Bradley cooper actor biography eric close

Handsome and irreverently funny, Bradley Cooper's combination of romantic leading man and hilarious character actor chops helped him progress from TV guest spots to memorable parts in features in a relatively short amount of time.

After attracting attention for his likable role as Jennifer Garner's reporter friend on "Alias" (ABC, 2001-06), Cooper fearlessly made his first major big screen impression as the unlikable groom in "Wedding Crashers" (2005). He regained audience's affection in lesser fare like "Failure to Launch" (2006) and, in testament to his charisma, emerged unscathed from Sandra Bullock's notorious bomb "All About Steve" (2008).

Cooper ensured his own launch with the lead in the critical and box office juggernaut "The Hangover" (2009) and proved an invaluable member of the romantic, dramatic ensemble "He's Just Not That Into You" (2009) and "Valentine's Day" (2010) casts. Graduating to full-fledged stardom with a flashy role in "The A-Team" (2010), Cooper continued to rise as a bankable, talented and very much in-demand movie star.

Born Jan. 5, 1975 in Philadelphia, PA, Cooper was inspired to pursue acting after watching John Hurt play the title role in David Lynch's "The Elephant Man" (1980), a role Cooper would later tackle for his thesis performance at the Actors Studio Drama School. After graduating from Georgetown University in 1997 with a degree in English, he relocated to New York City and enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts program at the Actors Studio at New School University.

While still a student, Cooper made his television debut in a 1999 episode of "Sex and the City" (HBO, 1998-2004) and snared a hosting gig on the Travel Channel series, "Treks in a Wild World" (2000). "Sex and the City" creator Darren Star remembered Cooper's work and cast him on the financial drama, "The $treet" (Fox, 2000-01) which lasted only 12 episodes. But the actor was not unemployed for long, taking part in the cult comedy "Wet Hot America

Bradley Cooper is an American actor and filmmaker. He has received several awards including a British Academy Film Awards, and three Grammy Awards as well as nominations for twelve Academy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, four Grammy Awards, and one Tony Award. Cooper has also received nominations for four Producers Guild of America Awards, two Directors Guild Awards, one Writers Guild Award, seven Screen Actors Guild Awards. For his work on the A Star Is Born soundtrack, he won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Shallow" and a BAFTA Award for Best Film Music, both shared with Lady Gaga.

Cooper's started his career with the cult filmWet Hot American Summer (2001) followed by appearing in supporting roles in comedic films such as Wedding Crashers (2005), Failure to Launch (2006), and Yes Man (2008). His breakthrough performance came in the 2009 comedy The Hangover. Cooper then established himself as a leading man in films such as the romantic comedies He's Just Not That Into You (2009), Valentine's Day (2010), the action film The A-Team (2010), and the drama films Limitless (2011), and The Place Beyond the Pines (2012).

Cooper has gone on to receive Academy Award nominations for his performances as a man with bipolar disorder in the romantic comedy-drama Silver Linings Playbook (2012), an FBI agent in the historical comedy-drama American Hustle (2013), Chris Kyle in the war drama American Sniper (2014), an alcoholic country singer in the musical romance drama A Star is Born (2018), and Leonard Bernstein in the biographical drama Maestro (2023). During this time he received five nominations for Best Picture as a producer on Clint Eastwood's American Sniper (2013), A Star is Born (2018), Todd Phillips' Joker (2019), Guillermo del Toro's Nightmare Alley (2021), and

2014 biographical film

This article is about the 2014 film. For the 2012 book on which the film is based, see American Sniper (book).

American Sniper is a 2014 American biographicalwardrama film directed and co-produced by Clint Eastwood and written and executive-produced by Jason Hall, based on the memoir of the same name by Chris Kyle with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice. The film follows the life of Kyle, who became the deadliest marksman in U.S. military history with 255 kills from four tours in the Iraq War, 160 of which were officially confirmed by the Department of Defense. While Kyle was celebrated for his military successes, his tours of duty took a heavy toll on his personal and family life. It stars Bradley Cooper as Kyle and Sienna Miller as his wife Taya, with Luke Grimes, Jake McDorman, Cory Hardrict, Kevin Lacz, Navid Negahban, and Keir O'Donnell in supporting roles.

American Sniper premiered at the American Film Institute Festival on November 11, 2014, and had a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 25, 2014, followed by a wide release on January 16, 2015. It received generally positive reviews, with praise for Cooper's lead performance and Eastwood's direction, although it also attracted some controversy over its portrayal of both the Iraq War and Kyle himself. The film grossed over $547 million worldwide, making it the 13th highest-grossing film of 2014, the highest-grossing film with a wide release during the month of January, and Eastwood's highest-grossing film to date.

At the 87th Academy Awards, American Sniper received six nominations, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor for Cooper, ultimately winning one for Best Sound Editing.

Plot

Growing up in Texas, Chris Kyle is taught by his father how to shoot a rifle and hunt deer. Years later, Chris has become a ranch hand and rodeo cowboy, and returns home

1975-present

Latest News: Bradley Cooper Chases First Oscar Win

Bradley Cooper is hoping to break his Oscars winless streak on Sunday.

The 49-year-old Cooper is nominated in three categories at the 96th Academy Awards in Los Angeles: including Best Actor for his portrayal of composer Leonard Bernstein in Maestro, as well for writing and producing the 2023 biopic and Best Picture nominee. The actor has received nine previous total nominations, including two for Best Actor for American Sniper and A Star Is Born, but he has yet to win a golden statuette.

Cooper also directed Maestro, but was not nominated in that category. His co-star Carey Mulligan, who played Bernstein’s wife Felicia Montealegre, is also hoping to take home her first Oscar with a Best Actress nomination.

The Lives Portrayed in Maestro

Who Is Bradley Cooper?

Bradley Cooper made his television debut with a guest spot on Sex and the City. He then acted both on TV and film, in shows such as The Street and Jack & Bobby and films such as Wet Hot American Summer and Carnival Knowledge. But it was the success of 2005’s Wedding Crashers that took Cooper’s career to the next level, with subsequent roles in The Hangover, Valentine’s Day and several other films. He’s also received Academy Award nods for his work in Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, American Sniper and A Star Is Born.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Bradley Charles Cooper
BORN: January 5, 1975
BIRTHPLACE: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
SPOUSE: Jennifer Esposito (2006-2007)
CHILDREN: Lea
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Capricorn

Early Life

Bradley Charles Cooper was born on January 5, 1975, in Philadelphia. Although he has enjoyed a highly successful career onscreen, Cooper initially found fulfillment in the kitchen after developing a love of cooking at an early age. “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 an