Ruthless, cutthroat, and Machiavellian, Logan Roy, patriarch of the wealthy Roy family, captured our culture’s attention when he first appeared in the premiere of HBO’s “Succession” in 2018. The show, about class and politics in America, came to an end in May after four darkly comedic seasons. It’s been called the defining show of the Trump era, stimulating conversation as Americans wrestle with the toughest sociopolitical questions of our time.
Brian Cox, the Scottish actor who portrays Logan Roy, resembles his onscreen self not at all. Unlike Roy, a card-carrying member of the one percent, Cox is fiercely committed to local communities. It’s this spirit that has led to his upcoming appearance at the Crandell Theater in Chatham.
On July 6 at 7pm, Brian Cox will be in conversation with film historian and Crandell board member Peter Biskind in a benefit for the theater. The event will help fund the renovation and restoration of the theater, which is located on Main Street and housed in a historic 1926 movie house.Cox’s performance in “Succession” earned him an armful of awards, including a Golden Globe win and an Emmy nomination. A trained Shakespearean actor, he garnered acclaim for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theater in the 1980s and 1990s. He has worked in theater on Broadway and the West End, and acted in TV shows such as “Manhunter” and movies such as The Bourne Identity franchise and Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Cox currently lives part-time in Columbia County, but his love of film spaces like the Crandell began as a child in Scotland, where he spent time in local movie houses. He supports the Crandell’s mission, which is to remain an independent film hub for Chatham residents and surrounding towns. In addition to his appreciation for local cinema, Cox has a personal connection to the Crandell—in 2018, his contributions to cinema were honored at the 19th annual FilmColumbia, a ten-day film festival hosted in October by the Crandell, and four of his independent films were screened to open the festival.
Tickets are available online or at the Crandell Theater box office the day of the event.
