“Some people wanted a Grand Marshal who would represent great achievement in classic culture,” noted Lesley MacLennan Denninger, President of the Parade committee, “and others wanted someone well-known in pop culture. With Brian Cox, we have both!”
Brian Cox, one of Scotland’s most esteemed actors, will be the Grand Marshal for New York City’s 14th Annual Tartan Day Parade, to take place in Manhattan on April 14, 2012. The announcement was made today by the Parade organizers, the National Tartan Day New York Committee.
From Shakespearean plays to Hollywood blockbusters, from leading man roles to vital supporting characters, Mr. Cox has excelled in them all. In an age of reality-TV “celebrities” and “model-slash-actors,” he has delivered the highest level of performances for 40 years.
Born in Dundee, Scotland, Mr. Cox has drawn from that city’s rich diversity of culture, religion and language. And now he does the same with New York City, his new home!
Movie performances include the first portrayal of pop culture’s arch-villain, Dr. Hannibel Lecktor, in 1986’s Manhunter, and his Emmy-winning role of Nazi Hermann Goering. Other “bad guy,” in fact, downright “evil guy,” roles include Wolverine’s nemesis, William Stryker, in X2: X-Men United; Jason Bourne’s spymaster, Ward Abbott, in The Bourne Supremacy; and the truly sinister lead in L.I.E. But he has also played Dad, currently in TV’s The Big C; in the thriller, Red Eye; and in the powerful The Lost Language of Cranes.
He is equally at home in the theatre, both on Broadway and London’s West End, with a range from modern to classical – most recently in Broadway’s That Championship Season. Plays by Shakespeare, Tom Stoppard, Alan Bennett have ensured his place as a major stage talent. His master classes are renowned. All in addition to being a patron of Scottish Youth Theatre, an ambassador for Screen Academy Scotland…and Rector of the University of Dundee.
“We are very fortunate,” added Ms. Denninger, “to have Brian as our Grand Marshal. The aim of the Parade is to honor our Scottish heritage and culture, and to celebrate the contribution Scottish-Americans have made – and continue to make – to America. We couldn’t have a better representative than Brian Cox.”
