Michael J. Fox Explains Why It Was Way More Tough To Become Famous In The '80s

It doesn't seem like today we have movie stars of the magnitude that we used to in the past. There aren't a ton of actors working today who can put butts in theater seats simply because their name is on a poster.

In a new interview with People, Michael J. Fox — who was once one of those stars that could get butts in seats — explained how today's actors aren't like the ones working when he was coming up.

"There’s an expression I referred to when they gave me an honorary Academy Award — somebody said to me the day before, they were talking about getting this award and being famous and they said ‘You’re ‘80s famous,’" Fox said. "I thought, wow, that’s cool. ‘80s famous. Right, we were different."

How so?

"We were tougher. We didn’t have social media, we didn’t have any of that crap. We were just famous. Left to our own resources. And it was an amazing time."

The 62-year-old — who took a step back from acting in 2020 as he continues to battle Parkinson's disease — was asked if it was tougher to make it as an actor when he was coming up.

"Well, you had to be talented. That helped," Fox said.

Boom! Shots fired! Give 'em hell, Michael!

Michael J. Fox laid out why being famous in the '80s was different than it is now. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images)

"We used to bust our ass, our acting muscles and watch other actors and sit around with other actors and talk about acting and talk about it," he said. "And now you've got people who just go like, who's your sweater? What's your sweater you're wearing? And what's that dance step? And you're the most famous person in the world."

It sure would be easy to say that the man who played Marty McFly is veering into "Old Man Yells At Cloud" territory, but… is he wrong?

You used to have to earn your way to the top by honing your craft and studying those that came before you to make it to the top of the showbiz mountain.

Now, if you can throw down a decent enough TikTok dance, you're good.

That's no fun.  I'm with Michael J. Fox on this one.