Bradley Cooper made his television debut on Sex and the City as a guest star. He then appeared in TV shows including The Street and Jack & Bobby, as well as films like Wet Hot American Summer and Carnival Knowledge.
Cooper’s career took off after the success of 2005’s Wedding Crashers, with subsequent parts in The Hangover, Valentine’s Day, and several other films. He’s also been nominated for Academy Awards for his performances in Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, American Sniper, and A Star Is Born.
Early Life
Bradley Charles Cooper was born in Philadelphia on January 5, 1975. Cooper found contentment in the kitchen after acquiring a love of cooking at a young age, despite having had a highly successful career onscreen. “I used to have buddies come over after kindergarten, and I’d cook them food. I prided myself in taking whatever was in the fridge and turning it into lasagna,” he told Entertainment Weekly.
Cooper set aside his culinary goals after graduating from Georgetown University with an English degree in 1997. In New York City, he enrolled in a master’s degree program at the Actors Studio Drama School. He landed his first television commercial for a fast-food company while a student there.
Early TV and Movie Roles
Wet Hot American Summer and Alias
Cooper made his television debut in 1999 as a guest star on the hit HBO show S.ex and the City. He then starred in the short-lived drama The $treet, which was situated in the financial sector. He made his film debut around this time in the 2001 comedy Wet Hot American Summer. Cooper then returned to television in a supporting role in J.J. Abrams’ hit spy series Alias (2001-06). For three seasons, he played Will Tippin, a journalist companion of Jennifer Garner’s clandestine operative Sydney Bristow.
Jack & Bobby and Wedding Crashers
Cooper directed the indie drama Carnival Knowledge (2002) and the thriller My Little Eye (2002) while on Alias. After leaving Alias in 2003, he had recurring parts on the sitcom Jack & Bobby (2004-05) and the crime drama Touching Evil (2004).Cooper returned to the big screen in 2005, co-starring with Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn in the successful comedy Wedding Crashers.
Kitchen Confidential
Cooper appeared in his own television series Kitchen Confidential (2005-06), based on Anthony Bourdain’s book of the same name. The show garnered favorable reviews, but it did not perform well enough in the ratings to keep it on the air. Cooper made his Broadway debut in the 2006 drama Three Days of Rain, alongside Julia Roberts and Paul Rudd.
Becoming a Movie Star
Yes Man and He’s Just Not That Into You
Cooper received numerous humorous film roles after the popularity of Wedding Crashers. He co-starred in the 2006 romantic comedy Failure to Launch starring Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker. Although that film had a lukewarm reception, Cooper had some box office success with Yes Man (2008), in which he co-starred with Jim Carrey. He also appeared in the 2009 comedy He’s Just Not That Into You, which was based on the popular self-help book of the same name. Cooper portrayed an adulterous husband who becomes entangled with Scarlett Johansson‘s character in the film.
The Hangover and Sequels
Cooper’s comedic abilities were further demonstrated in 2009 with The Hangover. In this buddy comedy, he co-starred alongside Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis. The three actors play buddies who go to Las Vegas for a bachelor party with their soon-to-be-married friend, played by Justin Bartha. After a night of revelry, they awaken to discover their friend missing, as well as their memories of the previous evening. The film’s box office success prompted sequels in 2011 and 2013.
All About Steve and The A-Team
Cooper then co-starred in the 2009 romantic comedy All About Steve with Sandra Bullock, which bombed at the box office. His next project, however, went significantly better when he played Eric Dane’s lover in the ensemble comedy Valentine’s Day (2010), which also starred Jennifer Garner, Jessica Alba, and Patrick Dempsey.
During the summer of 2010, Cooper followed up with a recreation of the popular television action series The A-Team. Along with Cooper, the cast also includes Liam Neeson, Quinton Jackson, and Jessica Biel.
Limitless and The Place Beyond the Pines
Limitless, a thriller based on Alan Glynn’s 2001 novel The Dark Fields and co-starring Robert De Niro, continues the transition into more action-packed entertainment. Cooper went on to appear in other action films, including Hit and Run (2011) and The Place Beyond the Pines (2012).
Oscar Nominations and Other Roles
Silver Linings Playbook
Cooper’s performance in Silver Linings Playbook (2013) catapulted him from leading man to critically renowned thespian. The film, directed by David O. Russell, starred Cooper as Pat Solitano, a man attempting to reintegrate into society after leaving a mental facility.
Silver Linings Playbook was nominated for seven Academy Awards in 2013, including Best Picture and four major acting categories. Cooper eventually lost the Best Actor award to Daniel Day-Lewis for his work in Lincoln (2012). Cooper’s co-star Jennifer Lawrence, on the other hand, won the Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal.
American Hustle and Joy
Cooper continues to work with filmmaker David O. Russell and starred in the ensemble cast of the ’70s-era American Hustle (2013). Cooper garnered another Oscar nod for his work as FBI agent Richie DiMaso, this time in the category of supporting actor. In 2015, he reunited with Russell and Jennifer Lawrence for Joy, a film based on the life of inventor Joy Mangano.
Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers
Cooper was heard in theaters as the acid-tongued Rocket Raccoon in the summer blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy, based on the Marvel comic book series, in 2014. He returned to the role for Guardians of the Galaxy 2 in 2017, as well as Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
The Elephant Man on Broadway and American Sniper
Cooper returned to Broadway in the fall of 2014 as the lead in The Elephant Man, a popular revival of the 1979 play based on the life of Joseph Merrick. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in April 2015. In late 2014, he also starred in Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper, a film based on the life of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and co-starring Sienna Miller. Cooper was nominated for his third Oscar for the role.
Burnt and War Dogs
Cooper appeared in the romantic comedy Aloha in 2015 before returning to one of his earlier roles in the Netflix comedy series Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp. In Burnt, co-starring Sienna Miller, Uma Thurman, and Emma Thompson, he played a caustic two-star Michelin chef attempting a comeback. In War Dogs (2016), he co-starred with Jonah Hill and Miles Teller as a weapons trader.
A Star Is Born
Cooper created a name for himself as a director with his version of A Star Is Born (2018). In addition to directing, he co-starred with Lady Gaga. The two collaborated on the Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning song “Shallow.” The film received Oscar nominations for Best Actor and Best Actress for its stars, as well as Best Picture.
Later same year, Cooper returned to the big screen in Clint Eastwood’s The Mule, playing a DEA agent on the trail of the director’s drug runner.
Ex-Wife and Daughter
Cooper was married to Jennifer Esposito, an actress, from 2006 until 2007. He is said to have dated actresses Renée Zellweger and Zoe Saldana, as well as model Suki Waterhouse. Cooper began dating model Irina Shayk in 2015. Lea de Seine Shayk Cooper, the couple’s daughter, was born in March 2017. After four years of dating, the couple divorced in June 2019.