Kevin Spacey ‘should be given second chance’ as Succession’s Brian Cox issues rallying defence of actor

Succession star Brian Cox has called for Kevin Spacey to be given a second chance in Hollywood, arguing that the disgraced actor should not be “punished endlessly” for his past actions.

The 78-year-old said there “should be a case of forgive and forget” regarding Spacey’s return to the entertainment industry.

Cox revealed he had recently met with Spacey, 65, and believes the disgraced actor has “been through it” and should not be “punished endlessly”.

“He’s had the kicking that some people think he deserved. He’s ready to get back in the saddle again, and people are trying to stop him from doing that,” Cox told The Hollywood Reporter.

He added: “Let’s move on. I think he should be given the opportunity to come back to work.”

The Scottish actor insisted it was time to follow the principle of “let he who is without sin cast the first stone”.

Cox and Spacey previously worked together on the 1994 Disney adventure film Iron Will.

Speaking about their past collaboration, Cox acknowledged that Spacey “had certain things which he couldn’t or didn’t admit to” during that period, which he believed was “a strain on him in many ways.”

Despite these earlier observations, Cox maintained a positive view of his former co-star.

“He’s a very fine actor, and I like Kevin a lot. He’s very funny,” the 78-year-old explained.

In his 2022 memoir, Cox had described Spacey as “a great talent, but a stupid, stupid man,” noting that his sexuality was an “open secret” when they worked together.

Spacey’s career faced significant legal challenges in recent years, but he has been cleared in multiple cases.

In 2022, a New York jury found him not liable for battery in a civil lawsuit brought by actor Anthony Rapp, who had accused Spacey of molesting him in 1986.

The following year, Spacey was found not guilty of nine counts of alleged sexual assault in a London court.

Spacey has consistently denied all allegations made against him.

Cox is not alone in supporting Spacey’s return to the entertainment industry.

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Actress Sharon Stone, 66, told The Hollywood Reporter in July that Spacey should be allowed to resume working after “being in therapy for seven years” and losing his career.

Stone noted that Spacey “has reached out to everybody he’s offended and said he’s sorry.”

Actor Liam Neeson, 72, has also voiced support, telling The Telegraph that Spacey is “a good man and a man of character.”

Other prominent figures who have backed Spacey’s potential comeback include Stephen Fry and F. Murray Abraham.