Michael J Fox pays heartwarming tribute to devoted wife Tracy Pollan on her birthday

Michael J. Fox has shared a heartwarming message on his wife's birthday.

The Back to The Future star and Tracey Pollan are set to celebrate 35 years together, having met on the set of the hit 80s sitcom Family Ties.

And they have been together ever since, with Pollan standing by the actor's side following his Parkinson's diagnosis.

Taking to Instagram to mark her birthday this week, Fox paid tribute to his wife.

Sharing some snaps of them together, the 62-year-old wrote: "She showers the people she loves with love, she shows them the way that she feels.

"Happy happy birthday @tracy.pollan my forever Summer girl, my love, my best friend, and the most beautiful amazing mom to our four stupendous kids."

Fans of the actor were quick to share messages of support in the comments.

One follower said: "Beautiful family and couple. Love the two of you since I was 12 on Family Ties. Mike is inspiration my dad succumbed to Parkinson’s last year. But watching you over the years with disease gave me courage to move on help other Parkinson’s families."

Instagram/@realmikejfox

Another wrote: "Happy birthday @tracy.pollan we all love you."

But according to Fox himself, things might not have panned out quite as they have for him and Pollan.

Speaking previously about their relationship, he admitted that they didn't quite get off on the right foot when they met.

"One day, we broke for lunch,"Fox said. "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?'

"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'."

dpa picture alliance/Alamy

Fox said he wasn't ready for that sort of backlash and thought his joke was going to go down a lot better than that.

"Nobody talked to me that way," he said.

"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."

Recalling that moment, Fox said he respected her for standing up to him.

"She was joking, but I didn't get it because no one would ever joke with me like that," Fox said in his documentary.

"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."