Succession star Brian Cox's memoir pre-empted by Quercus

Quercus has pre-empted a “seminal” debut memoir from award-winning actor and “Succession” star Brian Cox.

Non-fiction publisher Katy Follain bought UK and Commonwealth rights in the untitled memoir from Ivan Mulcahy at MMB Creative, Alyssa Reuben at Paradigm and Matthew Lesher at Insight. The book will be published in October 2021.

It is the first memoir by the prolific award-winning actor of theatre and film and television, who currently stars as media magnate Logan Roy in HBO’s hit drama “Succession”.

Cox explained: “Over the years, I have been asked many a time to write my memoir, but the timing was never quite right. I now feel ready to tell my whole story, from my childhood in Scotland to the life I have now. I am delighted to be working with Katy Follain at Quercus, her enthusiasm and the speed with which she sealed the deal was striking and impressive. Quercus have already demonstrated a vision for the book that gives me great confidence in working with them, and I can’t wait to promote it when it comes out.”

The actor was born to a working-class Roman Catholic family in Dundee, Angus, Scotland, in 1946. His mother was a spinner who worked in the jute mills, and his father, a grocer, died when Cox was eight years old, after which his mother suffered several nervous breakdowns and was eventually hospitalised. Cox was brought up by his three elder sisters and, when he was 15, joined the Dundee Repertory Theatre. He went on to work extensively with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he gained recognition for his portrayal of Titus Andronicus, as he did several years later when he played the part of King Lear at the National Theatre.

Cox was the first Hannibal Lecter in “Manhunter” and has appeared in “Sharpe”, “Rob Roy”, “Braveheart”, “The Bourne Identity”, “X2: X-Men United,” and “Churchill” among many others. He is currently filming the third series of “Succession”.

Follain said: “Brian Cox is a hugely talented actor as well as a fascinating man, with a rags-to-riches life story like no other. We are tremendously excited to be working closely with him on what will be a seminal autobiography, that both captures his distinctive voice and his very essence. It will be a memoir rich in emotion and meaning, with plenty of laughs along the way.”