Who Was Alex P. Keaton’s Best Love Interest on ‘Family Ties’? Vote for Your Favorite! (POLL)
Balancing his obsession with Wall Street, Young Republicans meetings, and endless Reagan-era wisdom, Family Ties‘ Alex P. Keaton (played with legendary prep energy by Michael J. Fox) stood as the ultimate 1980’s teen conservative in a household full of ex-hippies. Between school debates, part-time jobs, and his all-consuming obsession with the almighty dollar, you’d think he wouldn’t have time for romance — but you’d be wrong.
Despite his laser-focused ambitions, Alex’s love life offered some of Family Ties‘ most heartwarming — and occasionally heartbreaking — storylines. From short-term flings to full-blown soulmates, his romantic pursuits made us laugh, cry, and reach for a sweater vest of our own.
Which of Alex’s love interests stole your heart? Read on to reminisce — and don’t forget to vote for your favorite!
Ellen Reed (Tracy Pollan)
Ah, Ellen. The art-loving, ballet-dancing liberal who somehow managed to crack Alex’s supply-side heart wide open. Their opposites-attract dynamic sparked one of the most memorable romances in sitcom history, culminating in Alex’s unforgettable, race-to-the-train-station declaration of love. (It still holds up as one of TV’s greatest “don’t leave!” moments.)
Ellen was more than just a character — she changed Alex. Suddenly, the buttoned-up boy wonder was quoting poetry, questioning his path, and — gasp — considering art school. Tragically, the relationship didn’t last on-screen, but off-screen sparks flew for real. Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan fell in love while filming, married in 1988, and today have four children together. Now that’s a sitcom happy ending.
Lauren Miller (Courteney Cox)
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When Ellen moved on (and off the show), in walked Lauren Miller—an ambitious psychology student who could meet Alex on an intellectual level. She wasn’t an art girl; she was a career-focused realist, which, of course, totally clicked with Alex’s Type-A personality.
Played by a young Courteney Cox (years before she became a household name as Monica Gellar on Friends), Lauren was smart, kind, and could keep up with Alex’s rapid-fire banter. Their relationship felt grounded, mature — and even hinted at a future filled with shared financial goals and co-signed mortgage applications. Ultimately, the two parted ways, but not without giving us plenty of sweet, earnest moments along the way.
Jocelyn (Jami Gertz)
Jocelyn was a quirky, theatrical aspiring actress who, despite her totally chaotic energy, somehow managed to capture Alex’s attention — briefly. She wasn’t exactly the kind of person Alex would bring home to discuss the stock market, but she was fun, unpredictable, and utterly unfiltered. Though their romance fizzled fast, Jocelyn gave us a few unforgettable moments of comedic gold—and a look at what happens when Alex dates outside his comfort zone.
Jamie Gertz rose to fame in the eighties for her roles in buzzworthy movies like The Lost Boys, Less than Zero, Quicksilver, and Crossroads. Beyond Family Ties, TV viewers know her best for her starring toles in sitcoms like Still Standing and The Neighbors. Meanwhile, Gertz and her husband Tony Ressler have quietly amassed a billion-dollar fortune through various business ventures. Guess she gravitated towards an Alex P. Keaton type in real life, too!
Marty (Jane Adams)
Marty was a thoughtful, sweet girl Alex met while tutoring. She wasn’t flashy or over-the-top—just smart, grounded, and genuinely kind. While Marty didn’t become a major figure in the show’s romantic history, her presence offered a more subdued, realistic portrayal of young love. Not every teenage romance has to end in a teary train station goodbye. Sometimes, it’s just a chapter, and that’s okay too.
A theater powerhouse by nature (she even turned down the chance to work on the movie Sister Act with Whoopi Goldberg for the chance to work with Arthur Miller on stage), Adams has racked up plenty of impressive credits and awards on her resume, including a Tony in 1994 for her role in the Broadway revival of An Inspector Calls. From Hung to Hacks, she’s been a fixture on both stage and screen since the mid-80’s with no signs of slowing down.