Brian Cox (actor)
| Brian Cox | |
|---|---|
 Cox at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival |
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| Born | Brian Denis Cox 1 June 1946 Dundee, Scotland, UK |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Spouse | Caroline Burt (1968–1986) Nicole Ansari (2002–present) |
Brian Denis Cox, CBE (born 1 June, 1946) is a Scottish actor. He is known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he gained great recognition for his portrayal of King Lear. He has also appeared in many Hollywood productions such as his role of Dr. Guggenheim in Rushmore and William Stryker in X2.
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Early life
Cox was born to a working class Catholic family in Dundee, Scotland, the youngest of five children.[1] His ancestors were Irish immigrants to Scotland.[2] His mother, Mary Ann Guillerline (née McCann), was a spinner who worked in the jute mills and suffered several nervous breakdowns during Cox's childhood.[3] His father, Charles McArdle Campbell Cox, was a batcher and later a shopkeeper, and died when Cox was eight years old.[3][4] Cox was subsequently brought up by his elder sisters.[5] He joined the Dundee Repertory Theatre at the age of fourteen.
Career
Cox was trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, leaving in 1965 when he joined the Lyceum company in Edinburgh, followed in 1966 by two years with the Birmingham Rep, where his parts included the title role in Peer Gynt (1967) and Orlando in As You Like It, in which he made his London debut in June 1967 at the Vaudeville Theatre.[6]
He made his first television appearance as an extra in several episodes of The Prisoner in 1967 before taking a lead role in The Year of the Sex Olympics the next year. In 1978, he played King Henry II of England in the acclaimed BBC2 drama serial The Devil's Crown, following which he starred in many other television dramas. His first film appearance was as Leon Trotsky in Nicholas and Alexandra in 1971.
Cox is an accomplished Shakespearean actor, spending seasons with both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre in the 1980s and 1990s. His work with the RSC included a critically acclaimed performance as the title character in Titus Andronicus, as well as playing Petruchio in The Taming of The Shrew. Cox portrayed Burgundy opposite Laurence Olivier's King Lear (1983). He later went on to play King Lear at the National Theatre.
In 1986, during the production of Manhunter, while Cox was playing Hannibal Lecter, Anthony Hopkins was playing King Lear on stage at the National Theatre. Five years later, during the production of The Silence of the Lambs in which Hopkins took over as Lecter, Cox was playing King Lear at the National Theatre. At the time, the two actors shared the same agent.
In 1991 he played the part of Owen Benjamin, the closeted father of a gay man, in the BBC "Screen 2" production of David Leavitt's novel, The Lost Language of Cranes, which is set in the 1980s.
His most famous appearances include Rob Roy, Braveheart (both in 1995), The Ring, X2, Troy and The Bourne Supremacy. He usually plays villains, such as William Stryker in X2, Agamemnon in Troy, Pariah Dark in the Danny Phantom television series episode Reign Storm, and a devious CIA official in the Bourne films and in Chain Reaction. He has on occasion played more sympathetic characters, such as Edward Norton's father in 25th Hour, a fatherly police superior in Super Troopers, and Rachel McAdams' father in Red Eye. He has also appeared in the sitcom Frasier as Daphne Moon's father. He was also the protagonist in the film The Escapist.
Cox garnered critical acclaim for his performance in 2001's L.I.E., in which he played a pedophile who grows to genuinely (and platonically) care for a boy he had initially intended to molest. He won an Emmy Award and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award that year for his portrayal of Hermann Göring in the television mini-series Nuremberg. He also appeared in a supporting role as Jack Langrishe in the HBO series Deadwood.
In 2002, he appeared in Spike Jonze's Charlie Kaufman-scripted Adaptation as the real-life screenwriting teacher, Robert McKee, giving advice to Nicolas Cage in both his roles, as Charlie Kaufman and Charlie's fictional twin-brother Donald. In 2004, Cox played King Agamemnon in Troy. He was to play the lion Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but was replaced by Liam Neeson. He appeared on a 2006 episode of the British motoring programme Top Gear (as a "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car").
Cox has also been involved in the video game industry. Among his most prominent roles were Killzone (2004) and Killzone 2 (2009), in which he played the ruthless Scolar Visari, and as the voice of Lionel Starkweather, a snuff film director, in Manhunt.
His radio work includes the BBC series McLevy (1999–2010), based on the real life detective James McLevy.[7]
Cox narrated an abridged audio book version of Sir Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe, and an unabridged audio book of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion. He has also collaborated with HarperCollins on an audiobook of Tolkien's epic poem The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, which is scheduled for release in August 2009.
In 2008 Cox starred in Red, based on Jack Ketchum's novel. The film was directed by Lucky McKee and Trygve Allister Diesen and also starred Tom Sizemore, Amanda Plummer, and Kim Dickens. Cox also played an institutionalized convict in Rupert Wyatt's film, The Escapist, appearing alongside Joseph Fiennes, Dominic Cooper and Damian Lewis.[8]
In December 2009, Cox appeared in The Day of the Triffids, written by Patrick Harbinson, whose credits include ER and Law & Order. The drama is based on John Wyndham's best-selling post-apocalyptic novel, The Day of the Triffids.[9] The same year, Cox provided the voice for the leader of the alien race "The Ood" in a Doctor Who Christmas Special, "The End of Time Part One". Cox starred in the Ridley Scott produced Tell-Tale, a film based on the short story "The Tell Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe.[10]
In February 2010, Cox was elected as Rector of the University of Dundee, polling almost two-thirds of the vote.[11] Cox was set to portray Mr. Reisert in Scream 4,[12] but it was later announced he will not join the cast.[13]
Cox will play Laura Linney's father in the upcoming Showtime series The Big C.[14] He joined in July 2010 in a lead role for the upcoming Science-Fiction film Planet of the Apes: Rise of the Apes.[15]
Personal life
Cox is a diabetic and has worked to promote a diabetes research facility in his home town of Dundee. The producers of Super Troopers discovered his affliction when a scene called for Cox to eat a white chocolate prop that resembled a bar of soap. Cox bit into it thinking they knew this, and promptly spat it out upon tasting it. Production was halted until a sugar-free substitute could be found.
Cox is a patron for Scottish Youth Theatre, Scotland's National Theatre 'for and by' young people. Scottish Youth Theatre's building in Glasgow, The Old Sheriff Court, named their theatre the Brian Cox Studio Theatre in his honour.
He is also a patron of "THE SPACE", a training facility for actors and dancers in his native Dundee, and an "ambassador" for the Screen Academy Scotland.
His son, Alan Cox, is also an actor, best known for his role in Young Sherlock Holmes. He also played the young John Mortimer in the TV film of his play A Voyage Round My Father (1982) opposite Laurence Olivier.
In 2007 Cox campaigned for Labour in the run-up to that year's Scottish Parliamentary elections
Cox is a Roman Catholic. He humorously dismissed the suggestion that he play Scottish Protestant Reformation leader John Knox in a film of the historical figures life recently on STV's Greatest Scot TV program when he quipped: "I think you'll find I'm of the opposite persuasion."
On the 11 February 2010, Cox was elected Rector of the University of Dundee by students of the institution. He also holds an honorary doctorate from Napier University in Edinburgh, award in July 2008.
In April 2010, Cox, along with Ian McKellan and Eleanor Bron, appeared in a series of TV advertisements to support Age UK, the charity recently formed from the merger of Age Concern and Help the Aged. All three actors gave their time free of charge.[16]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Nicholas and Alexandra | Trotsky | |
| 1975 | In Celebration | Steven Shaw | |
| 1983 | King Lear | Burgundy | (TV movie) |
| 1986 | Manhunter | Dr. Hannibal Lecktor (sic) | |
| 1990 | Hidden Agenda | Kerrigan | |
| 1991 | The Lost Language of Cranes | Owen Benjamin | (TV movie) Nominated – British Academy Television Award for Best Actor |
| 1993 | Inspector Morse: The Deadly Slumber | Michael Steppings | (TV movie) |
| 1993 | Sharpe: Sharpe's Rifles | Major Hogan | (TV movie) |
| Sharpe: Sharpe's Eagle | Major Hogan | (TV movie) | |
| 1994 | Iron Will | Angus McTeague | |
| 1995 | Rob Roy | Killearn | |
| Braveheart | Argyle Wallace | ||
| 1996 | Chain Reaction | Lyman Earl Collier | |
| The Glimmer Man | Mr. Smith | ||
| The Long Kiss Goodnight | Dr. Nathan Waldman | ||
| 1997 | Kiss the Girls | Chief Hatfield, Durham P.D. | |
| The Boxer | Joe Hamill | ||
| Stoke me a Clipper | The King | ||
| 1998 | Desperate Measures | Captain Jeremiah Cassidy | |
| Rushmore | Dr. Nelson Guggenheim | ||
| 1999 | The Minus Man | Doug Durwin | |
| The Corruptor | Sean Wallace | ||
| For Love of the Game | Gary Wheeler | ||
| 2000 | Longitude | Lord Morton | (TV movie) |
| Complicity | Inspector McDunn | ||
| Mad About Mambo | Sidney McLoughlin | ||
| Nuremberg | Hermann Göring | (TV movie) Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor – Miniseries or a Movie Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie |
|
| A Shot at Glory | Martin Smith | ||
| 2001 | Super Troopers | Capt. John O'Hagen | |
| L.I.E. | Big John Harrigan | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor (tied with Denzel Washington for Training Day) Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Nominated – Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead |
|
| Strictly Sinatra | Chisolm | ||
| The Affair of the Necklace | Minister Breteuil | ||
| 2002 | Bug | Cyr | |
| The Rookie | Jim Morris Sr. | ||
| The Bourne Identity | Ward Abbott | ||
| The Ring | Richard Morgan | ||
| Adaptation. | Robert McKee | Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | |
| 25th Hour | James Brogan | ||
| The Trials of Henry Kissinger | Narrator | ||
| 2003 | X2 | William Stryker | |
| Manhunt | The Director (voice) | (Video game) | |
| The Reckoning | Tobias | ||
| 2004 | Killzone | Scolar Visari (voice) | (Video game) |
| Troy | Agamemnon | Nominated — London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actor of the Year | |
| The Bourne Supremacy | Ward Abbott | ||
| 2005 | Blue/Orange | Dr. Robert Smith | (TV movie) |
| Match Point | Alec Hewett | ||
| The Ringer | Gary Barker | ||
| Red Eye | Joe Reisert | ||
| 2006 | The Flying Scotsman | Douglas Baxter | |
| Deadwood | Jack Langrishe | (TV series) | |
| Running with Scissors | Dr. Finch | ||
| 2007 | Zodiac | Melvin Belli | Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| Battle for Terra | General Hemmer (voice) | 2007/2009 | |
| The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep | Old Angus | ||
| 2008 | Red | Avery Ludlow | |
| The Escapist | Frank Perry | BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Acting Performance in Film | |
| The Colour of Magic | Narrator (voice) | (TV movie) | |
| Agent Crush | Spanners (voice) | ||
| Shoot on Sight | Daniel Tennant | ||
| 2009 | Killzone 2 | Scolar Visari (voice) | (Video game) |
| Scooby-Doo and the Samurai Sword | Green Dragon (voice) | ||
| Kings | King Vesper Abedon | (TV series) | |
| Trick 'r Treat | Mr. Kreeg | ||
| The Take | Ozzy | (TV series) | |
| Tell-Tale | Van Doren | ||
| Fantastic Mr. Fox | TV Reporter (voice) | ||
| The Day of the Triffids (2009 TV series) | Dennis Masen | (TV series) | |
| The Good Heart | Jaques | ||
| 2010 | Doctor Who | Ood Elder (voice) | (TV series) |
| On Expenses | Michael Martin MP | (TV movie) | |
| Ironclad | Albany | forthcoming film | |
| Red | Ivan Simanov | forthcoming film | |
| 2011 | Coriolanus | Menenius | forthcoming film |
References
- ↑ http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment/Interview-Brian-Cox-actor.6091214.jp
- ↑ http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Madness-death--hardship-.5544529.jp
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Brian Cox Biography". filmreference. 2008. http://www.filmreference.com/film/30/Brian-Cox.html. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
- ↑ At last, the return of the native – Times Online
- ↑ "Brian Cox Biography". Tiscali.co.uk. http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/brian_cox_biog.html. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
- ↑ Who's Who in the Theatre, 17th edition (Gale, 1981)
- ↑ "Brian Cox Biography". Mclevy. 2008. http://www.radiolistings.co.uk/programmes/mclevy.html. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
- ↑ Brian Cox Takes on Villainous Role in 'Rise of the Apes'
- ↑ "Vanessa Redgrave to star in BBC's The Day of the Triffids". Telegraph.co.uk. 2009-02-11. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/4592119/Vanessa-Redgrave-to-star-in-BBCs-The-Day-of-the-Triffids.html. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
- ↑ Exclusive: Brian Cox to Abuse Primates in 'Rise of the Apes'
- ↑ "The Courier: Taking you to the heart of Tayside and Fife". 2010. http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2010/02/13/newsstory14540935t0.asp. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
- ↑ "Brian Cox Joins Scream 4?". Dreadcentral.com. 2010-03-26. http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/36615/brian-cox-joins-scream-4. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
- ↑ "Rumor Control: Brian Cox Not Starring in 'Scream IV'". Bloody-disgusting.com. http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/19608. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
- ↑ "Showtime Taps Cox, Linney for Two New Series". TVGuide.com. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Cox-Whalley-Showtime-1019533.aspx.
- ↑ Brian Cox Ain't Monkeying Around in Planet of the Apes: Rise of the Apes
- ↑ Sweney, Mark (19 April 2010). "Hollywood actors star in Age UK ad". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/apr/19/age-uk. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
External links
- Brian Cox at the Internet Movie Database
- Brian Cox as the original "Lecktor" in Manhunter
- Brian Cox interview and film clips
| Academic offices | ||
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| Preceded by Craig Murray |
Rector of the University of Dundee 2010–Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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