“Family Ties” Cast: What Are They Doing Today?
Over the years, television has introduced audiences to countless memorable families, but few are as cherished as the cast of Family Ties. This beloved Reagan-era sitcom depicted changing times in America. It told the story of Alex P. Keaton ( played by Michael J. Fox), an ambitious teenager with staunch Republican values, who finds himself at odds with his more liberal, ex-hippie parents, portrayed by Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross as Elyse and Steven. Justine Bateman shines as Mallory, Alex’s materialistic sister, while Tina Yothers brings charm to the role of Jennifer, the athletic youngest sibling.
The cast’s chemistry and talent brought the show to life, captivating audiences with each episode. After the end of Family Ties’ seven-season run, the cast followed their own career paths. Read this article to see where they are now.
1. Michael J. Fox (Alex P. Keaton)
Although he was a newcomer at the time, Michael J. Fox stole the spotlight with his portrayal of young Republican Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties, earning three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe and numerous nominations. Quickly rising to fame, he became one of the most renowned stars of the decade.
After the end of the show, Fox continued his success with iconic roles in Back to the Future II and III that solidified his place as a Hollywood fixture. In the 1990s, he starred in The American President and the sitcom Spin City, which aired from 1996 to 2002. He later appeared in Boston Legal, The Good Wife, and The Michael J. Fox Show.
In 2020, Fox officially retired from acting due to the progression of his Parkinson’s disease, which he was diagnosed with in 1991. That same year, he released the memoir No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality, and in 2023, he featured in Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, a documentary chronicling his battle with Parkinson’s.
2. Meredith Baxter (Elyse Keaton)
Meredith Baxter’s portrayal of Elyse Keaton endeared her to audiences as America’s favorite mother, even if she played an ex-hippie in an increasingly conservative country.
Since the series concluded in 1989 , she’s stayed busy, appearing in numerous TV movies, shows, and films such as The Faculty, Cold Case, Dan Vs., and Switched at Birth. She even reunited with Michael J. Fox on a 1997 episode of Spin City as she took on the role of Fox’s mother for a few episodes.
She was diagnosed in 1999 but advancements in medicine improved her health. In 2013, she got married to Nancy Locke and they are living happily together until now.
3. Michael Gross (Steven Keaton)
Michael Gross had done a few TV movies before Family Ties, but it was his role as liberal TV station manager and father Steven Keaton that put him in the spotlight.
After wrapping up his turn as Alex’s dad on Family Ties, Gross went on to star as eccentric and paranoid survivalist Burt Gummer in the Tremors franchise of movies and spin-off TV series. He also appeared on Michael J. Fox’s other hit show, Spin City, and in multiple episodes of How I Met Your Mother, Suits, Grace and Frankie, and The Affair.
Gross has been married to his wife Elza Bergeron since 1984. He is the stepfather of her two children from a previous relationship.
4. Justine Bateman (Mallory Keaton)
Justine Bateman’s breakout role came as the superficial daughter Mallory Keaton on Family Ties that marked her entry into the acting world. Her portrayal of Mallory highlighted the ’80s teenage obsession with appearance, earning her nominations for a Golden Globe and two Emmys.
After the series wrapped up, Bateman took part in a diverse range of projects, including roles in Men Behaving Badly, Desperate Housewives, Men in Trees, and Easy to Assemble. In 2021, she made her directorial debut with the film Violet, starring Olivia Munn and Justin Theroux.
On the personal front, Bateman married her husband Mark Fluent in 2001, with whom she shares two children. In her 40s, she pursued higher education at UCLA, majoring in digital media management and computer science.
5. Tina Yothers (Jennifer Keaton)
Starting her career as a child actress, Tina Yothers landed the part of tomboy Jennifer Keaton on Family Ties when she was just 9 years old.
After her time on Family Ties, Yothers took a break from acting to pursue music, forming a band with her brother Cory called Jaded in the late 1990s. She later ventured into reality television, appearing on shows like Celebrity Fit Club in 2006, Celebrity Wife Swap in 2012, and What Not to Wear in 2013.
Now in her 50s, Tina Yothers is happily married to Robert Kaiser and is a proud parent to four children.
6. Brian Bonsall (Andy Keaton)
At the tender age of 5, Brian Bonsall joined the cast of Family Ties as the youngest Keaton sibling, Andy, staying on through the show until its final three seasons.
After Family Ties, Bonsall starred in the 1991 horror film Mikey and gained recognition in science fiction circles for his role as Alexander Rozhenko on Star Trek: The Next Generation. He also appeared in several other movies in the ’90s, including the 1994 comedy Blank Check, before retiring from acting in 1995 to pursue a career in music. He acted as a musician, forming the band Late Bloomers in 1998 and later touring with The Ataris.
However, Bonsall faced legal troubles in 2007 when he was arrested in Boulder, Colorado, on charges of second-degree assault and false imprisonment involving his girlfriend. He was subsequently placed on two years’ probation.
In 2019, Bonsall and his wife, Courtney Tuck, welcomed a baby boy, creating their own family ties.