Bradley Cooper

Bradley Charles Cooper, born on January 5, 1975, is a prominent American actor and filmmaker acclaimed for his versatile performances across various genres. His outstanding talent has earned him numerous accolades, including a British Academy Film Award and two Grammy Awards, along with nominations for twelve Academy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award. Cooper's influence extends beyond the screen, as evidenced by his appearances on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list and Time's list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2015. With his films grossing a staggering $13 billion worldwide, Cooper has solidified his position as one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors.
Cooper embarked on his acting journey in 1999, making his debut with a guest role in the television series Sex and the City before enrolling in the prestigious MFA program at the Actors Studio in 2000. His early film credits include the comedy Wet Hot American Summer (2001) and the television series Alias (2001–2006), where he gained recognition for his role as Will Tippin. Despite facing career uncertainties after a demotion in Alias, Cooper's career gained momentum with a supporting role in the hit comedy Wedding Crashers (2005).


However, it was his breakthrough performance in The Hangover (2009) that propelled Cooper to stardom. The success of this critically and commercially acclaimed comedy led to two sequels and established Cooper as a leading actor in Hollywood. His career soared with starring roles in films like Limitless (2011) and The Place Beyond the Pines (2012).
Cooper's acclaim reached new heights with memorable performances in Silver Linings Playbook (2012), American Hustle (2013), and American Sniper (2014), the latter of which he also produced. He showcased his versatility further with a Broadway revival of The Elephant Man (2014) and his portrayal of Rocket in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In 2018, Cooper achieved widespread acclaim for his work on the musical romance A Star Is Born, where he served as producer, writer, director, and lead actor. His contributions to the film's soundtrack earned him a BAFTA Award and two Grammys, solidifying his status as a multifaceted talent in the industry.
Beyond acting and filmmaking, Cooper has been recognized as People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive in 2011 and is actively involved in supporting charitable causes focused on cancer research. While he was briefly married to actress Jennifer Esposito, he shares a daughter with model Irina Shayk. Cooper continues to leave a significant impact on both the entertainment industry and society as a whole through his remarkable talents and philanthropic endeavors.


Bradley Cooper, born on January 5, 1975, in Abington Township, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, spent his formative years in the nearby communities of Jenkintown and Rydal. His mother, Gloria (née Campano), worked at Philadelphia's NBC affiliate, KYW-TV, while his father, Charles Cooper, pursued a career as a stockbroker for Merrill Lynch. Cooper's diverse heritage includes Irish ancestry from his father's side and Italian roots from his mother's lineage, originating from Abruzzo and Naples. Growing up alongside his older sister, Holly, Cooper faced health challenges early on, including cholesteatoma in his ear and a punctured eardrum due to his early diving endeavors.
Reflecting on his childhood, Cooper describes himself as not fitting into conventional stereotypes, recalling instances where he was mistaken for a girl due to his long hair. Despite this, he excelled in basketball and developed a passion for cooking, often impressing friends with his culinary creations. Initially aspiring to attend Valley Forge Military Academy and become a ninja in Japan, Cooper's interest in acting was ignited by his father's introduction to films like The Elephant Man.


Despite his parents' initial reservations about pursuing acting, they eventually supported Cooper's passion after witnessing his performance as Joseph Merrick in The Elephant Man. After attending Germantown Academy and working at the Philadelphia Daily News, Cooper pursued higher education at Villanova University before transferring to Georgetown University, where he majored in English and minored in French. Graduating with honors in 1997, Cooper was an active member of the Georgetown Hoyas rowing team and participated in Nomadic Theatre. During his time at Georgetown, he spent six months as an exchange student in Aix-en-Provence, France, where he became fluent in French.
Following his graduation, Cooper ventured into acting, making his television debut in Sex and the City (1999) opposite Sarah Jessica Parker. Subsequently, he expanded his repertoire with roles in Globe Trekker (2000) and the series The Street. Cooper's passion for acting led him to audition for the master class graduate degree at the Actors Studio, where he trained under the guidance of Elizabeth Kemp and received his Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from The New School in New York City in 2000.
During his time in New York City, Cooper worked as a doorman at the Morgans Hotel and had the opportunity to interact with industry veterans like Robert De Niro and Sean Penn during question-and-answer master class sessions at the Actors Studio. These experiences laid the foundation for Cooper's remarkable journey in the world of acting and filmmaking.

References

1. Pennsylvanians To Vote". CBS Philly. October 30, 2020. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021. I was born in Abington. I grew up in Montgomery County.
2. ^ "Bradley Cooper, Nick Hornby". The Film Programme. November 5, 2015. BBC Radio 4. Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
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4. ^ Weiner, Jonah (March 10, 2011). "Don't Take This Hunk at Face Value". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 16, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
5. a b c "Bradley Cooper". Biography.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
6. a b Rickey, Carrie (March 18, 2011). "Bradley Cooper's the lead; his idol's the co-star". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
7. ^ O'Toole, Lesley (November 19, 2012). "Bradley Cooper: Daniel Day-Lewis told me he liked 'The Hangover'". Metro. Archived from the original on November 8, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.