Brian Cox's Wives: The 'Succession' Star Was Married Twice

When Brian Cox's marriage to Caroline Burt ended, it took him over a decade to tie the knot again. The pair had two children and experienced the stillbirth of twins. Today, Brian Cox's wife is Nicole Ansari-Cox, an actress 23 years his junior, with whom he shares two kids.

Scottish actor Brian Cox has been in the entertainment industry for several years. His big break came in 1986 when he starred as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in "Manhunter." Cox has since starred in several films and television shows, including the notable movies "The Corruptor," "The Ring," and "X2: X-Men United."

In his 70s, Cox reached another successful phase in his career thanks to his role in the HBO Max series "Succession." His popularity made more television viewers curious about his life behind the scenes, including his marriages.

Cox tied the knot twice. His first marriage was to Caroline Burt in 1968, and his second was to Nicole Ansari in 2002. Like the actor, Burt and Ansari also pursued careers in show business.

Brian Cox's First Marriage to Actress Caroline Burt Lasted Two Decades

Cox's first wife became a familiar face on television from the '60s until the '80s. Burt famously appeared on the shows "The Spoils of Poynton," "The Newcomers," "Survivors," and "I Remember Nelson," among others.

She was still young when she walked down the aisle for the first time to marry Cox, who was then 21. The pair welcomed two children during their marriage, Margaret and Alan. While their kids brought them joy, Cox and Burt also experienced pain when they lost two more children.

Burt became pregnant in 1971 and called her then-husband. "I've got good news and bad news," she said. "The good news is that we had twins. The bad news is they didn't make it."

Cox and Burt were ready to have twin boys, but sadly, they were stillborn. While they were devastated by the tragedy, the actor's mother felt no sympathy. "Women of her generation had that kind of life," Cox said. More celebrities are open about having stillborn babies nowadays, including Keanu Reeves and Maya Vander.

Brian Cox Found Happiness with 23-Years-Younger Actress Nicole Ansari after Divorcing His First Wife

After 20 years of being husband and wife, Cox and Burt ended their marriage in divorce. While it was sad news, Cox later found love and happiness again with his second wife, Ansari.

Ansari was born in 1969, 23 years after Cox's birth. She became an actress at a young age, inspired to pursue the craft after watching the film "Casablanca." Although Ansari's career began in her native land, Germany, she went on to ply her trade in different countries.

It was because of her career that she was able to meet Cox in Hamburg in 1990. Cox took the lead in the production of "King Lear," which Ansari watched eight times during its run. The couple instantly connected during their first meeting and eventually fell in love.

Among his kids, Alan followed in Cox's footsteps and pursued an acting career, known for his roles in "Young Sherlock Holmes," "The Good Wife," and "The Dictator."

Ansari moved to London to be with the man she loved. While Cox's career was flourishing, hers was spiraling down. In a previous interview, Ansari explained that landing acting gigs in England as a foreign actress was difficult.

It was hard for her to suddenly have no work, particularly because she has been acting since childhood. Ansari recalled:

"I had to make a decision whether I wanted to live like that – as the wife of a famous actor, the wifey, basically."

When she flew to the United States to end the relationship with Cox, they ended up tying the knot. It didn't take long before they became parents, which changed everything for Ansari. "I started to have a life and a family and find value in being me and living my life rather than having to prove I have the right to be here," she said.

While Ansari did not give up her passion, she took fewer roles. Fortunately, she and her husband had the opportunity to work together on the "Sinners – The English Professor" stage production in London.

According to the actress, working with Cox was a beautiful and relaxing experience. It also meant more time spent together outside of their home.

Ansari's other acting credits include "Blumenthal," "Bar Karma," As the World Turns," "Side Effects," "Maggie Black," and "The Mysteries of Laura," among many others.

While working on their careers, Cox and Ansari continued building their relationship. In 2006, they renewed their wedding vows at Birkhill Castle in Scotland.

Brian Cox Has Four Children from His Two Marriages, and One Is Also an Actor

Besides Margaret and Alan, Cox had two more children during his second marriage: Orson Jonathan and Torin Kamran. Among his kids, Alan followed in Cox's footsteps and pursued an acting career, known for his roles in "Young Sherlock Holmes," "The Good Wife," and "The Dictator."

Having kids at different stages of his life allowed Cox to learn from each experience. Admittedly, Cox's older children felt his difficulties as a struggling actor. Nevertheless, his first wife raised them well.

"The older boy from my second marriage has communication and motor skills difficulties," he revealed. Regardless of how he raised his children, he loves them all unconditionally. He also credits Ansari for being a great mother and raising their two boys to be good people.