Michael J. Fox's favorite things

ACTOR MICHAEL J. FOX spends time writing these days. His Lucky Man and Always Looking Up have been best sellers. And now Fox, 48, is back with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future (Hyperion, $17.99), filled with advice for this spring's college graduates.

Much of this shared wisdom comes from what life has thrown at him, including alcoholism and Parkinson's disease. His life's work now is raising research funds to battle Parkinson's.

USA WEEKEND caught up with the Canadian-born actor and asked about some of his favorite things:

Favorite movie of all time, except any of his own:
“That's easy. Dr. Strangelove. I think I saw it as a teenager in an art theater in Vancouver.”

Favorite current politician of his conservative alter ego, Alex P. Keaton from TV's Family Ties:
“He was a strict mercenary. He wanted small government and to make the most money possible. I think he'd be frustrated these days. He'd be suspicious of Obama. He'd like him as a person but suspicious of anyone who wanted to regulate commerce.”

Favorite music:
“I think right now my favorite music is the stuff I grew up on in the '60s and '70s. I took the '80s off but love the music of the early '90s. Nirvana. Soundgarden. Alice in Chains. But I can listen to James Taylor, too.”

Favorite place to go with his four kids (with wife Tracy Pollan) on a Saturday afternoon:
“The beach. And on spring break we always go to the Caribbean. We seem to go to the beach a lot.”

Favorite memory of his grandmother, Nana:
“I'd go to her place after school, and we'd hang out in the kitchen when she did the dishes and told stories. It was like spending time with Yoda, although there wasn't a Yoda then. She was Yoda.”

Favorite piece of clothing:
“I've got a few. I have an old chambray shirt that I've had 30 years. I tell my kids I have clothes older than they are. And I have original concert T-shirts from Tommy Petty with cigarette holes in them.”