Gary Cooper

Biography

Born to Alice Cooper and Charles Cooper (not in film business). Gary attended school at Dunstable school England, Helena Montana and Iowa College, Grinnell, Iowa. His first stage experience was during high school and college. Afterwards, he worked as an extra for one year before getting a part in a two reeler by Hans Tissler (an independent producer). Eileen Sedgwick was his first leading lady. He then appeared in The Winning of Barbara Worth (1926) for United Artists before moving to Paramount. While there he appeared in a small part in Wings (1927), It (1927), and other films.

60years old at death

Born May 7, 1901Helena
Died May 13, 1961Beverly Hills
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
Frank James Cooper (birth name)Also credited as Frank Cooper

Movie Career

Films: 56
Career span: 33 years1926 to 1959

Genres

Drama57%, 32 films
Romance50%, 28 films
Comedy29%, 16 films
Western29%, 16 films
Adventure20%, 11 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

First role
Cooper began in films as an extra for five dollars a day and a stunt rider for ten dollars a day, taking the work to pay for a professional art course.
A role that slipped away
Cooper turned down the part of Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind, though producer David O. Selznick made several overtures to him and he was Selznick's first choice.
Behind the camera
Once his contracts with Goldwyn and Paramount were done, Cooper started his own company, International Pictures, alongside Leo Spitz, William Goetz, and Nunnally Johnson.
Own stunts
Cooper was a trained scuba diver and did most of his own underwater scenes for The Wreck of the Mary Deare.
Languages
Cooper learned to read Italian and French menus and about vintage wines while staying with Countess Dorothy di Frasso at the Villa Madama in Rome.

Gary Cooper movies on Netflix

The Hanging Tree1959IMDb rating 7.1as Dr. Joseph "Doc" Frail
The Wreck of the Mary Deare1959IMDb rating 6.7as Gideon Patch
They Came to Cordura1959IMDb rating 6.4as Major Thomas Thorn
Man of the West1958IMDb rating 7.0as Link Jones
Love in the Afternoon1957IMDb rating 7.1as Frank Flannagan
Friendly Persuasion1956IMDb rating 7.3as Jess Birdwell
The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell1955IMDb rating 6.8as Col. Billy Mitchell
Garden of Evil1954IMDb rating 6.6as Hooker
Vera Cruz1954IMDb rating 7.0as Benjamin Trane
Blowing Wild1953IMDb rating 6.4as Jeff Dawson
High Noon1952IMDb rating 7.9as Marshal Will Kane
Springfield Rifle1952IMDb rating 6.6as Maj. Alex 'Lex' Kearney
Distant Drums1951IMDb rating 6.3as Capt. Quincy Wyatt
You're in the Navy Now1951IMDb rating 6.3as Lt. John W. Harkness
Bright Leaf1950IMDb rating 6.7as Brant Royle
Dallas1950IMDb rating 6.2as Blayde "Reb" Hollister
The Fountainhead1949IMDb rating 7.0as Howard Roark
Good Sam1948IMDb rating 6.3as Sam Clayton
Unconquered1947IMDb rating 6.9as Captain Christopher Holden
Variety Girl1947IMDb rating 6.3as Gary Cooper
Cloak and Dagger1946IMDb rating 6.6as Prof. Alvah Jesper
Along Came Jones1945IMDb rating 6.5as Melody Jones
Casanova Brown1944IMDb rating 6.2as Casanova (Cass) Brown
The Story of Dr. Wassell1944IMDb rating 6.6as Dr. Corydon M. Wassell
For Whom the Bell Tolls1943IMDb rating 6.8as Robert Jordan
The Pride of the Yankees1942IMDb rating 7.6as Lou Gehrig
Ball of Fire1941IMDb rating 7.7as Prof. Bertram Potts
Meet John Doe1941IMDb rating 7.6as 'Long John' Willoughby
Sergeant York1941IMDb rating 7.7as Alvin C. York
North West Mounted Police1940IMDb rating 6.3as Dusty Rivers
The Westerner1940IMDb rating 7.2as Cole Harden
Beau Geste1939IMDb rating 7.5as Beau Geste
The Real Glory1939IMDb rating 6.5as Doctor Canavan
Bluebeard's Eighth Wife1938IMDb rating 7.1as Michael Brandon
The Cowboy and the Lady1938IMDb rating 6.6as Stretch Willoughby
Desire1936IMDb rating 7.1as Tom Bradley
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936IMDb rating 7.8as Longfellow Deeds
The General Died at Dawn1936IMDb rating 6.5as O'Hara
The Plainsman1936IMDb rating 6.8as Wild Bill Hickok
Peter Ibbetson1935IMDb rating 6.9as Peter Ibbetson
The Lives of a Bengal Lancer1935IMDb rating 7.0as Alan McGregor
The Wedding Night1935IMDb rating 6.6as Tony Barrett
Now and Forever1934IMDb rating 6.5as Jerome 'Jerry' Day
Alice in Wonderland1933IMDb rating 6.3as White Knight
Design for Living1933IMDb rating 7.4as George Curtis
Today We Live1933IMDb rating 5.9as Richard Bogard
A Farewell to Arms1932IMDb rating 6.4as Frederic
If I Had a Million1932IMDb rating 6.9as Steve Gallagher
City Streets1931IMDb rating 7.0as The Kid
Fighting Caravans1931IMDb rating 5.7as Clint Belmet
Morocco1930IMDb rating 7.0as Légionnaire Tom Brown
Lilac Time1928IMDb rating 6.5as Capt. Philip Blythe
Children of Divorce1927IMDb rating 6.5as Edward D. 'Ted' Larrabee
It1927IMDb rating 7.2as Newspaper Reporter
Wings1927IMDb rating 7.5as Cadet White
The Winning of Barbara Worth1926IMDb rating 6.9as Abe Lee

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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High Noon1952 Drama, Thriller, Westernas Marshal Will Kane
IMDb rating 7.9117K votes
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936 Comedy, Drama, Romanceas Longfellow Deeds
IMDb rating 7.825K votes
Sergeant York1941as Alvin C. York
IMDb rating 7.720K votes
Love in the Afternoon1957as Frank Flannagan
IMDb rating 7.119K votes
Meet John Doe1941as 'Long John' Willoughby
IMDb rating 7.617K votes
The Pride of the Yankees1942as Lou Gehrig
IMDb rating 7.613K votes
Ball of Fire1941as Prof. Bertram Potts
IMDb rating 7.716K votes
For Whom the Bell Tolls1943as Robert Jordan
IMDb rating 6.811K votes

Most often with

Henry Hathaway directed six of these films, Cecil B. DeMille four and Howard Hawks three. Irving Bacon appears in seven of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Irving Bacon

Walter Brennan

Akim Tamiroff

Stanley Andrews

Barbara Stanwyck

Paulette GoddardHenry HathawayDirector, 6 films

Cecil B. DeMilleDirector, 4 films

Howard HawksDirector, 3 films

Films together

Irving Bacon7 films together, 1931 to 1948
Irving Bacon's page
- Good Sam1948IMDb rating 6.3Cooper as Sam ClaytonBacon as Tramp
- Casanova Brown1944IMDb rating 6.2Cooper as Casanova (Cass) BrownBacon as Hotel Manager
- Meet John Doe1941IMDb rating 7.6Cooper as 'Long John' WilloughbyBacon as Beany
- The Cowboy and the Lady1938IMDb rating 6.6Cooper as Stretch WilloughbyBacon as Chester - Smith's Secretary
- Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936IMDb rating 7.8Cooper as Longfellow DeedsBacon as Frank
- If I Had a Million1932IMDb rating 6.9Cooper as Steve GallagherBacon as China Shop Salesman
- Fighting Caravans1931IMDb rating 5.7Cooper as Clint BelmetBacon as Mustachioed Barfly
Walter Brennan6 films together, 1935 to 1942
Walter Brennan's page
- The Pride of the Yankees1942IMDb rating 7.6Cooper as Lou GehrigBrennan as Sam Blake
- Meet John Doe1941IMDb rating 7.6Cooper as 'Long John' WilloughbyBrennan as The 'Colonel'
- Sergeant York1941IMDb rating 7.7Cooper as Alvin C. YorkBrennan as Pastor Rosier Pile
- The Westerner1940IMDb rating 7.2Cooper as Cole HardenBrennan as Judge Roy Bean
- The Cowboy and the Lady1938IMDb rating 6.6Cooper as Stretch WilloughbyBrennan as Sugar
- The Wedding Night1935IMDb rating 6.6Cooper as Tony BarrettBrennan as Bill Jenkins
Akim Tamiroff6 films together, 1934 to 1943
Akim Tamiroff's page
- For Whom the Bell Tolls1943IMDb rating 6.8Cooper as Robert JordanTamiroff as Pablo
- North West Mounted Police1940IMDb rating 6.3Cooper as Dusty RiversTamiroff as Dan Duroc
- Desire1936IMDb rating 7.1Cooper as Tom BradleyTamiroff as Avilia
- The General Died at Dawn1936IMDb rating 6.5Cooper as O'HaraTamiroff as General Yang
- The Lives of a Bengal Lancer1935IMDb rating 7.0Cooper as Alan McGregorTamiroff as Otamanu
- Now and Forever1934IMDb rating 6.5Cooper as Jerome 'Jerry' DayTamiroff as French Jeweller
Stanley Andrews5 films together, 1935 to 1941
Stanley Andrews's page
- Meet John Doe1941IMDb rating 7.6Cooper as 'Long John' WilloughbyAndrews as Weston
- The Westerner1940IMDb rating 7.2Cooper as Cole HardenAndrews as Sheriff
- Desire1936IMDb rating 7.1Cooper as Tom BradleyAndrews as Customs Inspector
- Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936IMDb rating 7.8Cooper as Longfellow DeedsAndrews as James Cedar
- Peter Ibbetson1935IMDb rating 6.9Cooper as Peter IbbetsonAndrews as Judge
Barbara Stanwyck4 films together, 1941 to 1953
Barbara Stanwyck's page
- Blowing Wild1953IMDb rating 6.4Cooper as Jeff DawsonStanwyck as Marina Conway
- Variety Girl1947IMDb rating 6.3Cooper as Gary CooperStanwyck as Barbara Stanwyck
- Ball of Fire1941IMDb rating 7.7Cooper as Prof. Bertram PottsStanwyck as Sugarpuss O'Shea
- Meet John Doe1941IMDb rating 7.6Cooper as 'Long John' WilloughbyStanwyck as Ann Mitchell
Paulette Goddard4 films together, 1931 to 1947
Paulette Goddard's page
- Unconquered1947IMDb rating 6.9Cooper as Captain Christopher HoldenGoddard as Abby
- Variety Girl1947IMDb rating 6.3Cooper as Gary CooperGoddard as Paulette Goddard
- North West Mounted Police1940IMDb rating 6.3Cooper as Dusty RiversGoddard as Louvette Corbeau
- City Streets1931IMDb rating 7.0Cooper as The KidGoddard as Nightclub Patron
Henry HathawayDirector, 6 films, 1934 to 1954
All films by Henry Hathaway
- Garden of Evil1954IMDb rating 6.6Cooper as Hooker
- You're in the Navy Now1951IMDb rating 6.3Cooper as Lt. John W. Harkness
- The Real Glory1939IMDb rating 6.5Cooper as Doctor Canavan
- Peter Ibbetson1935IMDb rating 6.9Cooper as Peter Ibbetson
- The Lives of a Bengal Lancer1935IMDb rating 7.0Cooper as Alan McGregor
- Now and Forever1934IMDb rating 6.5Cooper as Jerome 'Jerry' Day
Cecil B. DeMilleDirector, 4 films, 1936 to 1947
All films by Cecil B. DeMille
- Unconquered1947IMDb rating 6.9Cooper as Captain Christopher Holden
- The Story of Dr. Wassell1944IMDb rating 6.6Cooper as Dr. Corydon M. Wassell
- North West Mounted Police1940IMDb rating 6.3Cooper as Dusty Rivers
- The Plainsman1936IMDb rating 6.8Cooper as Wild Bill Hickok
Howard HawksDirector, 3 films, 1933 to 1941
All films by Howard Hawks
- Ball of Fire1941IMDb rating 7.7Cooper as Prof. Bertram Potts
- Sergeant York1941IMDb rating 7.7Cooper as Alvin C. York
- Today We Live1933IMDb rating 5.9Cooper as Richard Bogard

Box office

What Gary Cooper's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$78.0 million

12 of the 56 films have a worldwide figure.

12Worldwide figure
2US gross only
42Figure not found

Top grosser

For Whom the Bell Tolls1943Robert Jordan$17.8 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 88% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
For Whom the Bell Tolls1943as Robert Jordan
$18M22.8% of the total
2
Sergeant York1941as Alvin C. York
$16M21.0% of the total
3
Friendly Persuasion1956as Jess Birdwell
$8.0M10.3% of the total
4
High Noon1952as Marshal Will Kane
$8.0M10.3% of the total
5
Unconquered1947as Captain Christopher Holden
$6.7M8.5% of the total
6
Springfield Rifle1952as Maj. Alex 'Lex' Kearney
$4.9M6.3% of the total
7
Wings1927as Cadet White
$3.6M4.6% of the total
8
The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell1955as Col. Billy Mitchell
$3.0M3.8% of the total

The Lives of a Bengal Lancer (1935), $3.0 million

Love in the Afternoon (1957), $2.0 million

$9.6 millionfrom the other 4 films with a worldwide figure, 12% of the total

Awards

Five awards and honors from 1942 to 1960, four of them major.

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Gary Cooper's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Academy Awards
1960	Honorary Award		Honorary
1953	Best Actor	High Noon	Won
1942	Best Actor	Sergeant York	Won
Golden Globes
1953	Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama	High Noon	Won
Other honors
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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