“There should be a case of forgive and forget”: Succession Star Brian Cox Defends Kevin Spacey

Scottish actor Brian Cox, a classically trained Shakespearean actor, is known for his exceptional performances in projects including Adaptation, The Boxer, Troy, Churchill, and more. Cox’s work has always received positive responses from critics and audiences. He is one of the most influential actors in the industry and is also a role model for many aspiring young actors.

However, it was after Brian Cox started portraying Logan Roy on HBO’s Succession that he found his fame, which makes it hard for him to walk down the street without being recognized. The actor’s performance on the show from 2018 to 2013 was appreciated, and it has been said that Logan Roy remains one of the most badass characters on a TV show. Cox, however, recently came out in support of his work colleague, who he thinks should be given a second chance.

Succession star Brian Cox feels Kevin Spacey should be allowed to work again

In a recent cover story interview for THR, Brian Cox was asked about his stance on his 1994 co-star and colleague Kevin Spacey.

The interviewer mentioned that Liam Neeson had shared that Spacey should be allowed to work again, to which Cox said that Kevin Spacey had certain things that he couldn’t admit to, and it kind of strained him.

He’s a very fine actor, and I like Kevin a lot. I met with him recently. I think he’s been through it. He’s had the kicking that some people think he deserved. He’s ready to get back in the saddle again, and people are trying to stop him.

Cox further mentioned that he goes back to thinking that people who have not sinned in their lives are the only ones to judge him or tell him that he deserved what he got. The actor noted that maybe things with him got too out of hand, but he doesn’t deserve to be punished endlessly for it.

There should be a case of forgive and forget. Let’s move on. I think he should be given the opportunity to come back to work.

Anthony Rapp publicly accused Kevin Spacey of s**ual assault, with several more to follow. However, in 2022, a New York jury found Spacey not liable for battery over Rapp’s accusation. He was also not found guilty in the U.K. court on nine alleged s**ual assault cases with additional initial charges in the case struck down as well.

Investigation Discovery’s Spacey Unmasked, which was released in May, showcased the allegations against him continuing to pop up. He has denied all the allegations, and his friends from the industry have come out in support of him.

Actors including Sharon Stone and Liam Neeson believe that he should be allowed to return to work. Reports suggested that he had reached out to people he offended to apologize.

Brian Cox talks about Succession co-star Jeremy Strong’s infamous 2021 New Yorker profile

Cox played the on-screen father to Jeremy Strong on Succession, and he had criticized his work prep for a role in Strong’s 2021 New Yorker profile. Talking about how the two of them navigated through it as they had the final season of the show to film, Cox mentioned,

We just got on with our job. We get on with what we’re doing. We’re not going to buy into that thing with Jeremy.

Brian Cox also mentioned that Strong was Daniel Day-Lewis’ assistant, and thus the massive influence of how he preps himself for a role can be seen. He also noted that working with Jeremy Strong is extraordinary because he is a great actor. Cox shared that it’s just how Strong prepares him for a character or a scene, which is usually not how he would.

During the conversation with THR he also praised Kieran Culkin, adding that he has been through so much with his family situation and he’s a consummate actor. Cox recalled that Culkin, who played fan favorite Roman Roy on the show, was nervous when they started filming, and he watched the young actor grow over time.

I have such enormous respect for him. He’s a very fine actor; he’s funny, and he’s very sweet. And Sarah Snook would be a close second.

The actor also recalled that there was a couple he encountered at Lincoln Center in 2019 who had asked him to say ‘F**k Off,’ which is a famous Logan Roy dialogue.

Brian Cox noted that when a lot of people come up to him and ask him to cuss, that’s when he realized that he was well known, adding that he thrived on his anonymity, but sadly he is not so anonymous anymore.

Succession is available to stream on HBO.