Christopher W. "Chris" Cooper (born July 9, 1951) is an American film actor. He became well known in the late 1990s, having appeared in supporting performances in several major Hollywood films, including American Beauty, Capote, Syriana, October Sky, Seabiscuit, and Adaptation., for which he won an Academy Award.

Early life

Cooper was born in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Mary Ann, a homemaker, and Charles Cooper, who served as a doctor in the United States Air Force and operated a cattle ranch.Chris Cooper biography. Film Reference.com. He has an older brother, Chuck, and grew up, in his words and despite being the son of an educated professional, as a "blue-collar cowpoke" in Houston, Texas and Kansas City. During his time in Kansas City, Cooper performed with The Barn Players, a local community theater that has operated since 1955. He went on to serve in the United States Coast Guard Reserve. He attended Stephens College and the University of Missouri, where he double-majored in the school of Agriculture and the school of Drama. After graduation, Cooper moved to New York City to pursue an acting career.