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

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 C.B.E. (Commander of the order of the British Empire) in the 2002 New Year's Eve Honours List.

Father died when he was 9.

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.

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

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

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.

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).

Scottish-born, but of Irish Catholic extraction.

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

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.

He does not watch or view his own work.

Alumnus of The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

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

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

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).

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.

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.

Second son Torin Kamran Charles born October 2004.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Youngest of 5 children.