---
name: "Ronny Cox"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ronny-cox"
fi1m_id: "ronny-cox"
imdb_id: "nm0001074"
tmdb_id: 780
wikidata_id: "Q39989"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "23 July 1938"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 9
average_fi1m_score: 71
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 9
updated: "2026-10-13T04:03:16.716103+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ronny Cox

## Identity

Ronny Cox

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ronny-cox
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ronny-cox
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001074
- **TMDB ID:** 780
- **Wikidata ID:** Q39989
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronny_Cox, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q39989, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001074/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/780

Actor. Born 23 July 1938 in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 23 July 1938, Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA
- **Active:** 1972–present
- **Also known as:** رانی کاکس
- **Frequently works with:** [Darryl Ponicsan](https://film.one/person/darryl-ponicsan.md), [Don Simpson](https://film.one/person/don-simpson.md), [Eddie Murphy](https://film.one/person/eddie-murphy.md), [Harold Becker](https://film.one/person/harold-becker.md), [Jerry Bruckheimer](https://film.one/person/jerry-bruckheimer.md), [John Ashton](https://film.one/person/john-ashton.md), [Judge Reinhold](https://film.one/person/judge-reinhold.md), [Paul Verhoeven](https://film.one/person/paul-verhoeven.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 9 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 78 (2), 1980s 67 (5), 1990s 84 (1), 2020s 61 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 71 to 67 across 7 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 9 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 5, Action 4, Adventure 2, Comedy 2, Crime 2, Science Fiction 2
- **Screen time:** 16 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,014m across 7 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronny_Cox, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q39989, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001074/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/780

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*RoboCop*](https://film.one/film/robocop.md) (91), [*Being the Ricardos*](https://film.one/film/being-the-ricardos.md) (61)
- **Hulu:** [*Total Recall*](https://film.one/film/total-recall.md) (84)
- **Pluto TV:** [*Beverly Hills Cop*](https://film.one/film/beverly-hills-cop.md) (55)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Ronny Cox

> Ronny Cox is persuasive as the man entitled to give orders, and more unsettling when that entitlement goes unchecked. We rate him most highly when he plays ruthlessness without advertising it, as Paul Verhoeven allows him to do in *RoboCop*.

Ronny Cox can make giving an order seem reasonable. That becomes unnerving when he plays Dick Jones, the scheming executive in *RoboCop* (1987), with so little need to advertise his malice. We found him frightening because his ruthlessness comes from a man who seems satisfied that he is behaving properly. Cox is especially good at letting us see the danger without suggesting that the character sees it too.

That effect depends partly on how comfortably he can play a decent man. His film debut as Drew Ballinger in *Deliverance* (1972) put his guitar skills to use in the 'Dueling Banjos' sequence, before a run of sympathetic and authoritative parts. In *Beverly Hills Cop* (1984), he is Lieutenant Bogomil, a sympathetic police officer in Martin Brest's patchy police comedy. Brest gives Eddie Murphy useful company, Cox included, but the familiar crime plotting keeps interrupting the pleasure of Murphy's bluffing. We would not recommend the film on Cox's account alone.

With *RoboCop*, the casting changed: Dick Jones opened the way to more prominent villains, including Vilos Cohaagen in *Total Recall* (1990). Paul Verhoeven directed both, and *RoboCop* makes especially good use of Cox's understated menace. His restraint helps the corporate satire because Jones remains credible as an executive even when his ruthlessness is apparent. A more visibly villainous performance would make it easier to treat him as an exception rather than a man his employers might find useful.

The reservation is repetition: police, military and corporate authority have occupied a large part of his screen work. Cox makes that casting understandable, though familiarity can mean we start judging the man before the performance has had time to persuade us. His sympathetic Bogomil is worth remembering when another commanding figure appears. For the more disturbing use of those gifts, start with *RoboCop*, with a serious warning about the violence.

## Biography

Ronny Cox is an American actor, singer and songwriter. Born Daniel Ronald Cox on 23 July 1938 in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, he graduated from Eastern New Mexico University and made his film debut in *Deliverance* (1972).

He is known for his roles as Lieutenant Andrew Bogomil in *Beverly Hills Cop* (1984) and its 1987 sequel, as corporate executive Dick Jones in *RoboCop* (1987), and as administrator Vilos Cohaagen in *Total Recall* (1990). Cox has also appeared in numerous television series, including recurring roles on *St. Elsewhere* and *Stargate SG-1*.

Alongside acting, Cox maintains a career as a musician and storyteller, touring regularly and performing at folk festivals. He was inducted into the New Mexico Music Hall of Fame.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (9)

- *Being the Ricardos* (2021), Fi1m 61, as Older Bob Carroll — [page](https://film.one/film/being-the-ricardos.md)
- *Total Recall* (1990), Fi1m 84, as Cohaagen — [page](https://film.one/film/total-recall.md)
- *Beverly Hills Cop II* (1987), Fi1m 48, as Andrew Bogomil — [page](https://film.one/film/beverly-hills-cop-ii.md)
- *RoboCop* (1987), Fi1m 91, as Dick Jones — [page](https://film.one/film/robocop.md)
- *Beverly Hills Cop* (1984), Fi1m 55, as Lt. Bogomil — [page](https://film.one/film/beverly-hills-cop.md)
- *St. Elsewhere* (1982), Fi1m 78, as John Gideon — [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md)
- *Taps* (1981), Fi1m 63, as Colonel Kerby — [page](https://film.one/film/taps.md)
- *Bound for Glory* (1976), Fi1m 71, as Ozark Bule — [page](https://film.one/film/bound-for-glory.md)
- *Deliverance* (1972), Fi1m 85, as Drew Ballinger — [page](https://film.one/film/deliverance.md)

## Complete filmography (127)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Being the Ricardos* (2021), as Older Bob Carroll — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/being-the-ricardos.md)
- *Star Trek: Prodigy* (2021), series, as Admiral Jellico (voice)
- *The Car: Road to Revenge* (2019), as Watts
- *Pure Country: Pure Heart* (2017), as CJ Simms
- *Beyond the Reach* (2014), as Sheriff Robb
- *Star Trek: The Next Generation - Chain of Command* (2014), as Capt. Edward Jellico
- *True Detective* (2014), series, as Catalast Executive — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/true-detective.md)
- *Age of Dinosaurs* (2013), as Justin
- *Nashville* (2012), series, as Gideon Claybourne — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/nashville-2012.md)
- *Cockpit: The Rule of Engagement* (2012), as The Captain
- *Truth Be Told* (2011), as Terrance Bishop
- *Imagine That* (2009), as Tom Stevens
- *Childrens Hospital* (2008), series, as Tooter Daniels
- *The Starter Wife* (2008), series, as Pappy McAllister
- *Dexter* (2006), series, as Walter Kenney — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/dexter.md)
- *Commander in Chief* (2005), series, as Senator Joe Peck
- *The L.A. Riot Spectacular* (2005), as The Chief
- *Medium* (2005), series, as Mr. Hammond
- *Angel in the Family* (2004), as Buddy Bishop
- *Desperate Housewives* (2004), series, as Henry Mason — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/desperate-housewives.md)
- *Cold Case* (2003), series, as Daniel Patterson (2008)
- *Crazy As Hell* (2002), as Delazo
- *Point of Origin* (2002), as Chief Gray
- *Losing Grace* (2001), as Dave Reed
- *The Agency* (2001), series, as Director Alex Pierce III
- *American Outlaws* (2001), as Doc Mimms
- *The Boys of Sunset Ridge* (2001), as Ben Thorpe
- *Love Lessons* (2000), as Mick Andrews
- *Boston Public* (2000), series, as Claire's Father
- *Perfect Murder, Perfect Town: JonBenét and the City of Boulder* (2000), as John Ramsey
- *Perfect Murder, Perfect Town* (2000), series, as John Ramsey
- *Y2K* (1999), as Benjamin Cromwell
- *Secret of Giving* (1999), as Harlan Gotch
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Dr. Douglas McManus
- *Family Law* (1999), series, as Jeffries
- *Deep Blue Sea* (1999), as Franklin's boss (uncredited)
- *Forces of Nature* (1999), as Hadley
- *Frog and Wombat* (1998), as Principal Larry Struble
- *Godzilla: The Series* (1998), series, as Dale
- *Invasion America* (1998), series, as Doc (voice)
- *Pride* (1998), as William Flood Web
- *From the Earth to the Moon* (1998), series, as Lee Atwood
- *Stargate SG-1* (1997), series, as Senator Robert Kinsey
- *Spawn* (1997), series, Actor
- *Murder at 1600* (1997), as President Jack Neil
- *Childhood Sweetheart?* (1997), as Warren Carlson
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as D.A. Scott Colby
- *Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault* (1996), as Coach Scarpelli
- *Early Edition* (1996), series, as Admiral Edward Harrigan
- *Never Give Up: The Jimmy V Story* (1996), as Mike Davis
- *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Lt. Col. Lester Glade
- *Sweet Justice* (1994), series, Actor
- *A Part of the Family* (1994), as Grant
- *Second Chances* (1993), series, as George Cook
- *Diagnosis: Murder* (1993), series, as Dr. Nathan Harding
- *The Untouchables* (1993), series, Actor
- *Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride* (1992), as Max Parrish
- *With Murder in Mind* (1992), as McLaughlin
- *Scissors* (1991), as Dr. Stephan Carter
- *Captain America* (1990), as Tom Kimball
- *Cop Rock* (1990), series, as Chief Roger Kendrick
- *Total Recall* (1990), as Cohaagen — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/total-recall.md)
- *Loose Cannons* (1990), as Smiley
- *Martians Go Home* (1989), as The President
- *One Man Force* (1989), as McCoy
- *When We Were Young* (1989), as Matthew Farrell
- *The Comeback* (1989), as Charlie Ward
- *In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I. Murders* (1988), as Agent Ben Grogan
- *Favorite Son* (1988), series, as Admiral William Rieker
- *Scandal in a Small Town* (1988), as George Baker
- *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987), series, as Captain Edward Jellico — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation.md)
- *Just a Regular Kid: An AIDS Story* (1987), as Jim Casio
- *RoboCop* (1987), as Dick Jones — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/robocop.md)
- *Beverly Hills Cop II* (1987), as Andrew Bogomil — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/beverly-hills-cop-ii.md)
- *Steele Justice* (1987), as Bennett
- *The Abduction of Kari Swenson* (1987), as Bob Swenson
- *Baby Girl Scott* (1987), as Dr. Kenderly
- *L.A. Law* (1986), series, as Mason Paine
- *Hollywood Vice Squad* (1986), as Captain Jensen
- *The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1985), series, as Sam Medwick
- *Reckless Disregard* (1985), as Dan Leone
- *Vision Quest* (1985), as Larry Swain
- *Beverly Hills Cop* (1984), as Lt. Bogomil — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/beverly-hills-cop.md)
- *Spencer* (1984), series, Actor
- *Courage* (1984), as Pete Canfield · Writer
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Mayor Powers
- *The Jesse Owens Story* (1984), as Coach Larry Snyder
- *St. Elsewhere* (1982), series, as John Gideon — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md)
- *Two of a Kind* (1982), as Ted Hahn
- *Family Ties* (1982), series, as Franklin Reed
- *Some Kind of Hero* (1982), as Col. Powers
- *The Beast Within* (1982), as Eli MacCleary
- *Tangiers* (1982), as Bob Steele
- *Taps* (1981), as Colonel Kerby — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/taps.md)
- *Darkroom* (1981), series, as Neil
- *Fallen Angel* (1981), as Frank Dawson
- *Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story* (1980), as Bernard Coy
- *Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story* (1980), series, as Bernard Coy
- *The Last Song* (1980), as Sid Pachanski
- *Fugitive Family* (1980), as Mike Sylvester
- *The Courage of Kavik, the Wolf Dog* (1980), as Kurt Evans
- *When Hell Was in Session* (1979), as Maj. Frank Perrin
- *The Onion Field* (1979), as Pierce Brooks
- *Transplant* (1979), as Jim Clark
- *Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II* (1978), as Cal MacCracken
- *Harper Valley P.T.A.* (1978), as Willis Newton
- *Gray Lady Down* (1978), as Commander Samuelson
- *Fantasy Island* (1978), series, as Tom Elgin
- *The Girl Called Hatter Fox* (1977), as Dr. Teague Summer
- *Corey: For the People* (1977), as Dr. Paul Hanley
- *Our Town* (1977), as Mr. Webb
- *The Car* (1977), as Luke
- *Grizzly Adams* (1977), series, as Cartman
- *Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected* (1977), series, Actor
- *Bound for Glory* (1976), as Ozark Bule — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/bound-for-glory.md)
- *Having Babies* (1976), as George McNamara
- *Who Is the Black Dahlia?* (1975), as Finis Brown
- *A Case of Rape* (1974), as David Harrod
- *Apple's Way* (1974), series, as George Apple
- *Rx for the Defense* (1973), as Al Moore
- *Pueblo* (1973), as Signalman
- *The Connection* (1973), as Everett Hutchneker
- *Deliverance* (1972), as Drew Ballinger — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/deliverance.md)
- *The Mind Snatchers* (1972), as Sergeant Boford Miles
- *Look Homeward, Angel* (1972), as Jake Clatt
- *The Chicago Conspiracy Trial* (1970), Actor
- *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Lucas

## Gallery

- ![Star of Deliverance, Beverly Hills Cop, Total Recall, and hell of a folk artist! April '19 Jersey Shore, NJ (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/77454/gallery-6f5cb818ef78.jpg) Star of Deliverance, Beverly Hills Cop, Total Recall, and hell of a folk artist! April '19 Jersey Shore, NJ (2019) — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Ronny_Cox_%2846773532695%29.jpg/1280px-Ronny_Cox_%2846773532695%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ronny Cox](https://film.one/media/person/77454/gallery-5bb570a05ada.jpg) Ronny Cox — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Ronny_Cox_2019.jpg/1280px-Ronny_Cox_2019.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Photo from the television program Apple's Way. Pictured laughing from left: Ronny Cox (George Apple), Lee McCain (Barbara Apple) and Malcom Atterbury (Grandfath (1974)](https://film.one/media/person/77454/gallery-1e13017a9a2a.jpg) Photo from the television program Apple's Way. Pictured laughing from left: Ronny Cox (George Apple), Lee McCain (Barbara Apple) and Malcom Atterbury (Grandfath (1974) — CBS Television-there is enough of the logo to identify., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Ronny_Cox_Lee_McCain_Malcolm_Atterbury_Apples_Way_1974.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ronny Cox](https://film.one/media/person/77454/gallery-588c75308d68.jpg) Ronny Cox — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ronny-cox