Ben Cooper facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ben Cooper
Cooper in 1954
Born	(1933-09-30)September 30, 1933 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	February 24, 2020(2020-02-24) (aged 86) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Alma mater	Columbia University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1939–1995
Spouse(s)	Pamela R. Cooper ​ ​ (m. 1960; died 2008)​
Children	2

Ben Cooper (born September 30, 1933 – died February 24, 2020) was an American actor. He starred in many movies and TV shows. He was especially known for his roles in Westerns, earning a special award called the Golden Boot Award in 2005.

Early Acting Career

On Stage

Ben Cooper started acting on Broadway when he was very young. His first play was Life With Father in 1939. He was only 9 years old when he first played the character Harlan. As he grew taller, he later played a different character, Whitney, in the same play. His time on stage ended in 1943.

On the Radio

Before television became popular, many stories were told on the radio. Ben Cooper was a busy actor during this time. He acted in 34 different radio shows. Many of these were "soap operas," which are long-running stories with many episodes.

Film and Television Roles

First Screen Appearances

Ben Cooper first appeared on screen when he was 18 years old. This was in 1952 and 1953 on a TV show called Armstrong Circle Theatre. He then acted in several movies for Republic Pictures. Some of these films include Thunderbirds, Johnny Guitar, and The Rose Tattoo.

Western TV Shows

Cooper became very well known for his roles in Western television shows. He appeared in many popular series. In 1956, he played Clint Harding in an episode of Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre. He also appeared in:

• Tales of Wells Fargo
• Wagon Train
• Gunsmoke
• Bonanza
• Rawhide

He even tried out for a main role in The Virginian in 1962, but he didn't get the part.

Other TV Roles

Besides Westerns, Ben Cooper also appeared in other types of TV shows. He was in several episodes of the detective show Perry Mason. He played different characters in this series between 1961 and 1965.

Personal Life

Ben Cooper was born in Hartford, Connecticut. Later, he lived in the Greater Los Angeles Area in California. He also served in the US Army.

In 2017, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee, to be closer to his family. He passed away there on February 24, 2020, at the age of 86. He had two daughters with his wife, Pamela R. Cooper, who passed away before him.

A Cowboy's Thoughts

Ben Cooper once shared how much he loved acting in Westerns. He said:

They let me play cowboy, and they paid me [for it]. I’d ridden horses, I got my own horse when I was 12. I used to jump him bareback. I didn’t know they had stuntmen; I’d watch a movie and then practice on my horse until I could do [the stunt.]

This quote shows how much he enjoyed his work and how he learned to do his own stunts.

Filmography

Movies Ben Cooper Appeared In

Television Shows Ben Cooper Appeared In

Ben Cooper was a popular actor in many TV Westerns. He also appeared in pilot episodes for new shows. Here are some of the TV shows he was in: