Biography for
Brian Cox (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

1 June 1946, Dundee, Scotland, UK

Birth Name

Brian Denis Cox

Height

5' 7½" (1.71 m)

Mini Biography

Brian Cox is an Emmy Award-winning actor, first coming to attention in the early 1970s with performances in numerous television films. His first big break was as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in Manhunter (1986). The film was not overly successful at the box office, although Cox's career prospects and popularity continued to develop. Throughout the 1990s, he appeared in nearly 20 films and television series, as well as making numerous television guest appearances. More recently, Cox has had roles in some major films, including The Corruptor (1999), The Ring (2002) and X2 (2003). He was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2003 Queen's New Year's Honours List for his accomplishments in theater, film and television.

IMDb Mini Biography By: David Mullen

Spouse

Nicole Ansari-Cox	(2002 - present) 2 children
Caroline Burt	(1968 - 1986) (divorced) 2 children

Trade Mark

Often plays characters associated with the government or the military (or both).

Trivia

Scottish-born, but of Irish Catholic extraction.

Has a son, Alan Cox, who starred in Young Sherlock Holmes (1985).

First actor to portray Dr. Hannibal Lecter on the screen.

He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2003 Queen's New Year's Honours List for his services to drama.

He played Hannibal Lecter in the film, Manhunter (1986). In 2002, he co-starred with Edward Norton and Philip Seymour Hoffman in the film 25th Hour (2002). In 2002, Norton and Hoffman also starred in Red Dragon (2002), which was a remake of Manhunter (1986).

He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1985 (1984 season) for Best Actor in a New Play for "Rat in the Skull".

He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1989 (1988 season) for Best Actor in a Revival for "Titus Andronicus".

Son Alan Cox (a professional actor) and daughter Margaret, from his 18-year marriage to Caroline Burt (they divorced in 1986.). A second son was born 31 Jan 2002 from his wife Nicole Ansari-Cox.

He was awarded the 1987 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) for Best Actor for his performances in The Taming of the Shrew, Titus Andronicus, and Fashion.

He was awarded the 1984 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) for Best Actor for his performances in Rat in the Skull and Strange Interlude.

He does not watch or view his own work.

Rarely plays characters who are sympathetic or likable, from his egotistical take on Robert McKee in Adaptation. (2002) to the robust evil in his portrayal of Agamemnon in Troy (2004). However, he has gone against type and played several likable characters, such as the gruff yet honorable Uncle Argyle in Braveheart (1995) and the lovable, paternal Police Chief John O'Hagan in Super Troopers (2001).

Has performed in several movies playing a government official in which another actor has amnesia but later discovers they are secret government assasins: The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) where the amnesia victim is actress Geena Davis, The Bourne Identity (2002) with Matt Damon having the amnesia, and also X2 (2003) where the victim is played by Hugh Jackman.

Has no fewer than three roles in common with Anthony Hopkins. They have both played Titus Andronicus, and both of them played King Lear while the other was simultaneously playing Hannibal Lecter.

Alumnus of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

The scene in X2 (2003) where Magneto escapes from prison is modeled after Hannibal Lecter's escape in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) - the sequel to Cox's film Manhunter (1986), in which he played Lecter.

Member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford Upon Avon, England, where he is most recognized for his performance of 'King Lear'.

After graduating from LAMDA, he spent several seasons with the Royal National Theatre in London, England.

Appears in Manhunter (1986) with Joan Allen. Each of them later went on to work with the other's successor. Cox's successor as Lecter, Anthony Hopkins, appeared in Nixon (1995) with Allen. Cox worked with Allen's successor, Emily Watson, in The Boxer (1997).

Backed out of his contract after filming the second of the BBC/Celtic Sharpe series of films after complaining of poor working conditions in the Ukraine as well as becoming repeatedly ill because of them. He was replaced by Michael Byrne, who was featured in the next three Sharpe films.

Although it is indicated in X2 (2003) that his character (William Stryker) is at least 20 years older than Bruce Davison's character (Senator Kelly), in real life, he is only 27 days older.

Has worked with two Eomers. In the Sharpe films (Sharpe's Eagle (1993) (TV) and Sharpe's Rifles (1993) (TV)), with Sean Bean, he appears with Anthony Hyde, who played the role in the BBC radio broadcast. In The Bourne Supremacy (2004), he appears with Karl Urban, who played the role in Peter Jackson's films.

Has appeared in two films about legendary Scottish heroes. In 1995, he appeared in both Braveheart (1995) and Rob Roy (1995).

Appeared as an extra in several episodes of "The Prisoner" (1967).

Second son Torin Kamran Charles born October 2004.

Appears in Manhunter (1986) with Joan Allen, they went on to work together 18 years later on the movie The Bourne Supremacy (2004).

Based his portrayal of "Hannibal Lecter" on Scottish serial killer Peter Manuel.

Father died when he was 9.

Youngest of 5 children.

[2009] Owns two Toyota Prius cars - one for use at his American residence and one for his British home.

Elected Rector of Dundee University (Scotland), the city of his birth, and will take up the position in Spring 2010.

Was engaged to actress/theatre director Irina Brook.

Manhunter (1986) was remade in 2002 as Red Dragon (2002), the original title of the novel on which it is based. Cox has appeared in films with several actors from the remake. He appeared with Edward Norton and Philip Seymour Hoffman in 25th Hour (2002), with Emily Watson in The Boxer (1997) and The Water Horse (2007), Mary-Louise Parker in Red (2010/I), and Ralph Fiennes in Coriolanus (2011). Frankie Faison appeared in both films.

Personal Quotes

I was living in London and I thought, "There's nothing here for me anymore". I don't want to become this actor who's going to be doing this occasional good work in the theater and then ever diminishing bad television. I thought I'd rather do bad movies than bad television because you get more money for it.

In a sense I feel very much a part of the cinema now in a way where when I come back to the theater now I feel like a visitor. The cinema is really what I enjoy. I want to do more independent movies.

I'm an actor who does really interesting work in independent movies. I want to keep doing that because I don't want the burden of an opening weekend sitting on my shoulders.

I'm 100% Celt. In fact, I'm directly related to the progenitor of the high kings of Ireland, Niall of the Nine Hostages.

As a boy, I was never interested in theater because I came from a working-class Scottish home. I thought, "I want to do movies". Then it was finding the means to do it.

[on Spike Lee] Ah, there's a director. Astonishing, Spike Lee. A feisty guy, but a guy who's, I think, incredibly misunderstood. I think people review his politics or his color as opposed to his filmmaking sometimes. Because he's a wonderful, wonderful filmmaker and a lover of the art. He stands up for things, but he's also a brilliant storyteller who really understands the whole.

Where Are They Now

(January 2008) Portraying "Max" in Tom Stoppard's "Rock 'n' Roll" on Broadway through March 2008.

(May 2009) London, England

(February 2011) Broadway "That Championship Season" as The Coach with Chris Noth, Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric and Jim Gaffigan http://www.thatchampionshipseason.com/

(January 2012) London, England: Starring as Sydney Newman in "An Adventure in Space and Time".