For a play about social perceptions of physical ugliness, this williamstown theater festival production of bernard pomerances tony awardwinning 1979 drama the elephant man is breathtakingly. Bradley cooper scored two boxoffice successes over the christmas weekend with the broadway revival of the elephant man and the limited release of his latest movie, american sniper. The actor delivered a carefully crafted performance that felt as emotionally devastating as it was physically transformative. Bradley cooper plays the title character in the upcoming broadway revival, the elephant man, a story that inspired the twotime oscar nominee to become an actor, he revealed tuesday. Nov 02, 2014 bradley cooper is set to play the title role in a broadway revival of the elephant man, a character he has identified with since he saw a movie version at 12. Since then, bradley cooper has become one of the biggest stars in hollywood. Bradley coopers three consecutive oscarnominations put. On screen, bradley cooper stars in the new movie american sniper. Bradley charles cooper born january 5, 1975 is an american actor and filmmaker. You know i always sort of talk about to myself at least, or to my friends.
Bradley cooper transformed by the elephant man cbs news. Jul 22, 2012 bradley cooper will be the latest in a line of handsome actors playing the disfigured elephant man onstage when he opens in the role in williamstown, mass. Bradley cooper on what inspired him to become an actor. Actor bradley cooper credits watching the movie with his father as a child as his inspiration to become an actor. His performance drew praise from critics, and earned him a nomination for the tony award for best actor in a play. He was first exhibited at a freak show as the elephant man, and then went to live at the london hospital after he met frederick treves, subsequently becoming well known in london society.
Bradley cooper, left, and alessandro nivola in the elephant man, directed by scott ellis, at the booth theater. Heres a look at the tragic real life that inspired the. May 31, 2015 cooper, a fine actor, also makes you believe in the romantic sensibility that existed inside merricks distorted frame. As bradley cooper plays him on broadway, we look back at merricks life of pain and bravery. Bradley cooper plays the elephant man without makeup and it is the most impressive piece of acting that i have ever seen. Bradley cooper talks elephant man, american sniper cbs news. The elephant man is a 1980 britishamerican historical drama film about joseph merrick whom the script calls john merrick. Twotime oscar nominee bradley cooper transforms so methodically into the disfigured joseph merrick at the start of the elephant man, now in the midst of a. Bradley cooper is set to play the title role in a broadway revival of the elephant man, a character he has identified with since he saw a movie. Bradley cooper takes on the elephant man the new york times. Bradley cooper, the elephant mancooper brought to life a longheld dream to play bernard pomerances deformed hero john merrick.
It premiered at the hampstead theatre in london on 7 november 1977. Nov 08, 2019 the upcoming elephant man movie is a true passion project. The elephant man is back on broadway, and no one could be more thrilled than the revivals leading man, bradley cooper. Bradley cooper plays john merrick, a case study of deformity in victorian england. The show nabbed the tony for best play, and in 1984, a tv movie based on the drama aired on. On stage, hes the lead in a revival of the elephant man. Cooper stars in the revival of bernard pomerances tony awardwinning drama. Bradley cooper is known for his blockbuster movie roles, like those in the hangover, silver linings playbook and american hustle.
Bradley cooper joins the elephant man the new york times. The upcoming elephant man movie is a true passion project. Bradley cooper on his elephant man transformation for. Bradley cooper attends the elephant man broadway cast photo call at sardis on october 21, 2014 in new york city. Bradley cooper on how he brought american sniper to the screen and the elephant man to broadway. Nov 19, 2014 bradley cooperin the role that inspired him to become an actorleads an ensemble production of the elephant man on broadway extreme beauty and extreme ugliness have a similar effect on us. Joan marcusap as a meditation on disability its a lot more sophisticated than. Bradley cooper is coming off a string of celebrated film performances, but here he takes on the latest revival of the elephant man, about john merrick, a 19thcentury man deformed by disease and. Cooper talks to cbs this morning cohost charlie rose about his. Bradley cooper is set to play the title role in a broadway revival of the elephant man, a character he has identified with since he saw a movie version at 12.
Jun 07, 2015 familiarity with the story of the elephant man helps, but the eagerness has most to do with bradley cooper. But for much of the audience, the reference might as well be to the guy people magazine once crowned the sexiest man alive, the movie star. Bradley cooper in the elephant man on broadway the new. Bradley cooper will be the latest in a line of handsome actors playing the disfigured elephant man onstage when he opens in the role in williamstown, mass. Bradley cooper, foreground, and alessandro nivola in the elephant man.
Cooper returned to stage work for a 2014 broadway production of the elephant man, where he played the severely deformed joseph merrick. Feb 27, 2015 bradley cooper transformsintothe elephant man. Oct 21, 2014 bradley cooper plays the title character in the upcoming broadway revival, the elephant man, a story that inspired the twotime oscar nominee to become an actor, he revealed tuesday. Bradley cooper in the elephant man what the critics said.
Bradley cooper makes a case as the best elephant man yet. Dec 08, 2014 bradley cooper plays the title role in a sturdy broadway revival of the elephant man, at the booth theater. Bradley cooperin the role that inspired him to become an actorleads an ensemble production of the elephant man on broadway. Bradley cooper in the elephant man offers gorgeous along with. Nov 24, 2014 in the first conversations with jeremy gerard, bradley cooper talks acting in american sniper on screen and elephant man on broadway. In one of his most legendary films, director david lynch chronicles the intense emotional journey of a complex, lonely man and the dedicated. Bradley cooper, peoples sexiest man alive in 2011, will take on one of actings most unflattering roles, in the williamstown theater festivals revival of the elephant man. A few weeks go, bradley cooper told me that seeing john hurts oscarnominated performance in the film the elephant man inspired him to become an. The story of john merrick philip anglim, the elephant man, and of his triumph over his terrible affliction.
Bradley coopers elephant man, american sniper score at. Dec 06, 2014 twotime oscar nominee bradley cooper transforms so methodically into the disfigured joseph merrick at the start of the elephant man, now in the midst of a limited engagement at the booth. On 60 minutes, bradley cooper talked with steve kroft about his transformation into joseph merrick in the elephant man on broadway. His career has been skyrocketing since the smash hit comedy the hangover.
Bradley cooperin the role that inspired him to become an actorleads an ensemble production of the elephant man on broadway extreme beauty and extreme ugliness have a. It was shot in blackandwhite and featured makeup work by christopher tucker. Joseph carey merrick 5 august 1862 11 april 1890, often erroneously called john merrick, was an english man with severe deformities. New york stepping as far away from hollywood hunk roles as he could possibly go, bradley cooper has signed on to play john merrick. But next month, hell be appearing in a new role as the. Everything seems to be going extremely well for bradley cooper.
Cooper, a fine actor, also makes you believe in the romantic sensibility that existed inside merricks distorted frame. Bradley cooper returns to elephant man role hollywood. Bradley cooper talks elephant man, american sniper. Bradley cooper on how he brought american sniper to the.
Everything was put in perspective the elephant man is the story of joseph merrick, an englishman with a rare disease that distorted his face and body. Oct 17, 2014 bradley cooper and jimmy fallon played an intense game of egg russian roulette during the tonight show on friday, oct. Familiarity with the story of the elephant man helps, but the eagerness has most to do with bradley cooper. If youve only seen him as the smoothly confident star of films such as the hangover and silver linings playbook, get ready to see a stage actor. Bradley was promoting his broadway return in the elephant man, and you can watch the interview below.
Broadway plays plays and musicals about disability cultural depictions of joseph merrick british plays adapted into films plays based on. Bradley cooper is coming off a string of celebrated film performances, but here he takes on the latest revival of the elephant man, about john. Bradley cooper in the elephant man what the critics said stage. The play calls for no prosthetic makeup on the actor portraying merrick. Heres a look at the tragic real life that inspired the elephant man. Three consecutive oscar nominations put cooper in the company of actors like marlon brando and jack nicholson, but five years ago you may not have recognized his name. Bradley cooper in the elephant man on broadway the new york. New elephant man film in the works from black swan producers.
Bradley cooper, speaking of the film stated, it was the reason i wanted to become an actor, because of david lynchs movie, according to news24 bradley cooper would even go on to play. Jun 01, 2015 bradley cooper has followed in the footsteps of john hurt, david bowie and mark hamill by taking on the lead role in the elephant man but unlike hurt, he has done so without prosthetics. Dec 08, 2014 bradley cooper, foreground, and alessandro nivola in the elephant man. The elephant man 1010 movie clip i am a human being. Dec 29, 2014 bradley cooper scored two boxoffice successes over the christmas weekend with the broadway revival of the elephant man and the limited release of his latest movie, american sniper. A 2014 revival, starring bradley cooper, patricia clarkson, and alessandro nivola. The star of american sniper would get a crowd if he were opening in french without tears. Subsequent productions starred actors including philip anglim, david bowie, mark hamill, bruce davison, and bradley cooper. Bradley coopers transformation into elephant man video. Have you seen the play, american sniper or david lynchs movie about merrick. Jun 21, 2019 heres a look at the tragic real life that inspired the elephant man. Email serena altschul catches up with cooper and finds out why the elephant man is the role of a lifetime. For a play about social perceptions of physical ugliness, this williamstown theater festival. This is the third broadway production of the elephant man the last was in 2002, and it surely wouldnt be back if bradley cooper peoples former sexiest man alive, star of silver linings.
Bradley coopers elephant man, american sniper score. Extreme beauty and extreme ugliness have a similar effect on us. Sandy kenyon, bradley cooper talk the elephant man on. It later played in repertory at the national theatre in london. Bradley cooper owns the elephant man on broadway, critics say.
Unlike john hurt in director david lynchs 1980 movie about the life of joseph john merrick, actors playing the real. Bradley coopers elephant man broadway play is the best of. Bradley cooper takes on the elephant man the new york. In the first conversations with jeremy gerard, bradley cooper talks acting in american sniper on screen and elephant man on broadway. Dec 08, 2014 a few weeks go, bradley cooper told me that seeing john hurts oscarnominated performance in the film the elephant man inspired him to become an actor. He has been nominated for many awards, including eight academy awards and a tony award, and has won two grammy awards and a bafta award. Joan marcusap as a meditation on disability its a lot more sophisticated than whats on offer just up the. Nov 02, 2014 bradley cooper transformed by the elephant man. It ran offbroadway from 14 january to 18 march 1979, at the theatre at st. With cooper in the lead, the play takes on new meaning, teaching us what its like to be a movie star in ways e. Critics have praised bradley coopers portrayal of joseph merrick in the elephant man, while some express reservations about the production. Bradley cooper plays the physically deformed outcast embraced by victorian london society in bernard pomerances biodrama, which costars patricia clarkson and alessandro nivola. Bradley cooper has followed in the footsteps of john hurt, david bowie and mark hamill by taking on the lead role in the elephant man but unlike hurt, he has done so without prosthetics. It is here and throughout that bradley coopers talent for living in the moment comes to life, elevating the elephant man to unimagined heights of artistry.