Cooper Hoffman

Cooper Hoffman
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Name:
Cooper Hoffman
Real name:
Cooper Alexander Hoffman
Who is:
Birth date:
(22 y.o.)
Place of birth:
New York
Height:
5'10 ft ()
Relationship:
single
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Cooper Hoffman Biography

Cooper Hoffman is a young actor who, at just 22, has proven to Hollywood that talent isn't just about genetics. The son of legendary Philip Seymour Hoffman could've simply coasted on his father's legacy, but instead chose the harder path of building his own name. Cooper's first major role was Raymond Garraty in the adaptation of Stephen King's novel The Long Walk.
Actor Cooper Hoffman in a tuxedo and bow tie
Cooper Hoffman
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Childhood and Family

Cooper was born on March 20, 2003, into a creative family. His dad was Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, and his mom, Mimi O'Donnell, is a talented costume designer and theater artist. Their New York apartment was a constant hub for actors, directors, and creative minds. Cooper has two younger sisters, Tallulah and Willa.

On February 2, 2014, 10-year-old Cooper's world shattered. His father died from an overdose. The actor had battled addiction for years but ultimately lost the fight. In his will, Philip wrote that he wanted his son to stay far from Hollywood's chaos—he feared Cooper might follow the same path. The tragedy changed the boy forever, but it didn't break him.

Growing up, Cooper never considered acting. He participated in school plays as a stagehand, hiding behind the curtains, and when the whole cast came out for bows, he'd hide in the bathroom out of embarrassment. But he loved making short films with friends, especially with Jack Anderson, son of director Paul Thomas Anderson, who would later play a pivotal role in Cooper's life.
Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman and his young son Cooper Hoffman in the sports stadium stands
Cooper Hoffman as a child with his father Philip Seymour Hoffman
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Cooper attended the prestigious Phelps School, where he eventually got drawn into acting. He then enrolled at New York University to study film and theater. But after landing his first major role, he realized something: theory is one thing, practice is another. So he dropped out of acting school halfway through, deciding that film sets would teach him more than classrooms ever could.

Acting Career

Director Paul Thomas Anderson, a family friend who'd known Cooper since he was a baby, was searching for his lead in "Licorice Pizza." He'd auditioned tons of professionals, but nothing clicked. Then he remembered his friend's son.

He called Cooper: "Want to read the script?" Cooper initially thought it was some kind of joke, but he agreed. And the moment he started reading opposite Alana Haim, he knew – this was his thing. "I fell in love with the script," he recalled later.

Something almost mystical happened on the "Licorice Pizza" set. Cooper felt an incredible closeness to his father. No surprise there – Philip had starred in five Anderson films, and now his son was debuting with the same director.
Young Cooper Hoffman in a brown corduroy jacket stands with his arms spread wide
Cooper Hoffman in "Licorice Pizza"
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The role of Gary Valentine, a charming '70s teenager who falls for an older woman, earned 18-year-old Cooper a Golden Globe nomination and critical acclaim. But success didn't go to his head. "I thought I was cool, and then I got hit by a truck of insecurity," the actor admitted honestly.

Next came "Wildcat" with Ethan Hawke, a biographical story about writer Flannery O'Connor. Cooper played Bible salesman Manley Pointer and proved he could handle drama just as well as comedy.

In 2024, he appeared in Jason Reitman's "Saturday Night," a film about the birth of the legendary SNL show. The role of Dick Ebersol gave Hoffman a chance to work with a large ensemble cast and gain more experience.

In 2025, Cooper took a bold leap – his theater debut. In the off-Broadway production of Sam Shepard's "Curse of the Starving Class," he had to perform nude. "Turns out that's the easiest part of the show! The nudity does all the work for you," he joked.
Cooper Hoffman sits on a high stool in a pool of light
Cooper Hoffman on stage
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Cooper Hoffman's Personal Life

Cooper's an introvert by nature. He keeps his personal life private and barely posts on social media. He'd rather develop as an actor than as a media personality.

He's a sports fanatic – plays himself and roots for his favorite teams. In college, he was constantly playing ball with friends.

His father's memory holds a special place in his life. Cooper doesn't run from this painful subject – instead, he channels it into his work. When he was cast in "The Long Walk," where his character also loses his father, he said:
When your trauma is out there for everyone to see, there's no point in hiding it. It's better to talk about it or put it into something. Otherwise it's unfair to those who've been through the same thing.
Cooper Hoffman

Cooper Hoffman Now

2025 has been a big year for Cooper Hoffman. September brought the release of Francis Lawrence's "The Long Walk," an adaptation of Stephen King's brutal dystopian novel. The story follows dozens of teenagers competing in a deadly contest where only the winner survives. They must keep walking forward, and anyone who stumbles or stops gets killed immediately.

That same year, the Toronto International Film Festival premiered "Poetic License," the directorial debut of Maude Apatow, daughter of renowned filmmaker Judd Apatow. Critics raved about Cooper's performance.
David Jonsson holds upset Cooper Hoffman by his jacket
Cooper Hoffman in The Long Walk
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Up next, he's set to shoot "The Chaperones" for A24, reuniting him with David Jonsson from "The Long Walk." The film follows a drug dealer and his friends as they drive a troubled teen across America.

Also on his slate: the psychedelic thriller "I Want Your Sex" from Gregg Araki, starring Olivia Wilde, and the Amazon project "Artificial."