A Legacy of Excellence and Influence
Robert Fox, a renowned producer who played a pivotal role in the creation of the acclaimed Netflix series The Crown, passed away at the age of 73. His death was confirmed by his wife, Fiona Golfar, to Deadline Hollywood. She shared that he died “in exactly the way he planned: at home looking out to his flower-filled garden surrounded by his wife and five children on a glorious spring afternoon.” This moment, she added, was “the epitome of an elegant Robert Fox production.”
Born in West Sussex, Fox was the youngest son of theatrical agent Robin Fox and actress Angela Worthington. He was part of the distinguished Fox acting family, with his elder brothers Edward Fox and James Fox both achieving significant success as BAFTA award-winning performers. Additionally, he was the uncle to a new generation of actors, including Emilia Fox, star of Silent Witness, Freddie Fox of House of the Dragon, and Laurence Fox – the outspoken actor-turned-political activist.
Over more than four decades, Fox established himself as a film and theatrical producer, working extensively in the West End and on Broadway. Through his company, Robert Fox Ltd, he produced or co-produced over 50 productions, including Chess and Lazarus.
One of his most celebrated successes was The Audience, a play about Queen Elizabeth II starring Helen Mirren. This production would later inspire The Crown, which starred Claire Foy and earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama. Fox served as an Executive Producer on the series.
Throughout his career, Fox maintained strong connections within the world of stage and screen. He was a close friend of David Bowie, and it was revealed in 2016 that he was among the few entrusted with the singer’s cancer diagnosis. Bowie died aged 69 on January 10, 2016, from liver cancer.
The pair first met in London in 1974. Fox later told The Telegraph that he was immediately struck by Bowie’s modest charm, describing him as “easy to chat to,” and not “ostentatious or loud or attention seeking.” They collaborated on Lazarus, with Fox producing and Bowie co-writing alongside playwright Enda Walsh.
During a Skype call about the production, Bowie disclosed his illness, a revelation that Fox later described as “shocking.” Fox also worked with some of the greatest acting talents of his generation, including Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, and Vanessa Redgrave.
He produced Notes on a Scandal, which starred Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. Fox once praised Dench’s “democratic attitude” as setting the tone for the film, telling A Rabbit’s Foot that she was “a properly top person.” Maggie Smith, meanwhile, was described as a “constant in the life of producer Robert Fox for half a century” by Deadline in 2024.
Fox produced her major stage works, including Lettice and Lovage and The Breath of Life, the latter also co-starring Dame Judi Dench at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket. He also famously produced A Month by the Lake, starring Vanessa Redgrave and his brother, Edward.
Tributes and Lasting Impact
Tributes have poured in from the theatrical world following news of his death. Hugh Jackman, who starred in The Boy from Ox, produced by Fox, wrote on X: “Robert Fox was an integral part of my life, both personally and professionally. He was an exceptional father and husband. He had the unique ability to make everyone feel seen and heard. Robert gave of himself and expected nothing in return. Robert was a role model. A supportive force to all who knew and loved him. His extraordinary career spanned decades. That’s because Robert was one of one.”
