Actress Joke Bruijs, celebrated for her extensive career in Dutch theatre, film, and television, died September 16, 2025, at age 73. The passing follows the death of her former husband, actor gerard Cox, who died September 13, 2025.
The deaths, occurring within days of each other, mark a important loss for the Dutch entertainment industry and conclude a decades-long personal history between two prominent figures. Bruijs and Cox, who married in 1982 and divorced in 2008, remained colleagues and friends after their separation. Their combined contributions shaped Dutch performing arts for generations.
Bruijs was born in Haarlem on February 2, 1952. She gained national recognition for her roles in productions such as De Vliegende Hollander and foxtrot, showcasing her versatility as a comedic and dramatic actress. She also appeared in numerous television series and films, including Flodder and Het Klokhuis.
Cox, who died at age 88, was a renowned comedic actor known for his one-man shows and television appearances.The pair were last seen together publicly at the 2019 premiere of De waarheid (The Truth) at the DeLaMar Theater in Amsterdam. Details regarding Bruijs’s cause of death have not been released.