Ronny Cox

For much of the 1970s and early 1980s, rangy character actor Ronny Cox was the actor of choice to play quiet, genial second fiddles who offered compassionate support to the leading men in Hollywood features and television series. He captured audiences' attention with his first feature, "Deliverance" (1972), which showcased his musical skills in the classic "Dueling Banjos" scene. Later roles in films and TV projects like "A Case of Rape" (NBC, 1974), "Bound for Glory" (CBS, 1976) and "The Onion Field" (ABC, 1979) underscored his folksy, good-natured screen persona. A supporting turn as the tough but ultimately sympathetic Lt. Bogomil in the blockbuster "Beverly Hills Cop" (1984) led to a long and prolific period for Cox, which saw him abandon his nice guy roles in favor of hissable villains on the strength of his performances in "RoboCop" (1987) and "Total Recall" (1990). He later shifted his focus to steely patriarchs on television series like "St. Elsewhere" (NBC, 1982-88) and "Stargate SG-1" (Showtime/Sci Fi Channel, 1997-2007) while touring regularly as a singer-songwriter.