Tony Cox (actor)
Joseph Anthony Cox is an American actor known for his roles in Bad Santa, Me, Myself & Irene, Date Movie, Epic Movie and Disaster Movie. 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. Cox also appeared in various music videos.
Early life
Cox was born in Uniontown, Alabama, the son of Henrietta Cox-Penn and Joe Cox. He spent his childhood in Uniontown, with his grandmother and grandfather, Lottie and Henry Jones. His mother and stepfather, Rudolph 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. They were eventually married in 1981 when Cox was 23 years old.After graduation from high school, Cox attended the Alabama State University 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 dwarf 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 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. As second lead to Billy Bob Thornton, Cox's role in Bad Santa was a rare occurrence of a dwarf actor in a leading role. Cox reprised his role as Marcus in Bad Santa 2, released in 2016.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.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1980 | Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype | Bad William | |
| 1981 | Nice Dreams | Midget Nut | Credited as Joe Anthony Cox |
| 1981 | Smokey Bites The Dust | Desk Clerk | |
| 1981 | Under the Rainbow | Hotel Rainbow Guest | |
| 1982 | Penitentiary 2 | Midget | Credited as Joe Anthony Cox |
| 1982 | Jekyll and Hyde...Together Again | Lawn Jockey #1 | |
| 1982 | The Greatest American Hero | Circus Dwarf | TV series Episode "Just Another Three-Ring Circus" |
| 1983 | Return of the Jedi | Ewok | |
| 1984 | ' | Widdle | Television film |
| 1984 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Bubba/Herald | TV series 2 episodes |
| 1985 | ' | Willy | Television film |
| 1986 | Invaders from Mars | Drone | Credited as Joe Anthony Cox |
| 1986 | Captain EO | Hooter | Short |
| 1986 | Hollywood Zap! | Kong | |
| 1987 | Valet Girls | Sammy Rodenko | |
| 1987 | Spaceballs | Dink | |
| 1987 | Retribution | Hotel Resident | |
| 1987 | Thirtysomething | Dread | TV series Episode "Nice Work If You Can Get It" |
| 1988 | Beetlejuice | Preacher | |
| 1988 | Willow | Nelwyn Warrior | |
| 1988 | I'm Gonna Git You Sucka | Wayne Evans | |
| 1988 | Rented Lips | Tyrell | |
| 1988 | Bird | Pee Wee Marquette | |
| 1990 | Spaced Invaders | Corporal Pez | |
| 1990 | Rockula | Big Al | |
| 1990 | Married... with Children | Alien | TV series Episode "Married...With Aliens" |
| 1991 | Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey | Station | Uncredited |
| 1991 | The Dark Backward | Human Xylophone | |
| 1992 | Mom and Dad Save the World | Blaaatt | |
| 1992 | In Living Color | Host | TV series Episode "Black People Awards" |
| 1993–1994 | Martin | Mr Johnson/Bennie | TV series 2 episodes |
| 1994 | The Silence of the Hams | Dwarf Guard | |
| 1994 | Leprechaun 2 | African-American Leprechaun | |
| 1994 | Blankman | Midget Man | |
| 1995 | Friday | Mr. Parker | |
| 1995 | The Fantasticks | Bavarian Baby's Assistant | Credited as Joe Anthony Cox |
| 1996 | Mad TV | Mr.White | TV series Episode "Season 2 Episode 6" |
| 2000 | Me,Myself & Irene | Limo Driver | |
| 2003 | Bad Santa | Marcus Skidmore | |
| 2003 | The Hebrew Hammer | Jamal | |
| 2005 | Back By Midnight | Prison Guard Smitty | |
| 2006 | Date Movie | Hitch | |
| 2006 | Stubbs | ||
| 2007 | Epic Movie | Bink | |
| 2007 | Who's Your Caddy ? | Big Willie Johnson | |
| 2008 | Disaster Movie | Indiana Jones | |
| 2010 | The Warrior's Way | Eight-Ball | |
| 2010 | Psych | Himself | TV series Episode "The Polarizing Express" |
| 2010 | Meet Monica Velours | Petting Zoo Club Owner | |
| 2011 | The Legend of Awesomest Maximus | Minorities | |
| 2012 | Partysaurus Rex | Chuck E. Duck | Short Voice |
| 2012 | A Fairly Odd Christmas | Elmer the Elder Elf | Television film Voice |
| 2012 | Guns, Girls and Gambling | Little Person Elvis | |
| 2013 | White T | Head Bouncer | |
| 2013 | Oz the Great and Powerful | Knuck/Sourpuss | |
| 2014 | Almost Human | Di Carlo | TV series Episode "Beholder" |
| 2015 | Strange Magic | Plum Elf | Voice |
| 2016 | Bad Santa 2 | Marcus Skidmore |