1. Early Life and Education
Richard Cox's early life was marked by a strong family connection to the performing arts and a foundational education that nurtured his theatrical talents.
1.1. Birth and Family Background
Richard Cox, whose full name is Richard Cox Zuckerman, was born on May 6, 1948, in New York City, New York, USA. He is the only child of Gabe Zuckerman and Roseanna Cox, both of whom were professional dancers.
1.2. Education and Training
Cox's interest in theatre began at a young age. He first appeared on stage at the age of eight with his mother at the Petersburg Players Professional Theatre in Peterborough, New Hampshire, where his mother frequently performed. Cox credits this early experience as the spark that ignited his passion for theatre, and he continues to consider himself a member of the institution. In his youth, Cox received formal acting training at the American Repertory Theater. He later pursued higher education at Yale University, where he undertook a dual major in drama and anthropology.
2. Career
Richard Cox's professional journey spans decades, encompassing significant contributions to the stage, film, and television.
2.1. Early Career and Theatre
Cox began his career in theatre, performing on Broadway alongside acclaimed actress Ingrid Bergman in Captain Brassbound's Conversion. In 1975, he transitioned to Hollywood with the national company of the popular musical Grease. His theatre credits also include the 1990 production of What a Man Weighs, where he played the role of Haseltine at the Second Stage Theater, written by Sherry Kramer. For his work in the musical Platinum, he was nominated for a Tony Award in 1979 for Best Actor (Featured Role - Musical) and received a Clarence Derwent Award.
2.2. Film and Television Career Overview
Cox made a notable transition to film and television, where he took on a variety of roles. He collaborated with Al Pacino in two films: Cruising (1980), where he played Stuart Richards, and Looking for Richard (1996), in which he appeared as himself and Lord Catesby. His other film appearances include Seizure (1974), Between the Lines (1977), King of the Mountain (1981), Hellhole (1985), The Vindicator (1986), Zombie High (1987), and Radio Free Albemuth (2010). On television, he is recognized for his role as Max Frazier on Ghostwriter and for portraying Kyril Finn, a terrorist fighting for independence, in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The High Ground" (1990).
3. Filmography
Richard Cox has an extensive filmography across both film and television.
3.1. Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1974 | Seizure | Gerald | |
1977 | Between the Lines | Stuart Wheeler | |
1980 | Cruising | Stuart Richards | |
1981 | King of the Mountain | Roger | |
1983 | Can She Bake a Cherry Pie? | Customer At Cafe | |
1985 | Hellhole | Ron | |
1986 | The Vindicator | Alex Whyte | |
1987 | Zombie High | Philo | |
1987 | Street Justice | Sam Chandler | |
1989 | The Oasis | Paul | |
1996 | Looking for Richard | Self / Lord Catesby | |
1997 | A Hero's Climb | Storeman | |
2001 | Besotted | Raymond | |
2002 | Outta Time | Taylor | |
2002 | Storm Watch | Richard Clark | |
2003 | Missing Brendan | Sean Calden | |
2005 | Barry Dingle | Levinowsky | |
2008 | The Toe Tactic | Stalker Timmy | |
2010 | Radio Free Albemuth | Dr. Weinberg | |
2011 | Wilde Salomé | Robbie Ross |
3.2. Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1975 | Sunshine | Levis | Episode: "Buy the Book" |
1975 | Sanford and Son | Hippie Kid | Episode: "The Sanford Arms" |
1975 | Baretta | Detective Josephson / Pogo | 2 episodes |
1976 | The Adams Chronicles | Col. William Stephens Smith | Episode: "Chapter IV: John Adams, Minister to Great Britain" |
1976-1977 | Executive Suite | Mark Desmond | 18 episodes |
1978 | What Really Happened to the Class of '65? | Josh | Episode: "Reunion in Terror" |
1979 | The Rockford Files | Kenny Spector | Episode: "Love Is the Word" |
1980 | Stone | Peter Ward | Episode: "Just a Little Blow Between Friends" |
1980 | Camp Grizzly | Nick | Television film |
1982 | Alice at the Palace | Caterpillar / Mad Hatter | Television film |
1982 | Remington Steele | Tony Dinaldo | Episode: "Etched in Steele" |
1983 | Simon & Simon | Duke Dwyer | Episode: "What's in a Gnome?" |
1983 | Magnum, P.I. | Randy | Episode: "The Big Blow" |
1985 | Scarecrow and Mrs. King | Malcolm Burling | Episode: "Life of the Party" |
1986 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Ben | Episode: "Four O'Clock" |
1986 | Slow Burn | Tommy Walsh | Television film |
1987 | Hunter | Carl Remick | Episode: "Crossfire" |
1987 | The Bronx Zoo | Charlie Turner | 4 episodes |
1987 | Murder, She Wrote | Clay McCloud | Episode: "Witness for the Defense" |
1987 | Once Again | Jag | Television film |
1988 | Shattered Innocence | Brad Pullman | Television film |
1988 | Tanner '88 | David Seidelman | 7 episodes |
1988 | CBS Summer Playhouse | Searles | Episode: "Mad Avenue" |
1988 | Unholy Matrimony | Irvin Dymond | Television film |
1988 | Midnight Caller | Mike Barnes | Episode: "After It Happened" |
1989 | Peaceable Kingdom | Frank Everett | Episode: "Aardvark" |
1989 | Freddy's Nightmares | Jerry | Episode: "Heartbreak Hotel" |
1989 | Designing Women | Barringer | Episode: "Manhunt" |
1989 | L.A. Law | Curtis Haber | Episode: "Lie Down and Deliver" |
1990 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Kyril Finn | Episode: "The High Ground" |
1990 | WIOU | Jimi Slavin | Episode: "Diamond Dogs" |
1991-1992 | Loving | Gifford Bowman | 124 episodes |
1992-1994 | Ghostwriter | Max Frazier | 13 episodes |
1993 | Law & Order | Steven Gregg | Episode: "Right to Counsel" |
1995 | Young at Heart | Marco | Television film |
1995 | Legend | Flintridge Caine | Episode: "Custer's Next to Last Stand" |
1997 | Millennium | Alistair 'Al' Pepper | Episode: "Powers, Principalities, Thrones and Dominions" |
1997 | Guiding Light | David Jacobs / Richard Jacobs | 2 episodes |
1997-1998 | The Visitor | Asst. Director Grushaw | 4 episodes |
1998 | The Net | Jericho Denain | Episode: "Harvest" |
2000 | Nash Bridges | Norman Craft | Episode: "Heist" |
2000 | Diagnosis: Murder | Administrator Zanuck | Episode: "A Resting Place" |
2000 | The X-Files | Daniel Brimley | Episode: "Brand X" |
2000 | The Huntress | Adam Kirkman | Episode: "Bad Boys & Why We Love Them" |
2000 | American Tragedy | Alan Dershowitz | Television film |
2000 | The Fugitive | Al Greenlaw | Episode: "Liar's Poker" |
2001 | The Practice | Attorney Stuart Miller | Episode: "Liar's Poker" |
2002 | Titus | Dr. Franklin | Episode: "The Session" |
2003 | Dragnet | Alex Von Loy | Episode: "The Artful Dodger" |
2003 | ER | Rick Mathers | Episode: "Shifts Happen" |
2003 | Veritas: The Quest | Cosimo Medici | Episode: "The Lost Codex" |
2004 | JAG | Mr. Handy | Episode: "A Girl's Best Friend" |
2004 | Without a Trace | Father Gavin Cavanagh | Episode: "Risen" |
2005 | Threshold | Capt. Hank Mancini | Episode: "Blood of the Children" |
2005 | Numbers | Edward Barret | Episode: "Calculated Risk" |
2005 | Cold Case | Clifton Coleman | Episode: "Start-Up" |
2006 | Crossing Jordan | Clark Credle | Episode: "Code of Ethics" |
2006 | The Closer | Michael Henson | Episode: "Out of Focus" |
2006 | Close to Home | Henry Brooks | Episode: "Legacy" |
2007 | Raines | Richard Billings | Episode: "Closure" |
2007 | Bones | Atty. Leonard Huntzinger | Episode: "Soccer Mom in the Mini-Van" |
2007 | Moonlight | Richard Haggans | Episode: "Fleur De Lis" |
2008 | Blank Slate | Senator Davis Wilmont | Television film |
2008 | Leverage | Charles Dufort | Episode: "The Homecoming Job" |
2009 | Southland | David Milliard | Episode: "Westside" |
2011 | CSI: Miami | Judge Ebersol | 2 episodes |
2012 | The Mentalist | Brother Josef | Episode: "Ruddy Cheeks" |
2013 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Dr. Roy Hale | Episode: "History" |
2013 | Franklin & Bash | Greg Harrell | Episode: "Freck" |
2013-2014 | Alpha House | Graydon Talbot | 10 episodes |
2015 | A Mother Betrayed | Harry | Television film |
2015 | The Librarians | Prospero | 4 episodes |
2016 | Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life | Franklin | Episode: "Winter" |
2019 | Grey's Anatomy | Marvin Reed | Episode: "I Walk The Line" |
2020 | Novelmore | Tindercloak | Episode: "Family Ties" |
3.3. Theatre
Year | Title | Role | Venue | Writer |
---|---|---|---|---|
1990 | What a Man Weighs | Haseltine | Second Stage Theater | Sherry Kramer |
4. Awards and Nominations
Richard Cox has received recognition for his performances in theatre. He was awarded a Clarence Derwent Award and was nominated for a Tony Award in 1979 for Best Actor (Featured Role - Musical) for his role in Platinum.
5. Personal Life
Richard Cox's personal life includes his marital history and family.
5.1. Marriages and Children
Cox was previously married to fellow actor Joanna Heimbold in February 1994, but their marriage was annulled after 11 days. He later married Sarah Butcher in 1997, and together they have two children.