Gary Cooper was born Frank James Cooper on May 7, 1901 in Helena, Montana. He was the son of an American mother and an English attorney father, who later became a State Supreme Court Judge. As a child Gary lived in England for several years, but returned to the United States and his family's Montana ranch when the U.S. entered World War I. He attended college in Iowa for two years before making his way to California. Gary's first studio job was with Fox Western Studios who hired him as a " rider ". Lore has it that he changed his first name at the suggestion of a friend who had been raised in Indiana. She told him there were too many Frank Coopers in films, and suggested " Gary " after the city in Indiana, a name she always found pleasant.
Gary made a strong impression in Hollywood after he appeared in the movie " Wings " and shortly thereafter he came to co-star with Nancy Carroll in the movie " The Shopworn Angel ". He also made a guest appearance in " Paramount on Parade ", as did Nancy.
Gary Cooper and the word " Yup " became synonymous, as his career continued to grow. Gary once said " Yup is a convenient word and I've learned people don't expect too much from a man with a one-word vocabulary. And now that I think of it, it's come in handy because when people ask me personal questions they don't expect an answer."
Gary did not think he was a particularly great actor, but directors found him to have excellent timing and wit, and furthermore he could quickly capture the heart of the character.
Gary Cooper was best known for portraying Roberto in " For Whom The Bell Tolls" and for his Oscar winning performances as Sergeant York in " Sergeant York " and the Sheriff in " High Noon ".
Gary Cooper married Veronica Balfe (actress Sandra Shaw) in 1933,
and they had one daughter, Maria. At one time Gary Cooper was the highest paid actor in Hollywood and had the distinction of playing leading roles for 35 years. His last film was " The Naked Edge " in which he portrayed a murderer. He died May 13, 1961. A funeral service was held for him at the Good Shepherd R.C. Church in Beverly Hills, where he worshiped after becoming a Roman Catholic in 1959.
To learn more about Gary Cooper's films and to see some great photos, why not visit Elizabeth's Reel Classics ~ Gary Cooper or stop by this Classic Movie site The Golden Years to learn more about his life and to access extensive information about his career.