Michael J. Fox struggled to convince his wife Tracy Pollan to have their son circumcised when he was born - because she considered the traditional Jewish practice "ritual mutilation."

The couple welcomed its first child, Sam Michael, in 1989 but the new parents were soon embroiled in a battle over whether or not to have the boy's foreskin removed moments after his birth. In his memoir Always Looking Up, Fox admits Jewish-born Pollan had reservations about "what could be described as a ritual mutilation," but the Back to the Future star soon managed to win over his spouse.

He writes, "To me it was very clear (he should be circumcised). (I said to Pollan), 'If the doctor does it now... I'll look (Sam) in the eye and give him someone to scream at. But if in 13 years, if he decides he wants to have a Bar Mitzvah (Jewish coming of age ceremony) and he isn't circumcised, then you are going to be in that room with him."

Fox and Pollan also have three daughters: twins Aquinnah and Schuyler, 14, and Esmé Annabelle, eight.

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)