Daniel Ronald "Ronny" Cox is an American character actor, singer-songwriter, and
storyteller. His best-known roles include Drew Ballinger in Deliverance,
George Apple in Apple's Way, Lieutenant Andrew Bogomil in Beverly Hills Cop,
Richard "Dick" Jones in RoboCop and the villain Vilos Cohaagen in Total Recall.
Cox wrote a book about his experience filming Deliverance for the movie's 40th
anniversary in 2012. He plays over 100 shows at festivals and theaters each
year with his band. Personal life
Cox, the third of five children, was born in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, the son
of Lounette 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 in high school and they
married in 1960. 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 acclaimed 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 a book in 2012 in
which he recounted his experiences making the film.
In the period 1974-1975, Cox starred in the short-lived CBS family-oriented
dramatic 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 the movie Deliverance, Cox
once again played a member of a small group of men who are, this time, lost 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. Cox's character was famously mooned by Dr. Donald Westphall at the
end of the third episode of season six. In 1987, Cox was cast in the "seminal"
Paul Verhoeven film RoboCop, in the memorable role of corporate arch-villain
Richard "Dick" Jones. 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 made a notable appearance on Star
Trek: The Next Generation as the "efficient but impersonable" Captain
Edward Jellico in the two-part episode "Chain of Command". He has also played
Henry Mason, the father of Bree Van de Kamp 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
television film Perfect Murder, Perfect Town.
Cox has also appeared as LieutenantChief of Police Andrew Bogomil in Beverly
Hills Cop and Beverly Hills Cop II, and Senator/Vice-President Robert Kinsey in
Stargate SG-1. Cox had a role in The Starter Wife TV
series. He played Pappy McCallister, the husband of Molly Kagan's best friend
Joan. Cox has occasionally done
animation-voice 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
with Beverly Hills Cop co-star John Ashton.
Cox played Walter Kenney in Dexter season six episode three.
Cox guest starred in an episode of Diagnosis Murder entitled The Pressure
to Murder, episode 9, Season 3. 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 in
order to play over 100 shows at festivals and theaters each year. He is
accompanied by his band of world-class, virtuoso musicians. Cox also leads a
musical tour to Ireland each year. Filmography
Discography Books
Cox, Ronny. Dueling Banjos: The Deliverance of Drew. Decent Hill, 2012.
ISBN 978-1-936085-58-3; 9781936085590; 9781936085606
Further reading References
External links Official website
Ronny Cox on Facebook Ronny Cox at the Internet Movie Database