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Brian Cox

Birth Place: Dundee

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BIO

Brian Denis Cox CBE (born 1 June 1946) is a Scottish actor. A classically trained Shakespearean actor, he is known for leading performances on stage and television, as well as supporting roles in film. His numerous accolades include two Laurence Olivier Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award as well as a nomination for a British Academy Television Award. In 2003, he was appointed to the Order of the British Empire at the rank of Commander. Empire magazine awarded him the Empire Icon Award in 2006, and the UK Film Council named him one of the top 10 powerful British film stars in Hollywood in 2007.



Cox trained at the Dundee Repertory Theatre before becoming a founding member of Royal Lyceum Theatre. He went on to train as a Shakespearean actor, starring in numerous productions with the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he gained recognition for his portrayal of King Lear. Cox received two Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Actor for his roles in Rat in the Skull (1984) for the Royal Court and Titus Andronicus (1988). He received two more Olivier Award nominations for Misalliance (1986) and Fashion (1988).

Known as a character actor in film, he played Robert McKee in Spike Jonze's Adaptation (2002) and William Stryker in X2 (2003). For his starring role in L.I.E. (2001), he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination. His other notable films include Manhunter (1986), Rob Roy (1995), Braveheart (1995), Rushmore (1998), Super Troopers (2001), The Ring (2002), The Bourne Identity (2002), 25th Hour (2002), Troy (2004), The Bourne Supremacy (2004), Red Eye (2005), Zodiac (2007), Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), and Churchill (2017).

Cox won the Primetime Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for his portrayal of Hermann Göring in the television film Nuremberg (2001). The following year he guest starred on the NBC sitcom Frasier earning his second Emmy nomination in 2002. He portrayed Jack Langrishe in the HBO series Deadwood. He starred as Logan Roy on the HBO series Succession (2018–2023), for which he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series and was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series.

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STAGE CREDITS

Long Day’s Journey Into Night Long Day’s Journey Into Night
[West End]
2024
James Tyrone Sr.
The Great Society The Great Society
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2019
LBJ
The Weir The Weir
[West End]
West End Revival Production, 2014
Performer
That Championship Season That Championship Season
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2011
Coach
Rock 'n' Roll Rock 'n' Roll
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2007
Max
St. Nicholas
[Off-Broadway]
1998
Performer
Art
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1998
Marc [Replacement]
Rat in the Skull
[Off-Broadway]
1985
Nelson
Strange Interlude
[Broadway]
1985
Edmund Darrell

Movies

Nicholas and Alexandra
[ 1971 ] Trotsky
In Celebration
[ 1975 ] Steven Shaw
Manhunter
[ 1986 ] Dr. Lecktor
Hidden Agenda
[ 1990 ] Kerrigan
The Lost Language of Cranes
[ 1991 ] Owen Benjamin
Deceptions
[ 1992 ] Carlton Heard
Royal Deceit
[ 1994 ] Aethelwine
Iron Will
[ 1994 ] Angus McTeague
Braveheart
[ 1995 ] Argyle Wallace
Rob Roy
[ 1995 ] Killearn
Chain Reaction
[ 1996 ] Lyman Earl Collier
The Glimmer Man
[ 1996 ] Mr. Smith
The Long Kiss Goodnight
[ 1996 ] Nathan
Kiss the Girls
[ 1997 ] Chief Hatfield
The Boxer
[ 1997 ] Joe Hamill
Desperate Measures
[ 1998 ] Captain Jeremiah Csidy
Rushmore
[ 1998 ] Dr. Nelson Guggenheim
Merchants of Venus
[ 1998 ] Uncle Vladimir
The Minus Man
[ 1999 ] Doug
For Love of the Game
[ 1999 ] Gary Wheeler
The Corruptor
[ 1999 ] Sean Wallace
Saltwater
[ 2000 ] George Beneventi
Complicity
[ 2000 ] Inspector McDunn
A Shot at Glory
[ 2000 ] Martin Smith
Mad About Mambo
[ 2000 ] Sidney McLoughlin
L.I.E.
[ 2001 ] Big John Harrigan
Super Troopers
[ 2001 ] Captain O Hagan
Strictly Sinatra
[ 2001 ] Chisolm
The Affair of the Necklace
[ 2001 ] Minister Breteuil
Bug
[ 2002 ] Cyr
25th Hour
[ 2002 ] James Brogan
The Rookie
[ 2002 ] Jim Morris Sr.
The Ring
[ 2002 ] Richard Morgan
Adaptation.
[ 2002 ] Robert McKee
The Reckoning
[ 2002 ] Tobi
The Bourne Identity
[ 2002 ] Ward Abbott
Sin
[ 2003 ] Captain Oakes
X2: X-Men United
[ 2003 ] William Stryker
Troy
[ 2004 ] Agamemnon
The Bourne Supremacy
[ 2004 ] Ward Abbott
Match Point
[ 2005 ] Alec Hewett
The Ringer
[ 2005 ] Gary Barker
Red Eye
[ 2005 ] Joe Reisert
The Flying Scotsman
[ 2006 ] Dougl Baxter
Running with Scissors
[ 2006 ] Dr. Finch
A Woman in Winter
[ 2006 ] Dr. Hunt
Shoot on Sight
[ 2007 ] Daniel Tennant
Battle for Terra
[ 2007 ] General Hemmer
Zodiac
[ 2007 ] Melvin Belli
Trick 'r Treat
[ 2007 ] Mr. Kreeg
The Water Horse
[ 2007 ] Old Angus
Agent Crush
[ 2008 ] Spanners
Red
[ 2008 ] Avery Ludlow
The Escapist
[ 2008 ] Frank Perry
Fantastic Mr. Fox
[ 2009 ] Action 12 Reporter
The Good Heart
[ 2009 ] Jacques
Tell Tale
[ 2009 ] Phillip Van Doren
As Good as Dead
[ 2010 ] Reverend Kalahan
All at Sea
[ 2010 ] Wally
Ironclad
[ 2011 ] Baron William d Aubigny
The Veteran
[ 2011 ] Gerry Langdon
Citizen Gangster
[ 2011 ] Glover Boyd
The Key Man
[ 2011 ] Irving
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
[ 2011 ] John Landon
Exit Humanity
[ 2011 ] Malcolm Young
Coriolanus
[ 2011 ] Menenius
Blood
[ 2012 ] Lenny Fairburn
The Campaign
[ 2012 ] Raymond Huggins
Her
[ 2013 ] Alan Watts
Blumenthal
[ 2013 ] Harold
RED 2
[ 2013 ] Ivan
Believe
[ 2013 ] Sir Matt Busby
The Anomaly
[ 2014 ] Dr. Langham
The Gospel of John
[ 2014 ] Narrator
Pixels
[ 2015 ] Admiral Porter
Forsaken
[ 2015 ] James McCurdy
Morgan
[ 2016 ] Jim Bryce
The Carer
[ 2016 ] Sir Michael Gifford
The Autopsy of Jane Doe
[ 2016 ] Tommy
Bob the Builder: Mega Machines
[ 2017 ] Conrad UK & US, Crunch UK & US
Churchill
[ 2017 ] Winston Churchill
Super Troopers 2
[ 2018 ] Captain O Hagan
The Pretenders
[ 2018 ] Henry
Dark Highlands
[ 2018 ] Opening Narrator
The Etruscan Smile
[ 2018 ] Rory MacNeil
Strange But True
[ 2019 ] Bill
The Last Right
[ 2019 ] Father Reilly
Remember Me
[ 2019 ] Shane
Last Moment of Clarity
[ 2020 ] Gilles
The Bay of Silence
[ 2020 ] Milton
Lawrence: After Arabia
[ 2021 ] Epilogue, Father Voice
Separation
[ 2021 ] Paul Rivers
Mending the Line
[ 2022 ] Ike Fletcher
Prisoner's Daughter
[ 2022 ] Max
The Independent
[ 2022 ] Nichol Booker
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
[ 2023 ] Helm Hammerhand

TV Shows

Blade Runner: Black Lotus
Niander Wallace Sr.
Crown Court
Edward McLennan
Shetland
Magnus Bain
Succession
Logan Roy

Awards and Nominations

Drama Desk Awards - 1998 - Outstanding Actor - Play

Brian Cox, St. Nicholas

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1998 - Best Solo Performance

Brian Cox - , St. Nicholas


winner
The Lortels - 1998 - Outstanding Lead Actor

Brian Cox, St. Nicholas

Olivier Awards - 1988 - Actor of the Year in a New Play

Brian Cox, Fashion, RSC


winner
Olivier Awards - 1988 - Actor of the Year in a Revival

Brian CoxTitus Andronicus

Olivier Awards - 1986 - Comedy Performance of the Year

Brian CoxMisalliance


winner
Olivier Awards - 1984 - Actor of the Year in a New Play

Brian CoxRat In The Skull

Videos

More Video

News


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Roundabout Theatre Will Celebrate John Kander at Benefit Hosted By Alan Cumming

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced a special one-night event Ring Them Bells: A Birthday Celebration for John Kander, hosted by Alan Cumming. Learn more here!
Video: Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt Star in THE ELECTRIC STATE Trailer Photo
Video: Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt Star in THE ELECTRIC STATE Trailer

Netflix has released the official trailer for The Electric Slate, the upcoming movie from the Russo Brothers starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt. The movie hits Netflix on March 14, 2025. Watch the trailer now!
NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS FOR CURIOUS PEOPLE Returns to Kings Place Photo
NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS FOR CURIOUS PEOPLE Returns to Kings Place

The Cosmic Shambles Network has announced the return of Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People, Robin Ince’s iconic seasonal extravaganza. Learn more here!
Eva Noblezada, James Lapine and More Join York Theatre Company Gala Honoring Bernadet Photo
Eva Noblezada, James Lapine and More Join York Theatre Company Gala Honoring Bernadette Peters And Ted Snowdon

The York Theatre Company announced additional performers for its gala honoring Bernadette Peters and Ted Snowdon on November 11 at The Edison Ballroom, promising a memorable evening of celebration.
Video: Netflix Drops Trailer for Animated Holiday Film THAT CHRISTMAS Photo
Video: Netflix Drops Trailer for Animated Holiday Film THAT CHRISTMAS

Netflix has released the first trailer for That Christmas, the upcoming holiday animated movie from Richard Curtis (Love Actually). The film debuts on the streamer December 4. Watch the trailer now!
Professor Brian Cox Brings HORIZONS" A 21st Century Space Odyssey To The Boch Cente Photo
Professor Brian Cox Brings HORIZONS" A 21st Century Space Odyssey To The Boch Center

Professor Brian Cox has announced that he is bringing his acclaimed live show Horizons – A 21st Century Space Odyssey to the US for a string of dates in 2025.
Video: Netflix Shares Teaser for THE ELECTRIC STATE With Millie Bobby Brown Photo
Video: Netflix Shares Teaser for THE ELECTRIC STATE With Millie Bobby Brown

Netflix has released the first teaser trailer for The Electric Slate, the upcoming movie from the Russo Brothers starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt. The movie hits Netflix on March 14, 2025. 
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Cultural Ambassador Ronald Rand to Bring Harold Clurman In LET IT BE ART! To Athens

Ronald Rand will perform his acclaimed solo play LET IT BE ART! as Harold Clurman in Athens during the Global Arts Education Summit, marking nearly 25 years of world tours. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
Photos: First Look at Netflix's THE ELECTRIC STATE With Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Photo
Photos: First Look at Netflix's THE ELECTRIC STATE With Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt

Netflix has released first-look images for The Electric Slate, the upcoming movie from the Russo Brothers starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt. Take a look at photos here!
Video: Alex Moffat Talks Starring in THE BIG GAY JAMBOREE Off-Broadway Photo
Video: Alex Moffat Talks Starring in THE BIG GAY JAMBOREE Off-Broadway

Alex Moffat, star of the new off-Broadway musical The Big Gay Jamboree, visited Late Night with Seth Meyers to discuss his experience with the new production. Watch the interview now!
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Kecia Lewis Joins CBS' THE NEIGHBORHOOD Spin-Off Series

Tony Award winner Kecia Lewis has joined the cast of Crutch, a new spin-off of CBS' The Neighborhood. The Hell's Kitchen star will play Antoinette, the sister-in-law of the title character played by Tracy Morgan.
Review: THE LIGHTEST ELEMENT, Hampstead Theatre Photo
Review: THE LIGHTEST ELEMENT, Hampstead Theatre

Stella Feehily's new play examines the life of pioneering astronomer Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin
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Brian Cox in THE SCORE and Tamsin Greig in THE DEEP BLUE SEA Will Transfer to Theatre Royal Haymarket

Brian Cox in THE SCORE and Tamsin Greig in THE DEEP BLUE SEA will transfer to Theatre Royal Haymarket. Learn more about the shows here!
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Q&A: EDINBURGH 2024: Her Royal Majesty Queen Angelique-Monet on VENTRILOQUIST QUEEN: A TRUE AFRICAN QUEEN

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Bernadette Peters And Ted Snowdon to be Honored at York Theatre Company Gala

The York Theatre Company will honor Bernadette Peters and Ted Snowdon at their Gala Evening. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
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New Ed Sheeran Song to Debut in Richard Curtis' THAT CHRISTMAS on Netflix

Netflix has revealed that Ed Sheeran has written and recorded an original song for Locksmith Animation’s (Ron’s Gone Wrong) upcoming CG animated feature That Christmas. The track titled “Under The Tree” will feature in the animated film that will come to Netflix on Friday, December 6.
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SUCCESSION: THE COMPLETE SERIES Coming to Blu-ray in August

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment is set to release Succession: The Complete Series on Blu-ray. The brilliant high-stakes drama following the Roy Family and their quest for power will be available to purchase online on August 13. The set includes all 39 episodes from all four seasons, plus over 20 bonus features including Inside the Episode featurettes, Character Recaps, Cast and Crew Interviews and more.
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Video: Kecia Lewis Accepts Tony Award For HELL'S KITCHEN

Tonight, Kecia Lewis won the 2024 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for HELL'S KITCHEN. Watch her acceptance speech in the video here!
Video: Kecia Lewis Celebrates Tony Win for Best Featured Actress in a Musical Photo
Video: Kecia Lewis Celebrates Tony Win for Best Featured Actress in a Musical

Earlier tonight at the 77th Annual Tony Awards, Kecia Lewis took home a Tony Award for 'Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role a Musical' for her outstanding work in Hell's Kitchen. Watch what happened afterwards in this video!
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Photos: Inside the National Youth Theatre's BIG Night Out

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More News

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Brian Cox been in?

Brian Cox has appeared on Broadway in 5 shows.

How many West End shows has Brian Cox been in?

Brian Cox has appeared on London's West End in 2 shows.

What was Brian Cox's first West End show?

Brian Cox's first West End show was The Weir which opened in 2014

What awards has Brian Cox been nominated for?

Outstanding Actor - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for St. Nicholas, Best Solo Performance (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for St. Nicholas, Outstanding Lead Actor (The Lortels) for St. Nicholas, Actor of the Year in a New Play (Olivier Awards) for Fashion, RSC, Actor of the Year in a Revival (Olivier Awards) for Titus Andronicus, Comedy Performance of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Misalliance and Actor of the Year in a New Play (Olivier Awards) for Rat In The Skull.

What awards has Brian Cox won?

Brian Cox has won several awards, including Outstanding Lead Actor (The Lortels) for St. Nicholas. He also received the Actor of the Year in a Revival award at the Olivier Awards for Titus Andronicus and the Actor of the Year in a New Play award at the Olivier Awards for Rat In The Skull.

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