(Charles) Brian Cox

British academic. He studied at Cambridge, taught English at Hull University (1954–66), then became professor at Manchester and pro-Vice-Chancellor (1987). A member of the Kingman Committee on the English Language, he became chairman of the National Curriculum English Working Group (1988–9). As well as a series of Black Papers on Education (1969–77), his publications include The Free Spirit (1963) and Joseph Conrad: the Modern Imagination (1974). He has also written books of poetry, Collected Poems appearing in 1993. His name is most widely known in UK English circles as the author of the report produced on the teaching of English in the National Curriculum (the Cox Report). In retirement he edited a two-volume collection of essays African Writers, and wrote a second book on the National Curriculum, The Battle for the English Curriculum (1995).

Brian Denis Cox, CBE (born June 1, 1946 in Dundee, Scotland) is a Scottish actor, notable for being the first actor to play Hannibal Lecter, a role he took in the Michael Mann film Manhunter (in which the character's surname was spelt 'Lecktor'). He made his first television appearance as an extra in several episodes of The Prisoner in 1967 before taking a lead role in Year of the Sex Olympics the next year. In 1978, he played King Henry II of England in the acclaimed BBC2 drama serial, The Devil's Crown, following which he starred in many other television dramas. His notable recent films include L.I.E., The Ring, X2, Troy and The Bourne Supremacy.

He usually plays villains, such as a rogue colonel in X2, the tyrannical Agamemnon in Troy, Pariah Dark in the Danny Phantom television movie Reign Storm, devious CIA officials in the Bourne films and Chain Reaction, and even lent his voice for the role of a snuff film director in the video game Manhunt. During the production of Manhunter, while he was playing Hannibal Lecktor, Anthony Hopkins was playing King Lear on stage at the National Theatre. Years later, during the production of The Silence of the Lambs, when Hopkins took over as Hannibal Lecter, Cox was playing King Lear at the National Theatre. Cox was to play the lion Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but was replaced by Liam Neeson. Melvin Belli Running with Scissors (2006) Red Eye (2005) The Ringer (2005) Match Point (2005) The Bourne Supremacy (2004) Troy (2004) X2 (2003) 25th Hour (2002) Adaptation. (2002) The Ring (2002) The Bourne Identity (2002) The Rookie (2002) The Affair of the Necklace (2001) L.I.E. (2001) Super Troopers (2001) Mad About Mambo (2000) The Corruptor (1999) The Minus Man (1999) Rushmore (1998) Desperate Measures (1998) Kiss the Girls (1997) The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) The Glimmer Man (1996) Chain Reaction (1996) Braveheart (1995) Rob Roy (1995) Sharpe (Sharpe's Eagle) (1993) (TV) Sharpe (Sharpe's Rifles) (1993) (TV) Hidden Agenda (1990) Manhunter (1986) King Lear (1984) (TV) Nicholas and Alexandra (1971)