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Joseph Anthony Cox (born March 31, 1958) is an American actor known for his roles in Bad Santa, Friday, Me, Myself & Irene, Date Movie, Epic Movie, Disaster Movie, and Leprechaun 2. He is also known for his role in George Lucas's Willow, as an Ewok in Return of the Jedi, and as the Preacher in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice.[1]
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Tony Cox | |
|---|---|
| Born | Joseph Anthony Cox March 31, 1958 Uniontown, Alabama, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1980–2016 |
| Height | 3 ft 6 in (107 cm) |
Cox was born in New York City, the son of Henrietta Cox-Penn and Joe Cox. He spent his childhood in Uniontown, Alabama, with his grandmother and grandfather, Lottie and Henry Jones.[2] His mother and stepfather, Rudolph (Rudy) Penn, live in College Park, Georgia. By the age of 10 he became an avid drummer. Cox attended Robert C. Hatch High School and graduated in 1976.[3] He met his future wife, Otelia Cox, during high school. They were eventually married in 1981 when Cox was 23 years old.[4][5]
After high school, Cox attended Alabama State University and originally planned to study music.
Cox decided to pursue acting after watching Billy Barty, a little person who was an actor and founder of the organization Little People of America. Encouraged by relatives and friends, he moved to Los Angeles at age 18.[2] He began taking classes at the Merrick Studio School of Acting with Scriptwriter De De Tillman and soon began working in commercials, film, and television roles. He is better known for his roles in Bad Santa where he played Marcus, the brains of a safe cracking duo, and in Date Movie where he played a parody of Dr. Hitch from Hitch. Cox reprised his role as Marcus in Bad Santa 2, released in 2016.[3]
Cox also appeared on the TV show Martin in the first season, playing the character Bennie, in which he helps his friend Trey, played by Bushwick Bill, beat up Tommy played by Thomas Mikal Ford, over Tommy allegedly "stealing" his ex-girlfriend.
Cox also appeared in a pivotal role in the Farrelly Brothers' movie Me, Myself & Irene, playing a Mensa International-member limousine driver who steals Jim Carrey's character's wife.
Cox retired from acting in 2016, confirming in a 2023 interview that he decided to take time off following hip surgery and ultimately stepping away from the spotlight altogether.[6]
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype | Bad William | |
| 1981 | Nice Dreams | Midget Nut | Credited as Joe Anthony Cox |
| Smokey Bites the Dust | Desk Clerk | ||
| Under the Rainbow | Hotel Rainbow Guest | ||
| 1982 | Penitentiary 2 | Midget | Credited as Joe Anthony Cox |
| Jekyll and Hyde...Together Again | Lawn Jockey #1 | ||
| 1983 | Return of the Jedi | Widdle "Willy" Warrick | |
| 1986 | Invaders from Mars | Drone | Credited as Joe Anthony Cox |
| Captain EO | Hooter | Short | |
| Hollywood Zap! | Kong | ||
| 1987 | Valet Girls | Sammy Rodenko | |
| Spaceballs | Dink | ||
| Retribution | Hotel Resident | ||
| 1988 | Beetlejuice | Minister | |
| Willow | Nelwyn Warrior | ||
| I'm Gonna Git You Sucka | Wayne Evans | ||
| Rented Lips | Tyrell | ||
| Bird | Pee Wee Marquette | ||
| 1990 | Spaced Invaders | Corporal Pez | |
| Rockula | Big Al | ||
| 1991 | Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey | Station | Uncredited |
| The Dark Backward | Human Xylophone | ||
| 1992 | Mom and Dad Save the World | Blaaatt | |
| 1994 | The Silence of the Hams | Dwarf Guard | |
| Leprechaun 2 | Black Leprechaun | ||
| Blankman | Midget Man | ||
| Ghoulies IV | Ghoulie Dark | Direct-to-video | |
| 1995 | Friday | Mr. Parker | |
| The Fantasticks | Bavarian Baby's Assistant | Credited as Joe Anthony Cox | |
| 2000 | Me,Myself & Irene | Limo Driver | |
| 2003 | Bad Santa | Marcus Skidmore | |
| The Hebrew Hammer | Jamal | ||
| 2005 | Back By Midnight | Prison Guard Smitty | |
| 2006 | Date Movie | Hitch | |
| National Lampoon's TV: The Movie | Stubbs | ||
| 2007 | Epic Movie | Bink | |
| Who's Your Caddy ? | Big Willie Johnson | ||
| 2008 | Disaster Movie | Indiana Jones | |
| 2010 | The Warrior's Way | Eight-Ball | |
| Meet Monica Velour | Petting Zoo Club Owner | ||
| 2011 | The Legend of Awesomest Maximus | Minorities | |
| 2012 | Partysaurus Rex | Chuck E. Duck | Short Voice[7] |
| Guns, Girls and Gambling | Little Person Elvis | ||
| 2013 | White T | Head Bouncer | |
| Oz the Great and Powerful | Knuck/Sourpuss | ||
| 2015 | Strange Magic | Plum Elf | Voice[7] |
| The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards | Mr. Chubb | ||
| 2016 | Bad Santa 2 | Marcus Skidmore | |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Private Zedth | Episode: "Shgoratchx!" |
| 1982 | The Greatest American Hero | Circus Dwarf | Episode: "Just Another Three-Ring Circus" |
| 1984 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Bubba/Herald | 2 episodes |
| Pryor's Place | Allen | Episode:"Voyage to the Planet of the Dumb" | |
| Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure | Widdle "Willy" Warrick | Television film, also stunt performer | |
| 1985 | Ewoks: The Battle for Endor | Television film | |
| ABC Weekend Special | Suit Performer | Episode: "The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin" | |
| 1987 | Thirtysomething | Dread | Episode: "Nice Work If You Can Get It" |
| 1990 | Married... with Children | Alien | Episode: "Married...With Aliens" |
| 1992 | In Living Color | Host | Episode: "Black People Award" |
| 1993-1994 | Martin | Mr. Johnson/Bennie | 2 episodes |
| 1996 | Mad TV | Mr. White | Episode: "Season 2 Episode 6" |
| 1997 | Claude's Crib | Reenactment Shorty | Episode: "Hometown Hero" |
| The Jamie Foxx Show | Sweet & Low | Episode: "Step Up to Get Down" | |
| 1999 | Stark Raving Mad | Goldy | Episode: "Christmas Cheerleader" |
| 1999-2000 | Linc's | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Frasier | Angel #1 | Episode:"The Proposal" |
| 2004 | Rescue Me | Arlo | 3 episodes |
| Method & Red | N/A | Episode: "Neighborhood Watch" | |
| 2007 | Carpoolers | Seth | Episode: "The Seminar" |
| 2010 | Psych | Himself | Episode:"The Polarizing Express" |
| 2012 | A Fairly Odd Christmas | Elmer the Elder Elf | Television film, voice |
| 2014 | Almost Human | Di Carlo | Episode:"Beholder" |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Loadstar: The Legend of Tully Bodine | Bartender #1 |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Role | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "Over You" | Circus Performer | Timmy T |
| 1996 | "California Love" | Dwarf Soldier | 2Pac |
| 2000 | "Breakout" | Limo Driver | Foo Fighters |
| 2002 | "From tha Chuuuch to da Palace" | Midget Officer | Snoop Dogg |
| 2004 | "Just Lose It" | Marcus Skidmore | Eminem |
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