Michael J. Fox recalls explicit insult that made him fall in love with wife

Michael J. Fox’s first encounter with his wife wasn’t exactly a meet cute, but her stinging insult made him fall madly in love with her.

Michael J. Fox and his wife Tracy Pollan. Picture: Peter Kramer/Getty Images

Michael J. Fox is sharing the impassioned, yet explicit, remark his wife of 34 years said to him that caused the actor to fall in love with her many decades ago.

In his revealing documentary Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, the star discusses meeting Tracy Pollan on the Family Ties set in 1985. She was cast as his love interest in the show, Fox News reports.

“One day, we broke for lunch. After lunch, we picked up where we left off. The moment she said her first line, I detected a hint of garlic and sensed an opportunity to have a little fun at her expense. ‘Whoa, a little scampi for lunch, babe?’” Fox remembers of the moment.

“At first she said nothing. Her expression didn’t even change. But looking me dead in the eyes she said slowly, ‘That was mean, and rude, and you’re a complete and total f***ing a**hole.’”

Michael J. Fox and his wife Tracy Pollan. Picture: Peter Kramer/Getty Images

At the peak of his fame, starring in the hit sitcom as well as the huge Back To The Future franchise, Fox admitted he was not accustomed to being spoken to in such a negative way.

“Nobody talked to me that way. This woman was completely unintimidated by whoever I thought I was. A pig is a pig no matter how many hit movies he’s just had,” Fox said.

Speaking candidly, Fox said he “was a bit of a d**k” in that period of his life.

He added that although she was joking, it made enough of an impact on him to really feel something.

Fox told of their meeting in his documentary, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.

“She was joking, but I didn’t get it because no one would ever joke with me like that,” Fox said.

“I was not the butt of any jokes. She just poked through that, like, you’re a scared little kid and I’ll just call you out. In that moment I fell in love with her.”

Fox went on to laud his wife for her authenticity.

“Who she is, is so locked in because it’s so honest. I could be the king of England and she would be her. I could be Elvis and she would be her,” he said.

In an episode of hit ’90s political sitcom Spin City, Fox’s real-life wife Tracy Pollan made a guest appearance as his old high school girlfriend.

That comedic moment on set was just the beginning for Fox, as he says he and Pollan fell more in love as time went on.

“Once we got together, I was the most in love person,” he said. “I still am.”

Fox, 61, and Pollan, 62, have been married since 1988 and have four children together – Sam, 33, Aquinnah, 28, Schuyler, 28 and Esme, 21.

Fox has consistently credited Pollan for helping him through his Parkinson’s diagnosis.

This article originally appeared on Fox News and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Michael J. Fox recalls explicit insult that made him fall in love with wife