Memorably he starred in Who Killed Roger Rabbit? and as Uncle Fester in the Addams Family films. Christopher has had parts in many TV shows and films, and has reprised his role as Doc Brown a few times since, including voicing the character in the Lego Dimensions video game. The 84-year-old had been married five times, most recently in 2016 to Lisa Loiacono - a real estate agent 31 years his junior.
Crispin Glover (George McFly)
Actor Crispin Glover in 2019 (Getty Images)
Crispin Glover in Back to the Future (1985) (DAILY STAR)Marty's father George was played by Crispin Glover in the original film, although he was replaced by Jeffrey Weissman in the sequels. However in Back to the Future II they used footage of him from the previous film spliced with Jeffrey in the role, wearing a false chin, nose and cheekbones to look like him. He sued the production and was awarded a reported $760,000 out of court.
Crispin has also starred in other films such as Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Alice in Wonderland, and Hot Tub Time Machine. Crispin is also a book publisher and film producer, as well as having time to release music albums - clearly the man is a creative polymath. The star lives between America and the Czech Republic where he owns a 17th-century chateau on the outskirts of Prague. He once explained that "it is a lifetime project that will be in continuous flux and repair for hundreds of years from now, as it has been the hundreds of years before I 'owned' it."
Lea Thompson (Lorraine McFly)
Michael J Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Tom Wilson at a cast reunion (Instagram)Lorraine, Marty McFly’s mother who unwittingly ends up with a crush on her own son after he travels back in time, was played by actress Lea Thompson. The trained ballet dancer had various parts in TV shows and films since her Back to the Future role, even starring as the protagonist in 1990s sitcom Caroline in the City. Lea is also a talented singer, and has secured many roles in musicals on New York’s Broadway. In 2014 she came in sixth on Dancing With The Stars, which is the American version of Strictly.
Claudia Wells (Jennifer Parker)
Claudia Wells played Marty McFly's girlfriend in the film (DAILY STAR)
Marty McFly's girlfriend Jennifer Parker was played by actress Claudia Wells. She did not appear in the sequels and was replaced by actress Elisabeth Shue due to family reasons after the mother was diagnosed with cancer. In the late 80s, she stopped acting on screen and instead moved into some Broadway roles. Claudia runs a clothing store called Armani Wells, and in 2008 returned to acting in film and TV. She has a 21-year-old son called Sebastian.
Thomas F. Wilson (Biff Tannen)
Thomas F. Wilson at a Comic Con in 2017 (Getty Images)Thomas F. Wilson played bully Biff Tannen in Back to the Future, and has since done lot of voice-over work for TV, film and video games, including playing many roles in the cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants. Thomas is also a successful stand-up comic and hosts his own podcast aside from acting. He is well known for the hilarious business cards he got printed which answer all the many questions he has been asked over the years about Back to the Future, and he also wrote a song about this which has 4.7 million views on Youtube. He has four children with wife Caroline Thomas, and the star is a devout Catholic. In 2000 he released a Christian album called In the Name of the Father.
Lea Thompson and Thomas F. Wilson in the first Back to the Future film (DAILY STAR)James Tolkan (Mr. Strickland)
James Tolkan on the red carpet before a gala performance of Back To The Future: The Musical in 2023 (Bruce Glikas/WireImage)Former US Navy man, James Tolkan, starred in the hit films as Mr. Strickland - the hard-as-nails principal at Hill Valley High School who made life difficult for the McFlys. Although James was successful before the franchise, not least with his role in Woody Allen’s 1975 film Love and Death, he also made a name for himself in hit flicks such as Top Gun, Masters of the Universe and Dick Tracy. The actor has played some TV roles including starring as record producer turned convicted murderer Phil Spector in a HBO TV movie, as well as featuring in 2015 Western film Bone Tomahawk alongside icon Kurt Russell.
Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury to star in new Netflix doc as first-time parents
Marc McClure (Dave McFly)
Actor Marc McClure, who played Dave McFly, pictured in 2018 (AFP via Getty Images)Marc McClure had starred in films such as Freaky Friday and the Superman franchise before being cast as Marty's older brother Dave in Back to the Future. He then went on to star in films including Apollo 13 and Frost/Nixon and Justice League among others, as well as television shows like Nash Bridges, The Shield, Smallville, and Powerless.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
