:For the South African guitarist, see Tony Cox (South African musician). Joseph Anthony "Tony" Cox (born March 31, 1958) is an American actor known for his comedic performances in Bad Santa, Me, Myself and Irene, and Date Movie. He is also known for his work as an Ewok in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. In the two spin-off films that followed, he played "Widdle Warrick."
Cox is a little person who was born in New York City in 1958 to Joe and Henrietta Jones Cox. As a child, he and his mother moved to Uniontown, Alabama to live with his grandparents, Henry and Lottie Jones. He spent his childhood in Uniontown and became an avid drummer. He met his future wife, Otelia, during high school. They were eventually married in 1981 when Cox was 23 years old.
After graduation from high school, Cox attended the University of Alabama and originally planned to study music. Says Cox in a 2003 interview with Jet magazine, "I played by ear. It was exactly like in Drumline. I played against some of the drummers from the school, and they didn't have anything on me. I just couldn't read music."
Shortly thereafter, Cox decided to pursue acting after watching Billy Bardy, a little person who was an actor and also 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 and soon began working in commercials, film, and television roles. He is perhaps, best known for his roles in Date Movie where he played "Dr. Hitch" and in Bad Santa where he played Marcus, the brains of a safe cracking team.
Cox currently plays basketball with the Hollywood Shorties. He is also an accomplished table tennis player and is active in martial arts.
Tony Cox (born 24 January 1954) is a Zimbabwean born guitarist and composer based in Johannesburg, South Africa. A master of the Fingerpicking style of guitar playing, he has won the SAMA (South African Music Awards) for best instrumental album twice. His music incorporates many different styles including classical, blues, rock and jazz, while keeping an African flavour.
