Trivia

Is the first actor to portray Dr. Hannibal Lecter on the screen.

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

Although Cox has been vocal about his support for Scottish independence, he did not qualify to have a vote in the 2014 referendum due to his status as a resident of the United States.

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.

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.

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 sick because of them. He was replaced by Michael Byrne, who was featured in the next three Sharpe films.

Has replaced Tommy Lee Jones in two consecutive 1996 releases: Chain Reaction (1996) and The Glimmer Man (1996).

Is only 7 1/2 years older than Dennis Quaid who played his character's son in The Rookie (2002).

As of 2020, Cox lives in New York City, New York, USA, as well as in London, England, UK.

His father was of Irish ancestry, while his mother was of Irish and Scottish ancestry.

Has appeared in two films about legendary Scottish heroes: Braveheart (1995) and Rob Roy (1995).

Father of actor Alan Cox, who starred in Young Sherlock Holmes (1985).

Has performed in several movies playing a government official in which another actor has amnesia but later discovers they are secret government assassins: 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 X-Men 2 (2003) where the victim is played by Hugh Jackman.

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

Was elected Rector of Dundee University (Scotland), the city of his birth, and took up the position in spring 2010.

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).

He was a lifelong supporter of the Labour Party but has since 2015 switched to supporting the Scottish National Party.

Although it is indicated in X-Men 2 (2003) that his character (William Stryker) is at least 20 years older than Bruce Davison's character (Senator Robert Kelly), in real life, he is only 27 days older.

His father, Charles McArdle Campbell Cox, died when he was age 9.

Is the youngest of five children.

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".

Alumnus of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

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

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

Member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford Upon Avon, England, where he is most recognized for his 1987 performance as Titus Andronicus.

Has won two prestigious Laurence Olivier Best Actor Awards for performances on London's West End stage - "Rat in the Skull" and William Shakespeare's "Titus Andronicus".

Manhunter (1986) was remade 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 and Anthony Hopkins in RED (2010) and RED 2 (2013), and Ralph Fiennes in Coriolanus (2011). Frankie Faison appeared in both films.

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

Currently (2020) doing voiceover/narration for McDonald's (fast food restaurant) commercials.

Has played Hannibal Lecter in the mystery thriller 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 1984 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) for Best Actor for his performances in "Rat in the Skull" and "Strange Interlude".

In 1995, he appeared in two films revolving historical Scottish figures who fought with British forces: Rob Roy (1995) and Braveheart (1995).

As of 2017, has appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), Braveheart (1995) and Her (2013). Of those, Braveheart (1995) is a winner in the category.

Among the actors thought suitable for the role of Roger Derebridge in the science fiction horror film Lifeforce (1985). The role eventually went to Nicholas Ball.

The scene in X-Men 2 (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.

Has four children: Alan Cox (a professional actor) and Margaret Cox, from his 18-year marriage to Caroline Burt (they divorced in 1986). His second son was born January 31, 2002 and his third son Torin Kamran Charles Cox was born October 2004 from his wife Nicole Ansari-Cox.

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

Has appeared with Joan Allen in Manhunter (1986). 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).

Began his acting career at the Dundee Repertory Theatre.

Was engaged to actress/theatre director Irina Brook.

When Game of Thrones (2011) was in its early stages of development, Cox declined an offer to play Robert Baratheon because the monetary rewards were then relatively scant. However, as he watched the series gradually gain immense global popularity, he began to rue his short-sighted decision.

His second son, Torin Kamran Charles Cox, was born October 2004.

Was not only the first of three actors to play Hannibal Lecter, he was also the first of them to appear in a film based on a Marvel comic book, each of which would make reference to Lecter. Magneto's escape in X-Men 2 (2003) was modeled after Lecter's escape in The Silence of the Lambs (1991). Anthony Hopkins plays the father of Loki in Thor (2011) and its sequels; Loki himself played a scene opposite Black Widow in which he is trapped behind glass, not unlike Lecter and Clarice Starling. They are also discussing Bruce Banner, a character previously played by Edward Norton. Mads Mikkelsen wears a face mask resembling Lecter's in Doctor Strange (2016).

He played William Wallace in The Wallace (1975) and William Wallace's father, Argyle Wallace in Braveheart (1995).

Has worked with two Eomers. In the Sharpe films (Sharpe's Eagle (1993) and Sharpe's Rifles (1993)), 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.