Brian Denis Cox (born 1 June 1946) is a Scottish actor. He has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre extensively, where he gained recognition for his portrayal of King Lear. He played supporting roles in Rob Roy (1995) and Mel Gibson's Academy Award-winning Braveheart (1995). He was the first actor to portray Hannibal Lecter on film in Manhunter (1986). A winner of two Olivier Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award, he has also been nominated for a British Academy Television Award and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. In 2003, he was appointed to the Order of the British Empire at the rank of Commander.
