Christopher W. Cooper (born July 9, 1951) is an Oscar-winning American film actor.

Cooper was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Charles Cooper, a doctor and cattleman, and Mary Ann Cooper. Cooper attended the University of Missouri - Columbia where he dual majored in the school of agriculture and the school of drama. After graduation, Cooper moved to New York City to pursue his career.

His early notable performances include Matewan, the 1987 picture by John Sayles, and the 1989 miniseries Lonesome Dove. Some of his standout performances include Money Train as a psychotic pyromaniac who terrifies toll booth operators, Lone Star in a rare leading role as a Texas sheriff charged with solving a decades old case, and American Beauty as a homophobic Colonel of the United States Marine Corps. While many felt that Cooper should have been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in that film, he eventually won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award in 2003 for playing the role of John Laroche in Adaptation..

Cooper is a notable graduate of Stephens College and the University of Missouri - Columbia, both located in Columbia, Missouri.

Cooper currently resides in Kingston, Massachusetts, with his wife, Marianne Leone Cooper.

Cooper was particularly busy in 2005, having appeared in three well-received and acclaimed films: Jarhead (reuniting him with American Beauty director Sam Mendes and October Sky actor Jake Gyllenhaal), Capote and Syriana.

Partial filmography

• Marriage (2007)
• Syriana (2005) – Jimmy Pope
• Capote (2005) - Alvin Dewey
• Jarhead (2005) - Lt. Col. Kazinski
• Silver City (2004) – Dickie Pilager
• Seabiscuit (2003) – Tom Smith
• My House in Umbria (2003) – Thomas 'Tom' Riversmith
• Adaptation. (2002) – John Laroche
• The Bourne Identity (2002) - Alexander Conklin
• Me, Myself and Irene (2000) - Lt. Gerke, Massena PD
• The Patriot (2000) – Col. Harry Burwell
• American Beauty (1999) – Col. Frank Fitts
• October Sky (1999) - John Hickam
• Great Expectations (1998) - Joe
• Breast Men (1997) - Dr. William Larson
• A Time to Kill (1996)
• Lone Star (1996) - Sam Deeds
• Matewan (1987) - Joe Kenehan

External links

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