Joseph Anthony "Tony" Cox (born March 31, 1958) is an American actor, singer, voice artist, and comedian, best known for his comedic performances in Bad Santa 1 & 2, Me Myself and Irene, Date Movie, Epic Movie, and Disaster Movie. He is also known for his work in George Lucas's Willow, as an Ewok in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and as The Minister in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice. Cox also appeared in the music videos "Just Lose It" by Eminem and "From tha Chuuuch to da Palace" by Snoop Dogg.
Early life[]
Cox was born Joseph Anthony Cox in Manhattan, New York on March 31, 1958 to Joe and Henrietta Jones Cox. He spent his childhood in Uniontown, Alabama, with his grandmother and grandfather, Lottie and Henry Jones. His mother, Mrs. Henretta Cox-Penn, and stepfather, Rudolph (Rudy) Penn, live in College Park, Georgia. By the age of 10, he became an avid drummer. He met his future wife, Otelia, during high school. In 1981, they were married when Cox was 23 years old.
After graduation from high school, Cox attended the University of Alabama and originally planned to study music. Cox said in a 2003 interview with Jet magazine, "I played by ear. It was exactly like in Drumline. I played against some of the drummers from the school, and they didn't have anything on me. I just couldn't read music."
Career[]
Shortly thereafter, Cox decided to pursue acting after watching Billy Barty, a little person who was an actor and also founder of the organization Little People of America. Encouraged by relatives and friends, he moved to Los Angeles at age 18. He began taking classes at the Merrick Studio School of Acting with Actress De De Tillman and soon began working in commercials, film, and television roles. He is perhaps better known for his roles in Bad Santa where he played Marcus, the brains of a safe cracking team, and in Date Movie where he played a parody of Dr. Hitch from Hitch. As second lead to Billy Bob Thornton, Cox's role in Bad Santa 1 & 2 was his first and only role as a main character.
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.