Gary Cooper (May 7, 1901 – May 13, 1961) was a quintessential American actor and a towering icon of Hollywood’s Golden Age, celebrated for his natural, understated acting style and his embodiment of the ideal American hero. With a career spanning 36 years, his on-screen persona—often a man of quiet conviction and unwavering integrity—projected an authenticity that made him a beloved star across all major genres. He brought this quiet strength to life in numerous classic films, playing the principled “everyman” in Frank Capra’s Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), the baseball legend Lou Gehrig in The Pride of the Yankees (1942), and earning his first Academy Award as the pacifist-turned-war-hero in Sergeant York (1941). This heroic image reached its zenith with his second Oscar-winning performance as the lone, determined Marshal Will Kane in the timeless Western, High Noon (1952).
Birthday
- May 7, 1901
Place of Birth
- Helena, Montana, USA
Also Known As
- Coop, Frank James Cooper, Frank J. Cooper, Cowboy Cooper, The Montana Mule, Studs,
