The Family Ties cast.Photo: NBCU Photo Bank
In the fall of 1982, a new family sitcom debuted on NBC, tracking not only the dynamics of parents and children but the country’s ever-evolving political landscape.Family Tiesbrought together a mix of stars and helped one, a young Michael J. Fox, rise to the stratosphere (with some Emmy wins, too!). Here, on Fox’s 62nd birthday, catch up with the beloved cast, then and now.
01of 07Michael GrossMichael Gross.Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images; Paul Archuleta/Getty ImagesMichael Gross had a handful of television credits under his belt when he landed the role of dad Steven Keaton onFamily Ties.His progressive character managed a local television station while dealing with the ups and downs of marriage and fatherhood.In the years since, Gross, now 75, has worked steadily on both the small and big screens, notably inTremorsand onERandThe Young and the Restless.In a 2022 conversation withET,he spoke ofFamily Ties’lasting legacy.“You live in fear that you’re going to be canceled after the first 13 [episodes], or the pilot won’t even get picked up … and then it got picked up for 13, and then you live in fear that it won’t be picked up for the back 13, and then it did. And then you think, ‘Okay, it’ll be canceled after a year.’ And then it wasn’t. And then seven years later, we had done about 175 episodes.“Gross wed casting director Elza Bergeron in 1984 and became stepfather to her children.
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Michael Gross
Michael Gross.Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images; Paul Archuleta/Getty Images
Michael Gross had a handful of television credits under his belt when he landed the role of dad Steven Keaton onFamily Ties.His progressive character managed a local television station while dealing with the ups and downs of marriage and fatherhood.
In the years since, Gross, now 75, has worked steadily on both the small and big screens, notably inTremorsand onERandThe Young and the Restless.In a 2022 conversation withET,he spoke ofFamily Ties’lasting legacy.
“You live in fear that you’re going to be canceled after the first 13 [episodes], or the pilot won’t even get picked up … and then it got picked up for 13, and then you live in fear that it won’t be picked up for the back 13, and then it did. And then you think, ‘Okay, it’ll be canceled after a year.’ And then it wasn’t. And then seven years later, we had done about 175 episodes.”
Gross wed casting director Elza Bergeron in 1984 and became stepfather to her children.
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Meredith Baxter
Meredith Baxter.Herb Ball/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank; Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
Fun fact: she and Gross share the same birthday, and are close to this day.
“Meredith and I were both 35 when we met… We’ve known each other for 40 years and we’re still friends,” he toldET. “We love working together. We adore each other.”
Themom of five, 75, has beenmarried to partner Nancy Lockesince 2013.
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Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox.Herb Ball/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank; Noam Galai/Getty Images
Relative newcomerMichael J. Foxstole the show as young Republican Alex P. Keaton, earning five Emmy nominations and three awards for the role.
“I remember walking into the mail room and finding just these gobs of mail from pre-teens going, ‘This is our guy,’ “Gross recalled toET.“You just said, ‘Oh, this is a phenomenon … This is exciting. [He’s a] young, lovely, funny, handsome, non-threatening guy that girls are gonna fall in love with.’ And they did.”
As of late, his Parkinson’s disease activism has been his focus; since his diagnosis in 1991 (which he kept private for some time), he’s been raising funds and building awareness through hisnamesake foundation. His journeywas recently documentedin the filmStill: A Michael J. Fox Movie.
The actor, now 62, has four grown children with longtime wife Tracy Pollan,whom he meton the set ofFamily Ties.
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Justine Bateman
Justine Bateman.Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images; Jeremy Chan/Getty Images
Justine Bateman was just 16 whenFamily Tiespremiered; she took on the role of somewhat ditzy Mallory Keaton, earning two Emmy nominations for her work.
However, the massive success of the show had its downsides for the young star. “We were at the level of fame whereyou just can’t go anywhere,” Bateman toldPEOPLE. “You just try to keep your head above water … [and] stay alive. I found it frustrating having no control over what people thought of [me]. I’m not saying I’m ungrateful for fame at all. I’m just saying it’s a crazy emotional experience.”
In recent years, the 57-year-old actress and mother of two (married to Mark Fluent since 2001) has become an advocate for aging naturally in Hollywood, first speaking to PEOPLE about skipping plastic surgery in 2013 and talking more recently about the stereotypes as she promotes her book,Face: One Square Foot of Skin.
05of 07Tina YothersTina Yothers.NBC/NBCU Photo Bank; Gregory Pace/BEI/ShutterstockAt 9 years old, Tina Yothers took on the part of wise-beyond-her-years sister Jennifer Keaton. “I was just a kid being a kid,” she said ofher auditionin a 2020 reunion.“Behind the scenes we had so much fun,” she added in the 2020 chat. “I mean, seriously, the water gun fights. The wrestling matches. We got in a lot of trouble, we weren’t the most well-disciplined cast because we would have so much fun together.“She followedFamily Tieswith a handful of other roles before leaving acting behind, instead opting for reality shows includingCelebrity Fit ClubandCelebrity Wife Swap.With husband Robert Kaiser, Yothers, now 50, has four children.
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Tina Yothers
Tina Yothers.NBC/NBCU Photo Bank; Gregory Pace/BEI/Shutterstock
At 9 years old, Tina Yothers took on the part of wise-beyond-her-years sister Jennifer Keaton. “I was just a kid being a kid,” she said ofher auditionin a 2020 reunion.
“Behind the scenes we had so much fun,” she added in the 2020 chat. “I mean, seriously, the water gun fights. The wrestling matches. We got in a lot of trouble, we weren’t the most well-disciplined cast because we would have so much fun together.”
She followedFamily Tieswith a handful of other roles before leaving acting behind, instead opting for reality shows includingCelebrity Fit ClubandCelebrity Wife Swap.
With husband Robert Kaiser, Yothers, now 50, has four children.
06of 07Brian BonsallBrian Bonsall.NBC/NBCU Photo Bank; Albert L. Ortega/Getty ImagesWhen he was just 5 years old, Brian Bonsall joinedFamily Tiesas youngest Keaton sibling Andy, staying on through the show’s final three season.Speaking to Studio 10 in 2020, he said of his time on the series, “Good memories for sure. They were a second family to me, growing up doing that … Michael J. Fox used to come pick me up in his Ferrari, taught me to dive into a pool. It was so comfortable hanging out.“He credited Fox with helping him fall in love with guitar, a passion he has followed through several bands since stepping away from acting in the 1990s.Bonsall, now 41, was arrested in Boulder, Colorado, in 2007 on charges of second-degree assault and false imprisonment of his girlfriend, the AP reported. He was given two years probation.Years later, in 2018, his costar Marc Price said Bonsall had moved past his transgressions and was recently wed.
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Brian Bonsall
Brian Bonsall.NBC/NBCU Photo Bank; Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
When he was just 5 years old, Brian Bonsall joinedFamily Tiesas youngest Keaton sibling Andy, staying on through the show’s final three season.
Speaking to Studio 10 in 2020, he said of his time on the series, “Good memories for sure. They were a second family to me, growing up doing that … Michael J. Fox used to come pick me up in his Ferrari, taught me to dive into a pool. It was so comfortable hanging out.”
He credited Fox with helping him fall in love with guitar, a passion he has followed through several bands since stepping away from acting in the 1990s.
Bonsall, now 41, was arrested in Boulder, Colorado, in 2007 on charges of second-degree assault and false imprisonment of his girlfriend, the AP reported. He was given two years probation.
Years later, in 2018, his costar Marc Price said Bonsall had moved past his transgressions and was recently wed.
07of 07Marc PriceMarc Price.Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images; Paul Archuleta/Getty ImagesMarc Price played neighbor Irwin “Skippy” Handelman, who was hopelessly in love with Mallory.He appeared in a handful of other projects followingFamily Ties,though his true passion is stand-up. Despite being recognized more for the sitcom than his comedy work for a time,he told theLos Angeles Times,“Family Tieshelped me. It helped me introduce Marc Price to people.”In a 2018 interview, Price, now 55, revealed that he was still close with his castmates, even donating proceeds from merch sales on his comedy tour to the Michael J. Fox Foundation,
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Marc Price
Marc Price.Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images; Paul Archuleta/Getty Images
Marc Price played neighbor Irwin “Skippy” Handelman, who was hopelessly in love with Mallory.
He appeared in a handful of other projects followingFamily Ties,though his true passion is stand-up. Despite being recognized more for the sitcom than his comedy work for a time,he told theLos Angeles Times,“Family Tieshelped me. It helped me introduce Marc Price to people.”
In a 2018 interview, Price, now 55, revealed that he was still close with his castmates, even donating proceeds from merch sales on his comedy tour to the Michael J. Fox Foundation,
source: people.com
