James Fox facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Fox
Fox in 2014
Born	William Fox (1939-05-19) 19 May 1939 (age 86) London, England
Years active	1950–1970, 1981–present
Spouse(s)	Mary Elizabeth Piper ​ ​ (m. 1973; her death 2020)​
Children	5, including Jack and Laurence
Parent(s)	Robin Fox (father)
Relatives	Edward Fox (brother) Robert Fox (brother)
Family	Fox

James William Fox (born William Fox on May 19, 1939) is an English actor. He is famous for his many roles in movies and TV shows. James Fox started acting in the 1960s in films like The Servant. Later, he became well-known for movies such as A Passage to India (1984) and The Remains of the Day (1993).

In the 1970s, Fox took a break from acting to focus on personal and spiritual matters. He returned to acting in the early 1980s. Over the years, he has played many different kinds of characters. His family has strong connections to acting, including his brother Edward Fox and his son Laurence Fox.

Early Life and Family

James Fox was born on May 19, 1939, in London, England. His father, Robin Fox, was a talent agent, and his mother, Angela Worthington, was an actress. James is the second of three sons. His older brother is the actor Edward Fox, and his younger brother is film producer Robert Fox. His grandfather was a famous writer named Frederick Lonsdale.

Like many in the Fox family, James went to Harrow School. After school, he joined the Coldstream Guards for a short time.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting Out in Acting

James Fox first appeared in a film called The Miniver Story in 1950. In his early roles, both in movies and on TV, he used his birth name, William Fox.

He was working at a bank when director Tony Richardson offered him a small part in the film The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962). Even though his father thought he had no acting talent, James took the role.

In 1964, he won a special award called a BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer. This was for his role in the film The Servant (1963).

Famous Films of the 1960s

On June 16, 1965, the movie Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines was released. This British comedy film is set around 1910, when flying was new and exciting. James Fox played a young army officer named Richard Mays. The story is about a newspaper owner who organizes a big air race from London to Paris. Many different characters from around the world join the race to win a large sum of money.

The film was very popular and received good reviews. People called it funny, colorful, and clever. It was a big production and is still seen as one of the classic aviation films today.

During this time, James Fox also acted in other movies, including King Rat (1965), The Chase (1966), Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967), Isadora (1968), and Performance (1970).

Taking a Break

After finishing Performance (which came out in 1970), James Fox decided to take a break from acting. He wanted to focus on his personal life and spiritual beliefs.

In an interview, he said that taking time away from acting was part of his journey. He still kept up with movies and read about acting, so he didn't feel like he missed it too much. He became an evangelical Christian and spent time working with a ministry.

Returning to the Screen

After several years away, James Fox returned to acting in 1981. He appeared in a TV show called "Country." In movies, he starred in Runners (1983), A Passage to India (1984), and Comrades (1986).

He also played important roles in many other films and TV shows. Some of these include:

• Patriot Games (1992)
• The Remains of the Day (1993)
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), where he played Mr. Salt, Veruca Salt's father.
• The Doctor Who audio drama Shada.
• The crime series Waking the Dead (2007).
• An episode of Lewis (2009), where he acted alongside his son Laurence Fox.
• Sherlock Holmes (2009), playing Sir Thomas.
• W.E. (2011), where he played King George V.
• Downton Abbey (2013), as Lord Aysgarth.

Personal Life

James Fox married Mary Elizabeth Piper in September 1973. They had five children together: four sons named Robin, Thomas, Laurence, and Jack, and a daughter named Lydia. Mary Elizabeth Piper passed away in April 2020.

His daughter Lydia is married to actor Richard Ayoade. His son Laurence was married to actress Billie Piper from 2007 to 2016.

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: James Fox para niños