Chuck Cooper ’72

11

“It means I guess I wasn’t a total self-centered egotistical selfish wanna be actor.”

“Gratitude is the grease that helps you slide through life.”

In college, Chuck met a theater professor during freshman orientation who made a tremendous impact. Chuck shared that he wanted to do something fun and the teacher told him to try the freshman theater tract. While Chuck’s favorite life-time role may be being the father of three, he is an award winning actor who has been featured in more than a dozen Broadway shows across every theatrical genre from Shakespeare to musical comedy with numerous television and film credits to boot. Chuck made his Broadway debut in 1983 in the musical Amen Corner, playing the role of Brother Boxer. He was an understudy in the original casts of his next three shows: Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (eventually taking over the role of Adam, one of the three leads), Passion and Getting Away with Murder. Chuck earned his Tony Award for his performance as the pimp Memphis in the 1997 Broadway production of the musical The Life by Cy Coleman. More recently, Chuck appeared on Broadway as the slave Thomas in the musical Amazing Grace about John Newton, the redeemed slave-trader who wrote the hymn Amazing Grace. Chuck’s television appearances include Law & Order, NYPD Blue, Cosby, The Bold and the Beautiful, Bull, The Good Wife, House of Cards, Madam Secretary, Gossip Girl, Nurse Jackie, and Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight. Chuck’s film credits, include Boy Wonder, American Gangster, Three Days of Rain, Gloria, The Peacemaker, The Juror and The Hurricane.

Education

Bachelors of Arts, Ohio University

Current Occupation

Actor

Achievements
  • Father of three: Eddie, Alex, Lilli 
  • Married to playwright Deborah Brevoort
  • Featured actor in 16 Broadway shows 
  • Guest star on many TV shows 
  • Ohio University distinguished alumni
  • 1997 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Memphis in Cy Coleman’s The Life