Chris Cooper is one of those rare actors who can convincingly play any role, from a mild-mannered suburbanite to a cold-hearted killer. His versatility has earned him an Oscar, two Golden Globe Awards, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of Cooper’s most notable roles.
Chris Cooper in Irresistible (2020)
Jack is a typical ex-military man – conservative and prefers things to be a certain way at all times. When he’s first approached by Gary Zimmer, he says he hates politics and is really more of a conservative than a liberal. But he eventually agrees to run for mayor as long as Gary agrees to be his campaign manager, to which Gary agrees. Jack immediately starts recruiting his friends to work on his campaign, and pretty soon he is running neck and neck in the polls with the incumbent, Mayor Braun.
Jack also travels with Gary to New York City to give a speech to potential fundraisers so that his odds of winning increase, and it works. Soon, Gary is able to upgrade the techniques they’re using for the campaign, and the campaign becomes much more sophisticated. Both Jack and Diana want to run a clean, honest campaign, so when Gary asks Diana to find some “dirt” on the current mayor, she is offended and immediately declines. In the end, it is Jack’s daughter Diana who admits the entire “campaign” was in fact a huge scam.
Chris Cooper in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)
Jerry Vogel is Lloyd’s father, who cheated on his wife Lila and abandoned Lloyd and his sister Lorraine when they were kids. Jerry has since remarried and has begged Lloyd for his forgiveness, but at the beginning of the movie, he has yet to get it. When Jerry suffers a heart attack, his son Lloyd is the only family member not to stay overnight at the hospital. Eventually, Lloyd decides to forgive Jerry and their relationship improves. Toward the end of the movie, Jerry dies from heart problems, but by that time he has reconciled with his son and the two enjoy a bit of time together.
Chris Cooper in Little Women (2019)
Chris Cooper plays Mr. Laurence in Little Women. In the film, he helps the March sisters adjust to life after their father’s death. He also mentors them in their pursuit of writing and publishing their own stories.
Chris Cooper in American Beauty (1999)
Col. Frank Fitts is everything you’d expect an ex-military person to be. He expects to be respected and to be treated a certain way, and his wife and son oblige. He is extremely homophobic and shows disgust toward his new neighbor and his partner, showing that disgust to his family after the two men show up at his house with a welcome gift.
At the end of the movie, he is comforted by Lester after a particular episode and ends up trying to kiss him. Lester tells him he is not gay like Fitts thought he was, and Fitts walks away from Lester humiliated. In the end, it is Frank Fitts that ends up being the murderer of Lester Burnham.