Brian Cox on Turner Classic Movies: ‘I’ll Defend It to the Death’

Brian Cox
·2 min read
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As part of Variety‘s 100 Greatest Television Shows of All Time issue, we asked 12 of our favorite creators of television to discuss the series that inspire and move them. Check out all the essays, and read our full list of the best TV shows ever made.

When I was a child in Scotland, television was brand-new — it only had three channels, then. And when my dad died, when I was 8, they put me in front of the television instead of having me go to his funeral. Of course, I regret that slightly now, but television has always been a great comfort to me. It represents security. The fact that people saw this little boy who’s just lost his dad: We don’t want to traumatize him too much. So we’ll put him in front of the television.

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For me, as a kid, it was “77 Sunset Strip,” it was “Maverick.” But today, my comfort is Turner Classic Movies — because it’s not only historical, but it’s about the whole of my craft. I work with a lot of young actors, and I say, Look at your craft. Look at where you can see great work. To rediscover people like Irene Dunne, or Kay Francis, or Bette Davis in her glory. I’m an addict; I’m an absolute addict for that.

Just recently, I watched an adaptation of “The Seagull” from 1968, directed brilliantly by Sidney Lumet. Not a lot of people know about that movie, but it’s got James Mason, the wonderful Vanessa Redgrave, dear David Warner and Simone Signoret. It’s a major director producing and directing a major classic of the theater; it’s invaluable. And suddenly it pops up last night on TCM, like a gem.

Robert Osborne did tremendous work over the years as the host of TCM — no question. But, today, the team of talent are so incredible, because they all have their own niche. Lately, I’ve been watching foreign films late at night: Suddenly, we’re getting introduced to real masters, like Godard, Truffaut, Ozu. The films they show meet an extraordinarily high standard, in a world where art is forever getting debased. But TCM is always reinventing itself: It’s modern and it’s classical.

TCM has been under threat lately, particularly by the guy who runs Warner Bros. Discovery now; they don’t understand the value of it. But TCM is always illuminating, it’s revealing, it’s invaluable as an actor. It’s like mother’s milk to me. I’ll defend it to the death.

Brian Cox’s many accolades include a Golden Globe and three Emmy nominations for his role as Logan Roy on “Succession,” and an Emmy win for his role in the miniseries “Nuremberg.”

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