Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper was married to actress Jennifer Esposito from 2006 to 2007. He was in a relationship with model Irina Shayk from 2015 to 2019, and they have a daughter, Lea de Seine, who was born in March 2017. He has been in a relationship with model Gigi Hadid since late 2023.

Cooper has said that he stopped drinking alcohol and using drugs in 2004. He has also spoken about the effect of his father Charles Cooper's death from lung cancer in 2011. His support for cancer-related organizations has included serving on the board of Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and participating in the launch of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy.

Cooper graduated from Georgetown University in 1997 with a degree in English before studying for a Master of Fine Arts at the Actors Studio Drama School at The New School in New York City. He trained for the stage under the direction of James Lipton and developed his acting through performances including Joseph Merrick in The Elephant Man. He also speaks French fluently after spending six months as an exchange student in Aix-en-Provence.

He made his television debut with a guest appearance on Sex and the City in 1999. Early television work included The $treet, Alias, Jack & Bobby, Touching Evil, and Kitchen Confidential. His film debut came in Wet Hot American Summer in 2001, and his supporting role as Sack Lodge in Wedding Crashers helped change his public image and raise his profile.

Cooper's breakthrough came with The Hangover in 2009, in which he played Phil Wenneck alongside Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis. The film's success led to The Hangover Part II in 2011 and The Hangover Part III in 2013. He followed the comedy series with leading roles in Limitless, The Place Beyond the Pines, and Silver Linings Playbook.

His performance as Pat Solitano in Silver Linings Playbook earned his first Academy Award nomination for acting. He received further consecutive nominations for playing FBI agent Richie DiMaso in American Hustle and Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in American Sniper. For American Sniper, he gained 40 pounds of muscle and trained with Kevin Lacz, a former Navy SEAL who had served with Kyle.

In 2014, Cooper voiced Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy. He reprised the role in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and later Marvel productions including Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The role became one of his best-known voice performances.

Cooper also returned to Broadway in 2014 as Joseph Merrick in a revival of The Elephant Man. His performance earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play. He later continued with the production when it moved to London.

Cooper made his directorial debut with A Star Is Born in 2018. He directed, co-wrote, co-produced, and starred in the film as musician Jackson Maine opposite Lady Gaga, who played Ally. He spent months taking voice, piano, and guitar lessons, and he and Gaga recorded much of the soundtrack live.

The film's soundtrack reached number one in the United States, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Its single “Shallow,” performed by Cooper and Gaga, won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Cooper received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor, Best Picture, and Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as recognition from the BAFTA Awards and the National Board of Review.

Cooper later produced Joker and Nightmare Alley. He directed, wrote, produced, and starred in Maestro in 2023, portraying composer Leonard Bernstein opposite Carey Mulligan as Felicia Montealegre. He also directed Is This Thing On?, in which he appears in a small role.