Ronny Cox

Daniel Ronald Cox (born July 23, 1938) is an American actor and musician. He has appeared in numerous films and television series since his acting debut in ''Deliverance'' (1972). He is best known for his roles in ''RoboCop'' (1987) and '' Total Recall'' (1990). He is also active as a musician, performing over 100 times per year at festivals and theaters as of 2012.

Personal life

Daniel Ronald Cox was born on July 23, 1938 in the mountain town of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, the third of five children to Lounette (née Rucker) and Bob P. Cox, a carpenter who also worked at a dairy. He grew up in Portales, New Mexico. Cox met his wife Mary when she was 11 and he was 14. They began dating when she was 15 and he was 18. They married in 1960 and had two sons. Cox graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in 1963 with a double major in theater and speech correction. Mary died in 2006, 50 years to the day of their first date. Cox often talks about her during his music performances.

Acting career

As an actor, Cox made his debut in the 1972 film ''Deliverance''. In one scene, he plays the instrumental " Dueling Banjos" on his guitar with a banjo-playing mountain boy, played by child actor Billy Redden. He was hired for the role because he could play the guitar. Cox published his autobiography in 2012, recounting his experiences making the film.

In 1974–1975, Cox starred in the short-lived family-oriented series entitled ''Apple's Way'', created by Earl Hamner, creator of ''The Waltons''. He also appeared as Mr. Webb in a television production of '' Our Town''. In 1977, he appeared in the episode "Devil Pack" from the series '' Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected''. In 1984, 12 years after ''Deliverance'', Cox again played a member of a small group of men who are lost, this time in the Nevada desert, and being chased by bloodthirsty locals in the low-budget film ''Courage''. One of Cox's roles was that of Dr. John Gideon during the final season of the television medical drama '' St. Elsewhere''. His character was mooned by Dr. Donald Westphall ( Ed Flanders) at the end of the third episode of season six. Cox's first role in a big-budget film came in 1984 as Lt. Andrew Bogomil in '' Beverly Hills Cop'', and he returned to the role in '' Beverly Hills Cop II'' in 1987. That same year, Cox appeared in the Paul Verhoeven film ''RoboCop'' as corporate arch-villain Dick Jones. In 1986, Cox played the mayor in season 3, episodes 1 and 2, "Death Stalks the Big Top", of the TV series ''Murder, She Wrote''.

In 1990, Cox co-starred as Los Angeles Police Chief Roger Kendrick in the short-lived ''Cop Rock'', presenting a striking physical resemblance to the real-world incumbent Chief Daryl Gates. He also appeared as the antagonistic Mars Administrator Vilos Cohaagen in '' Total Recall'' the same year. Cox had a guest role on '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' as Captain Edward Jellico in the two-part episode " Chain of Command". He also played Henry Mason, the father of Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia Cross) on '' Desperate Housewives''. In 1997, Cox portrayed the fictional President of the United States Jack Neil in the movie '' Murder at 1600''. Cox also portrayed John Ramsey in the 2000 TV film '' Perfect Murder, Perfect Town'' and Senator/Vice President Robert Kinsey in ''Stargate SG-1''.

Cox had a role in '' The Starter Wife''. He played Pappy McCallister, the husband of Molly Kagan's best friend Joan. He occasionally has done animation work, lending his voice to the Tyrusian deserter Doc in '' Invasion America'' and Senator McMillan in '' Todd McFarlane's Spawn''. Cox guest-starred in an episode of Matthew Perry's 2011 series '' Mr. Sunshine''.

Cox played Walter Kenney in '' Dexter'', season six, episode three ("Smokey and the Bandit"). His character was a serial killer known as "The Tooth Fairy", whom Dexter had idolized while growing up. He guest-starred in an episode of '' Diagnosis Murder'' entitled "The Pressure to Murder", episode 9, season three. Cox played Gideon Claybourne on season 6 of ''Nashville'' in 2018.

Starting in 2022, Cox reprised his role as now-Admiral Edward Jellico in several episodes of '' Star Trek: Prodigy''.

Music career

Despite having a successful acting career, Cox said that music now comes first in his life. He turns down about 90% of the acting jobs he is offered to play over 100 shows at festivals and theaters each year. He is accompanied by his band. Cox also leads a musical tour to Ireland each year.

On November 2, 2019, Cox was inducted into the New Mexico Music Hall of Fame.

On July 25, 2021, Cox won the New Mexico Music Awards with the Norman Petty Producers Award going to Tom (Panda) Ryan for his recording of Ronny Cox's ''Live at the Kitchen Sink'' featuring the 2021 Best Folk Music Award with his song, "Portales". ''Live at the Kitchen Sink'' was recorded at The Kitchen Sink Recording Studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Filmography

* 1972 ''Deliverance'' as Drew Ballinger
* 1972 '' The Mind Snatchers'' as Sergeant Boford Miles
* 1972 ''Bonanza'', episode "New Man" as Lucas
* 1974 '' A Case of Rape'' as David Harrod
* 1975 '' Who Is the Black Dahlia?'' as Sergeant Finis Brown
* 1976 '' Bound for Glory'' as Ozark Bule
* 1977 '' Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected'', episode "Devil Pack" (TV) as Jerry Colby
* 1977 '' The Car'' as Deputy Luke Johnson
* 1977 '' The Girl Called Hatter Fox'' (TV) as Dr. Teague Summer
* 1978 '' Gray Lady Down'' as Commander David Samuelson
* 1978 '' Fantasy Island'' (TV) episode "Reunion" / "Anniversary" as Tom Elgin
* 1978 '' Harper Valley PTA'' as Willis Newton
* 1979 '' The Onion Field'' as Sergeant Pierce R. Brooks
* 1980 '' The Courage of Kavik the Wolf Dog'' as Kurt Evans
* 1980 '' Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story'' (TV) as Bernard Coy
* 1981 '' Taps'' as Colonel Kerby
* 1981 ''Fallen Angel'' (TV film) as Frank Dawson
* 1982 '' The Beast Within'' as Eli MacCleary
* 1982 '' Tangiers'' as Bob Steele
* 1982 '' Two of a Kind'' as Ted Hahn
* 1982 '' Some Kind of Hero'' as Colonel Powers
* 1984 '' The Jesse Owens Story'' (TV) as Coach Larry Snyder
* 1984 '' Beverly Hills Cop'' as Lieutenant Andrew Bogomil
* 1984 ''Raw Courage'' (also writer and producer) as Pete Canfield
* 1984-1985 '' Spencer'' as George Winger
* 1985 '' Vision Quest'' as Louden's Dad
* 1986 '' Hollywood Vice Squad'' as Captain Jensen
* 1987 '' Steele Justice'' as Bennett
* 1987 '' Beverly Hills Cop II'' as Captain / Chief Andrew Bogomil
* 1987 ''RoboCop'' as Richard "Dick" Jones
* 1987-1988 '' St. Elsewhere'' as Dr. John Gideon
* 1987 '' Amazon Women on the Moon'' as General Balentine (segment "The Unknown Soldier") (uncredited)
* 1988 '' In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I. Murders'' as FBI Special Agent Ben Grogan
* 1989 ''One Man Force'' as McCoy
* 1989 '' Martians Go Home'' as The President
* 1990 '' Loose Cannons'' as Bob Smiley
* 1990 '' Total Recall'' as Vilos Cohaagen
* 1990 ''Captain America'' as President Tom Kimball
* 1990 ''Cop Rock'' as Chief Roger Kendrick
* 1991 ''Scissors'' as Dr. Stephan Carter
* 1992 '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (two episodes) as Captain Edward Jellico
* 1992 '' Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride'' as Mr. Parrish
* 1993 ''L.A. Law'' as Mason Paine
* 1997 '' Murder at 1600'' as President Jack Neil
* 1998-2005 ''Stargate SG-1'' (11 episodes) as Senator Robert Kinsey / Vice President Robert Kinsey
* 1998 '' Puraido: Unmei no Toki'' as Chief Justice Sir William Webb
* 1998 '' Frog and Wombat'' as Principal Larry Struble
* 1999 '' Forces of Nature'' as Hadley
* 1999 '' The Outer Limits'', episode " Deja Vu" as Lieutenant Colonel Lester Glade
* 1999 '' Deep Blue Sea'' as Franklin's Boss (uncredited)
* 1999 '' FreeSpace 2'' as Admiral Aken Bosch (voice)
* 2000 '' Perfect Murder, Perfect Town'' as John Ramsey
* 2001 '' The Agency'' (2001) as Director Alex Pierce III
* 2001 ''The Boys of Sunset Ridge'' as Ben Thorpe
* 2001 '' American Outlaws'' as Doc Mimms, Zee's Dad
* 2001 ''Losing Grace'' as Dave Reed
* 2002 '' Crazy As Hell'' as Delazo
* 2004 '' Killzone'' (Video Game) as Stuart Adams (voice)
* 2004 ''Angel in the Family'' as Buddy
* 2005 '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' as Dr. McManus
* 2005 '' The L.A. Riot Spectacular'' as The Chief
* 2006 '' Desperate Housewives'' (TV Series) as Henry Mason
* 2006 '' Commander in Chief'' as Senator Joe Peck
* 2007 '' Tell Me You Love Me'' as John
* 2008 '' Cold Case'' as Daniel Patterson '08
* 2009 '' Imagine That'' as Tom Stevens
* 2011 '' Dexter'' as Walter Kenney
* 2012 '' Leverage'' as Peter McSweeten
* 2013 '' Age of Dinosaurs'' as Justin
* 2014 '' Beyond the Reach'' as Sheriff Robb
* 2018 ''Nashville'' as Gideon Claybourne
* 2019 ''The Car: Road to Revenge'' as The Mechanic
* 2021 '' Being the Ricardos'' as Older Bob Carroll
* 2022-2024 '' Star Trek Prodigy'' as Admiral Edward Jellico (voice)

Discography

Books

* Cox, Ronny. ''Dueling Banjos: The Deliverance of Drew''. Decent Hill, 2012. (paperback); 9781936085590 (hardcover); 9781936085606 (eBook)

Further reading

* Voisin, Scott ''Character Kings: Hollywood's Familiar Faces Discuss the Art & Business of Acting''. BearManor Media, 2009.

References

External links

*
*

Ronny Cox Interview
at NAMM Oral History Library (2017)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cox, Ronny
1938 births
20th-century American guitarists
20th-century American male actors
20th-century American male singers
20th-century American singer-songwriters
21st-century American guitarists
21st-century American male actors
21st-century American male singers
21st-century American singer-songwriters
American country singer-songwriters
American male film actors
American male guitarists
American male singer-songwriters
American male television actors
American male writers
Eastern New Mexico University alumni
Guitarists from New Mexico
Living people
Male actors from New Mexico
People from Otero County, New Mexico
People from Portales, New Mexico
Songwriters from New Mexico