The casting of Michael J. Fox as the iconic character Alex P. Keaton in the 1980s sitcom Family Ties was not guaranteed, as NBC executives initially harbored significant doubts about his suitability for the role. According to the memoir of Brandon Tartikoff, a key figure who helped greenlight hits like Hill Street Blues and The Cosby Show, the network's primary concern was Fox's physical stature rather than his comedic talent. Standing at 5 feet 4 inches, Fox did not align with Tartikoff's vision for how the character should appear alongside his on-screen parents, played by Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter Birney.
Tartikoff expressed skepticism about the visual dynamic, questioning how someone so short could credibly be portrayed as their child. In a separate interview with Parade, Fox recalled Tartikoff stating that he could not envision Fox's face appearing on a lunchbox, a common marketing tool for popular television characters at the time. Although the show was originally designed to center on the parents, Steven and Elyse Keaton, network surveys quickly identified Alex as the fan favorite. This shift in focus allowed Fox to become the defining cast member of the series, eventually earning three consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 1986, 1987, and 1988.
The path to casting Fox involved several near-misses. Show creator Gary David Goldberg initially offered the role to Matthew Broderick, who declined, before turning down Fox himself. It was only after his casting director, Judith Weiner, insisted that he call Fox back and chase him that Goldberg reconsidered. Upon seeing Fox again, Goldberg noted that the actor exceeded expectations, delivering five laughs when asked for two. Years later, following the success of Back to the Future, Fox orchestrated a playful act of payback against Tartikoff's earlier doubts. He designed a lunchbox featuring his own face and sent it to the executive with a note inside reading, "Eat crow, Tartikoff." Tartikoff later confirmed that he still kept the item in his office.
Sources: TVLine.