Timothy J. Cox
Timothy J. Cox (Born November 2, 1976) is an American actor. Short, stocky and usually bespectled, Cox is mostly cast in supporting / character roles in the theatre.
Early Life
Cox was born in Philadelphia, PA to Albert Francis (1946 - ?), an accountant and to Eileen Marie (1950 - ?), who in addition to Timothy, gave birth to Albert Joseph (1970 - ?), Kevin Michael (1974 - ?) and Shaun Patrick (1978 - ?).
In 1981, the Cox family moved from Philadelphia to Wilmington, Delaware, where Timothy and his brothers did the majority of their growing up.
Cox had a fairly normal, easygoing childhood, with the same aspirations as many of his youth, especially dreams of playing sports, although Cox, by his own admission, was never very good, even going so far as to mention that he sacked his own quarterback in a grade school football game and striking out on a batting tee during his Tee Ball baseball years.
At a young age, even before taking up acting, Cox was a big fan of the movies, with actors Jack Lemmon, Spencer Tracy, Albert Finney and Jason Roabrds as some of his many favorites. At parties and holiday celebrations, Cox would recite the opening scene to The Godfather or entertain with what Cox now calls horrible impressions of George Burns and John Houseman for the amusement of his family members.
It wasn't until his final year of grade school at Holy Rosary School in Claymont, Delaware that, as an excuse to get out of class, Cox auditioned and won the leading role in the school play Rags to Riches. He's been an actor everyday since.
Professional Life
"Character roles are richer, more interesting to play, at least to me. I'll take the role of the Gravedrigger over Hamlet any day. It's where I fit, where I belong."
Timothy J. Cox
Cox's first love as an actor is the theatre and he has appeared on stage in everything from the works of Shakespeare to Neil Simon over the years. It was while attending Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio that Cox learned his craft under the direction of one of his many mentors in Stephen M. Rader. Rader cast Cox in a number of supporting roles during those college years, leading Cox on to the path where he is today as a character actor.
After graduation, Cox returned to Delaware to work and save money in preparation for a move to New York City, which took place in February of 2001. He's been in New York ever since and has worked all over the city and outer boroughs, earning critical praise for his performances with numerous theatre groups including the 13th Street Repertory Company)Line, Wiseacre Farm, Rumple Who? Jack Kerouac-Last Call, A Soldier's Death, The Cat and the Moon, directed by another mentor in Stanley Harrison), Impetuous Theater Group (12th Night of the Living Dead), the Astoria Performing Arts Center (Measure for Measure, Picasso at the Lapin Agile) and The Secret Theatre (As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream).
In the summer of 2007, Cox was hired by the Pioneer Playhouse in Danville, Kentucky for their summer season of productions, working with friend and frequent collaborator Lawrence Lesher.
In the summer of 2010, Cox will be returning to Danville to be directed by Lesher again in a revival of the Ray Cooney comedy / farce Run For Your Wife.
In additon to his extensive work in the theatre, Cox has also appeared in numerous short and feature films in a wide range of dramatic and comedic character parts.
References
NYTheatre.com Interview about As You Like It at The Secret Theatre
BlogCritics.org Interview about 12th Night of the Living Dead