Michael J. Fox Reveals What He Took from “Family Ties” Set – and What He Wishes He Stole from “Back to the Future”

Michael J. Fox Shares Fond Memories from ‘Family Ties’ and ‘Back to the Future’ Sets

In a recent interview, beloved actor Michael J. Fox opened up about his time on the sets of two iconic projects – ‘Family Ties’ and ‘Back to the Future’. Fox, who shot to stardom in the 1980s with his roles as Alex P. Keaton in ‘Family Ties’ and Marty McFly in ‘Back to the Future’, reminisced about some of the props he took from the sets and a particular item he regrets not walking away with.

During a discussion with Donny Deutsch about his new book, ‘Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum’, Fox revealed that he still owns a special prop from ‘Family Ties’. “I had a whale from Family Ties – the whale above the sink, above the stove,” he shared. Describing it as a brass whale, Fox explained, “It was a brass whale that I took. I didn’t take anything valuable.”

However, when it came to ‘Back to the Future’, Fox expressed a tinge of regret. He admitted, “I should’ve taken the goddamn guitar,” referring to the iconic red Gibson ES-345 he used in the film to perform “Johnny B. Goode” at the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance. The guitar has gone missing since the film wrapped up, leaving Fox rueful about not securing it.

As the 40th anniversary of ‘Back to the Future’ approached, the cast members collaborated with Gibson Guitars in an attempt to locate the missing guitar. Despite efforts to track it down, actress Lea Thompson, who played Fox’s on-screen mother in the film, expressed bewilderment at its disappearance. She mentioned, “I have no idea how [the guitar] slipped through people’s hands…it was super expensive, so it had to go somewhere.”

The scarcity of collected props from the first film was highlighted by Thompson, who revealed that she only retained the dress, shoes, and jewelry from the prom scene. Unlike franchises like Star Wars, where props are carefully preserved, ‘Back to the Future’ did not witness the same level of prop retention by the cast and crew, leading to the guitar’s mysterious disappearance.

In response to the guitar’s absence, Gibson Films initiated a new documentary titled ‘Lost to the Future’, aiming to document the global pursuit of McFly’s iconic red ES-345 guitar. Directed by Doc Crotzer and featuring interviews with the cast, creators, and musicians influenced by the film, the documentary welcomes fans to partake in the search by visiting LostToTheFuture.com or calling 1-855-345-1955.

Fox’s latest book, ‘Future Boy’, delves into his simultaneous experiences working on ‘Family Ties’ and ‘Back to the Future’. The actor’s candid revelations about the props he retained and the one he missed out on provide fans with a deeper insight into the sentimental value attached to these cherished projects.

The enduring appeal of Michael J. Fox’s characters and the cultural significance of both ‘Family Ties’ and ‘Back to the Future’ continue to resonate with audiences, making his reflections on the set experiences all the more captivating and nostalgic.