Jeff Coopwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeff Coopwood
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| Born | June 29, 1958 |
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| Years active | 1977–present |
Jeff Coopwood is an American actor, singer, broadcaster, and educator. He was born on June 29, 1958. He is well-known for his voice acting in popular movies and video games, including the Star Wars and Star Trek series.
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Early Life and School Days
Jeff Coopwood was born in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in Miami, Florida. His parents were both involved in media. His mother, Louise Riley, was a gospel radio host and talk show host. She was also an actress, model, and editor. His father, Jesse Coopwood, was a famous jazz and talk radio host in Gary, Indiana.
Jeff went to high school in Miami. In his final year, he was named "Best Actor" in Florida. He was also a top student in speech and debate. He won state championships three times. He was a national finalist twice.
After high school, Jeff went to the University of Miami. He earned a degree in theatre. While studying, he also sang with the Greater Miami Opera. He performed with many famous singers like Luciano Pavarotti and Plácido Domingo.
Jeff Coopwood's Career Journey
After college, Jeff joined the national tour of the Broadway show "Timbuktu!" He performed alongside the legendary Eartha Kitt. He then starred in many stage productions across the United States and Canada.
Teaching and Coaching
Jeff also spent time teaching and coaching. He taught speech and debate at many universities. These included Harvard University, Northwestern University, and the University of Pennsylvania. His students won many championships. He was even named National Coach of the Year twice.
Television Host
Later, Jeff returned to Chicago. He became the first host of the TV game show "$100,000 Fortune Hunt." He also hosted "Know Your Heritage." Both shows were shown across the country, especially on WGN-TV.
He then moved to Los Angeles. There, he studied broadcast journalism and TV production at the University of California, Los Angeles. He also earned a master's degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills. He often hosts events for his old university.
Voice Acting in Famous Franchises
Jeff Coopwood is known for his voice-over work. He has lent his voice to many TV shows and movies. He was nominated for an Emmy award for his voice work in the TV movie "Percy & Thunder."
He is one of the few actors who has worked on both the Star Wars and Star Trek series. In the movie Star Trek: First Contact, he voiced the Borg. His voice was used for the famous line, "Resistance is futile." His voice was layered many times to create the unique Borg sound.
He also voiced Captain Panaka in four Star Wars video games. These include Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace and Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds. He also narrated the game Star Wars: Episode I: Battle for Naboo.
Music Album
In 2020, Jeff Coopwood released his own music album. It is called "Jeff Coopwood on Broadway."
