Scottish actor Brian Cox isn’t willing to give in to ageing any time soon. At 79, he’s still training in the gym several times a week – part of an approach he believes supports both his physical and mental longevity.
Between 2018 and 2023, Cox portrayed the powerful, ruthless media tycoon Logan Roy in Succession, with his consistent training helping him maintain an on-screen presence to match the character. Even in the upcoming film Glenrothan, he’s seen having a brotherly scrap with Alan Cumming, rolling around on the floor despite his age. When asked how he stays so active, Cox credits the gym without hesitation.
‘Gym three times a week,’ Cox told The Times. ‘You really have to be responsible for your body, because it’s dying. You can’t give in to that.’
This commitment to training isn’t new. While filming the 2004 epic Troy, in which he played Agamemnon, another tyrannical ruler, Cox was a regular in the gym, working to look as physically imposing as possible.
‘Brian Cox (Agamemnon) trained every single day while we were filming,’ wrote Nathan Jones, who appeared in the film, on Instagram. ‘We’d have a quick chat in the gym here and there – genuinely one of the most pleasant, down-to-earth guys on the whole production. Funny how the nicest people often play the toughest characters.’
While regular gym sessions help keep Cox in strong physical shape, working also keeps his mind sharp. He’s spoken openly about his fear of dementia, which is one reason he continues to take on new challenges – including Glenrothan, his directorial debut.
‘Yes, you know, there’s all kinds of protocols I can take,’ he added. ‘I’m very careful about it, because I need to learn my lines to keep working.’
