Joseph Anthony Cox (born March 31, 1958) is a retired American actor known for his roles in Bad Santa, Friday, Me, Myself & Irene, Date Movie, Epic Movie, Disaster Movie, and Leprechaun 2. He is also known for his role in George Lucas's Willow, as an Ewok in Return of the Jedi, and as the Preacher in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice.

Early life Cox was born in New York City, the son of Henrietta Cox-Penn and Joe Cox. He spent his childhood in Uniontown, Alabama, with his grandmother and grandfather, Lottie and Henry Jones. His mother and stepfather, Rudolph (Rudy) Penn, live in College Park, Georgia. By the age of 10 he became an avid drummer. Cox attended Robert C. Hatch High School and graduated in 1976. He met his future wife, Otelia Cox, during high school. They were eventually married in 1981 when Cox was 23 years old.

After high school, Cox attended Alabama State University and originally planned to study music.

Career Cox decided to pursue acting after watching Billy Barty, a little person who was an actor and founder of the organization Little People of America. Encouraged by relatives and friends, he moved to Los Angeles at age 18.

He began taking classes at the Merrick Studio School of Acting with Scriptwriter De De Tillman and soon began working in commercials, film, and television roles. Cox appeared on the TV show Martin in the first season, playing the character Bennie, in which he helps his friend Trey, played by Bushwick Bill, beat up Tommy played by Thomas Mikal Ford, over Tommy allegedly "stealing" his ex-girlfriend. Cox also appeared in a pivotal role in the Farrelly Brothers' movie Me, Myself & Irene, playing a Mensa International-member limousine driver who steals Jim Carrey's character's wife.

He is best known for his roles in Bad Santa where he played Marcus, the brains of a safe cracking duo, and in Date Movie where he played a parody of Dr. Hitch from Hitch. Cox reprised his role as Marcus in Bad Santa 2, released in 2016.

Cox retired from acting following his appearance in Bad Santa 2, confirming in a 2023 interview that he decided to take time off following hip surgery before ultimately stepping away from acting altogether.Years before ‘Bad Santa’ launched him into stardom, Tony Cox was a boy from Alabama who kept the faith. (December. 22, 2023).

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1980 Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype William "Bad William" 1981 Nice Dreams Midget Nut Credited as Joe Anthony Cox Smokey Bites the Dust Desk Clerk Under the Rainbow Hotel Rainbow Guest 1982 Penitentiary 2 Midget Credited as Joe Anthony Cox Jekyll and Hyde...Together Again Lawn Jockey #1 1983 Return of the Jedi Widdle "Willy" Warrick 1986 Invaders from Mars Drone Credited as Joe Anthony Cox Captain EO Hooter Short Hollywood Zap! Kong 1987 Valet Girls Sammy Rodenko Spaceballs Dink Retribution Hotel Resident 1988 Beetlejuice Minister Willow Nelwyn Warrior I'm Gonna Git You Sucka Wayne Evans Rented Lips Tyrell Bird Pee Wee Marquette 1990 Spaced Invaders Corporal Pez Rockula Al "Big Al" 1991 Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey Station Uncredited The Dark Backward Human Xylophone 1992 Mom and Dad Save the World Blaaatt 1994 The Silence of the Hams Dwarf Guard Leprechaun 2 Black Leprechaun Blankman Midget Man Ghoulies IV Ghoulie Dark Direct-to-video 1995 Friday Mr. Parker The Fantasticks Bavarian Baby's Assistant Credited as Joe Anthony Cox 2000 Me, Myself & Irene Limo Driver 2003 Bad Santa Marcus Skidmore The Hebrew Hammer Jamal 2005 Back By Midnight Prison Guard Smitty 2006 Date Movie Hitch National Lampoon's TV: The Movie Stubbs 2007 Epic Movie Bink Who's Your Caddy ? Willie "Big Willie" Johnson 2008 Disaster Movie Indiana Jones 2010 The Warrior's Way Eight-Ball Meet Monica Velour Petting Zoo Club Owner 2011 The Legend of Awesomest Maximus Minorities 2012 Partysaurus Rex Chuck E. Duck Short; Voice Guns, Girls and Gambling Little Person Elvis 2013 White T Head Bouncer Oz the Great and Powerful Knuck / Sourpuss 2015 Strange Magic Plum Elf Voice The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards Mr. Chubb 2016 Bad Santa 2 Marcus Skidmore

Television Year Title Role Notes 1981 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Private Zedth Episode: "Shgoratchx!" 1982 The Greatest American Hero Circus Dwarf Episode: "Just Another Three-Ring Circus" 1984 Faerie Tale Theatre Bubba / Herald 2 episodes Pryor's Place Allen Episode:"Voyage to the Planet of the Dumb" Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure Widdle "Willy" Warrick Television film, also stunt performer 1985 Ewoks: The Battle for Endor Television film ABC Weekend Special Suit Performer Episode: "The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin" 1987 Thirtysomething Dread Episode: "Nice Work If You Can Get It" 1990 Married... with Children Alien Episode: "Married...With Aliens" 1992 In Living Color Host Episode: "Black People Award" 1993–1994 Martin Mr. Johnson / Bennie 2 episodes 1996 Mad TV Mr. White Episode: "Season 2 Episode 6" 1997 Claude's Crib Reenactment Shorty Episode: "Hometown Hero" The Jamie Foxx Show Sweet & Low Episode: "Step Up to Get Down" 1999 Stark Raving Mad Goldy Episode: "Christmas Cheerleader" 1999–2000 Linc's Himself 2 episodes 2002 Frasier Angel #1 Episode:"The Proposal" 2004 Rescue Me Arlo 3 episodes Method & Red Circus Performer Episode: "Neighborhood Watch" 2007 Carpoolers Seth Episode: "The Seminar" 2010 Psych Himself Episode:"The Polarizing Express" 2012 A Fairly Odd Christmas Elmer The Elder Elf Television film 2014 Almost Human Di Carlo Episode:"Beholder"

Video games Year Title Role Notes 1994 Loadstar: The Legend of Tully Bodine Bartender #1

Music videos Year Title Role Artist 1992 Over You Circus Performer Timmy T 1996 California Love Dwarf Soldier 2Pac 2000 Breakout Limo Driver Foo Fighters 2002 From tha Chuuuch to da Palace Midget Officer Snoop Dogg Get Back Midget Dancer 504 Boyz 2004 Just Lose It Marcus Skidmore Eminem

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