The Scandalous Life of American Hero, Gary Cooper

This article appeared in simplyurbans.com and has been published here with permission.

Gary Cooper, the iconic Hollywood actor, was celebrated for his good looks and natural acting style. He won two Academy Awards for Best Actor and starred in memorable films like High Noon and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. However, behind the glamor of his Hollywood career was a not-so-glamorous personal life. Let's take a trip into the scandalous life of this legendary actor.

The Beginning

Gary Cooper was born Frank James Cooper on May 7th, 1901, in Helena, Montana. His parents were Alice and Charles Cooper. Charles was a lawyer who served in Montana. Despite his respectable profession, the family struggled financially.

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They moved several times during Cooper's childhood, trying to find work and stability. Despite the challenges, Cooper had a close relationship with his parents and often spoke fondly of them in interviews.

British Parents

Gary Cooper's parents, Charles and Alice Cooper, were born in England. Charles immigrated to the United States as a child and later settled in Montana.

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Alice came to the United States with her family when she was a teenager and eventually met and married Charles in Montana. In 1906, Charles purchased the Seven-Bar-Nine cattle ranch, a sprawling property located some miles north of Helena near Craig, Montana.

His Brother

His younger brother, Arthur, was born in 1907. The two were close growing up, and Arthur often accompanied Gary on his adventures on their family's cattle ranch.

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Cooper spent much of his childhood on the ranch, where he developed a love for the outdoors and horses. He learned to ride at a young age and even competed in rodeos as a teenager. The ranch gave the Cooper family stability and served as Gary's playground and classroom.

An Education in England

Alice was determined to give her sons a proper English education like hers. So in 1909, she took Gary and his younger brother Arthur back to England, where they enrolled in school.

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Gary studied Latin, French, and English history until 1912, adapting well to the strict school discipline but disliking the formal clothing he was required to wear. Alice then took her sons back to the United States, where Cooper resumed his education at Johnson Grammar School in Montana.