Trivia

Speaks French fluently. He even did an interview, promoting The Hangover Part II (2011) entirely in French.

Cooper has spent many weekends with the Learning through the Expanded Arts Program (LEAP), which is a non-profit organization that teaches inner-city school children about acting.

For six months prior to filming The A-Team (2010) and during the shoot, he cut out sugar, salt and flour and underwent grueling two-hour workouts with a trainer every day.

Was a medalist on the Men's Heavyweight Crew at Georgetown University.

Became a father for the 1st time at age 42 when his now ex-girlfriend Irina Shayk gave birth to their daughter Lea de Seine Shayk Cooper on March 21, 2017.

Considers Daniel Day-Lewis the world's greatest actor.

Admitted that in the beginning of his career casting agents tended to peg him as just a 'pretty boy', which made finding meaningful roles challenging.

Received his first two Oscar nominations in films directed by David O. Russell and with Jennifer Lawrence as his co-star (Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and American Hustle (2013)).

Is the first alumnus of the Actors Studio to be interviewed as a guest on Inside the Actors Studio (1994). Cooper can be seen in the audience in four episodes, one with guest Robert De Niro, and again with Sean Penn, and finally late into the interviews with Clint Eastwood and again with Gary Sinise, though if you blink you might miss it. Cooper put himself on tape to audition for a role as De Niro's son in Everybody's Fine (2009) (with his own mother playing the role of De Niro), but lost out to Sam Rockwell. Cooper eventually starred with De Niro in Limitless (2011), and again as father and son in Silver Linings Playbook (2012). The film was released to great critical acclaim, and both actors earned Academy Award nominations for their performances.

Got clean and sober August 1, 2004.

Claimed that watching David Lynch's production of The Elephant Man (1980) on television is what inspired him to be an actor. He later played the title character of John Merrick on stage for his graduate thesis at the Actors Studio, which he attended after graduating from Georgetown in 1997. He also went to London just to research the role, rather obsessively.

He added 37 pounds for his role as Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in American Sniper (2014) through two intense weight training workouts and consuming 6,000 calories a day.

In the Steven Spielberg episode of Inside the Actors Studio (1994), Cooper appears in the audience about 15 minutes into the episode.

Can impersonate Robert De Niro, Owen Wilson, Christopher Walken and Bill Clinton after having met them and/or worked with them.

He has appeared in seven films that have been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Silver Linings Playbook (2012), American Hustle (2013), American Sniper (2014), A Star Is Born (2018), Licorice Pizza (2021), Nightmare Alley (2021) and Maestro (2023). He has also directed two Best Picture nominees: A Star Is Born and Maestro.

Directed 4 actors in Oscar nominated performances: Lady Gaga, Sam Elliott, Carey Mulligan, and himself (twice for A Star Is Born (2018) and Maestro (2023).

After graduating from Germantown Academy (1993), he attended Villanova University for his first year, then transferred to Georgetown University, from which he graduated with honors with a B.A. in English (1997). Later in 2000, he received an M.F.A. in acting from Actors Studio Drama School at the New School in New York City.

When the media asked why he was not in a romantic relationship with his frequent co-star Jennifer Lawrence, he said it was because she's too young. However, he revealed to Howard Stern it was just something he said to get them off his back.

For starring in the Broadway revival of the play "The Elephant Man," Cooper was nominated for the 2014 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.

Has contemplated going back to school to receive his Ph.D. in English and teaching literature.

Was in a relationship with Renée Zellweger (July 2009-March 2011).

While a guest on Live with Kelly and Mark (1988) (aka "Live with Regis & Kelly"), Cooper was asked which of the actresses he has co-starred with was his favorite on-screen kisser. Instead of an actress, he chose Michael Ian Black, with whom he shared a love scene in Wet Hot American Summer (2001).

He didn't like All About Steve (2009) but he was happy to work with Sandra Bullock.

Provides the voice for Rocket Raccoon in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise and all MCU appearances. His facial expressions are also captured using motion-capture technology for the character.

His father, Charles "Charlie" Cooper, was of Irish heritage, and worked as a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch. His mother, Gloria Cooper (née Campano), is of Italian heritage, and worked for an NBC station.

Is a registered Democrat. Many fans of his work in American Sniper (2014) were confused and/or angry when he attended the 2016 Democratic National Convention, having wrongly assumed that Cooper was a conservative Republican because his character in that movie, Chris Kyle, was one in real life.

Had to miss his Actor's Studio graduation commencement ceremony to film Wet Hot American Summer (2001).

Current and longtime student of David Gideon in New York City.

Was considered for the lead role in Steve Jobs (2015), which went to Michael Fassbender.

Was named "The Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine. (November 2011)

Became close friends with Victor Garber during production on Alias (2001).

While he was studying at the New School, Cooper worked as a doorman at the Morgans Hotel.

Drives a 2007 black Prius, and a 2004 G55 AMG Mercedes truck. He also owns a Vespa, which was a gift from The Hangover Part II (2011) director, Todd Phillips (2011).

During an interview on the French television show "Le Journal de 19:45", he stated his desire to work with French director Guillaume Canet. (February 2014)

Grew up in Jenkintown, in Montgomery County, a couple miles out of Philadelphia.

Attended and graduated from Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania (1993).

Once had a job that required him to take out a $50,000 life insurance policy.

Member of the same Los Angeles gym as Ryan Gosling, Jason Sarayba, Jodie Foster, Michelle Monaghan, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Ashley Tisdale.

Ranked #10 on the Empire Online list of the 100 Sexiest Movie Stars (2013).

He sought and campaigned for the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). The role went to his He's Just Not That Into You (2009) co-star Ben Affleck.

Was cast as Lucifer in an adaptation of Paradise Lost (directed by Alex Proyas). The movie was canceled four months before filming due to budget conflicts.

Friends with Cameron Diaz, Amy Adams, Eva Longoria, Anne Hathaway, Dave Bugliari, Chris Tucker and Dennis Quaid.

Attended the 2016 Democratic National Convention in his hometown of Philadelphia, but was taken aback that conservatives threatened to boycott him since he portrayed Chris Kyle. He describes President Obama as an "incredible" president and even helped get him onto Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis which helped skyrocket the number of young people who signed up for www.healthcare.gov. He was also a special guest at a BET tribute concert for President Obama, which Dave Chappelle joked about a week earlier on Saturday Night Live.

Counts directors Sidney Lumet and Hal Ashby among his greatest inspirations as a filmmaker.

Has an older sister: Holly Cooper.

Joined forces with Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein to make a short film that was critical of then-Presidential candidate Mitt Romney in the runup to the 2012 election (both Cooper and Weinstein supported President Barack Obama), but the project was ignored after completion when Romney lost to Obama.

Auditioned for the lead role of Hal Jordan in Green Lantern (2011), which went to Ryan Reynolds.

Born at 5:09 AM (EST).