George Melville Cooper (15 October 1896 – 13 March 1973) was an English actor. His many notable screen roles include the High Sheriff of Nottingham in ''

The Adventures of Robin Hood ''The Adventures of Robin Hood'' is a 1938 American Technicolor swashbuckler film from Warner Bros. Pictures. It was produced by Hal B. Wallis and Henry Blanke, directed by Michael Curtiz and William Keighley, and stars Errol Flynn, Olivia d ...

'' (1938), Mr. Collins in ''

Pride and Prejudice ''Pride and Prejudice'' is an 1813 novel of manners by Jane Austen. The novel follows the character development of Elizabeth Bennet, the dynamic protagonist of the book who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and comes to appreci ...

'' (1940) and the wedding-rehearsal supervisor Mr. Tringle in '' Father of the Bride'' (1950).

Biography

George Melville Cooper was born on 15 October 1896 in

Aston Aston is an area of inner Birmingham, England. Located immediately to the north-east of Central Birmingham, Aston constitutes a ward within the metropolitan authority. It is approximately 1.5 miles from Birmingham City Centre. History Aston wa ...

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the We ...

Warwickshire Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, and the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avo ...

to W.C.J. and Frances (''née'' Brennan) Cooper. He was brought up in Britain and attended public schools, including King Edward's School in Birmingham. He began to develop an interest in acting as a teenager. At the age of eighteen, he made his professional stage debut in a production at

Stratford-upon-Avon Stratford-upon-Avon (), commonly known as just Stratford, is a market town and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district, in the county of Warwickshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It is situated on the River Avon, north-we ...

. His budding acting career was interrupted by his military service in the Scottish regiment during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

, in which he was captured on the

Western Front Western Front or West Front may refer to: Military frontiers * Western Front (World War I), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (World War II), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (Russian Empire), a maj ...

and held prisoner by the Germans for a brief time. After the war, Cooper resumed his stage career, appearing in numerous stage productions, including ''The Farmer's Wife'', ''Back to Methuselah'', ''The Third Finger'' and ''Journey's End''. He transitioned to film work in the early 1930s, appearing in ''Black Coffee'' (1931) with Austin Trevor and Adrianne Allen, Alexander Korda's ''The Private Life of Don Juan'' (1934) with Douglas Fairbanks and Merle Oberon and ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' (1934) with Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon. In 1934, after receiving good reviews for his performance in ''The Private Life of Don Juan'', Cooper moved to the United States. In Hollywood, Cooper was generally cast as a snobbish, ineffectual society type or as a confidence trickster. His more memorable roles in the 1930s include M. W. Picard in ''

The Great Garrick ''The Great Garrick'' is a 1937 American historical comedy film directed by James Whale and starring Brian Aherne, Olivia de Havilland, and Edward Everett Horton. The film also features Lionel Atwill, Luis Alberni, Melville Cooper, and fu ...

'' (1937) with

Olivia de Havilland Dame Olivia Mary de Havilland (; July 1, 1916July 26, 2020) was a British-American actress. The major works of her cinematic career spanned from 1935 to 1988. She appeared in 49 feature films and was one of the leading actresses of her time. ...

, Bingham the butler in ''

Four's a Crowd ''Four's a Crowd'' is a 1938 American romantic comedy film directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Rosalind Russell, and Patric Knowles. It was written by Casey Robinson and Sig Herzig from a story by Wallace Sulli ...

'' (1938) with

Errol Flynn Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (20 June 1909 – 14 October 1959) was an Australian-American actor who achieved worldwide fame during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles, freque ...

and Olivia de Havilland, Boulin in '' Dramatic School'' with Luise Rainer and Paulette Goddard, and the cowardly Sheriff of Nottingham in ''

'' (1938) with Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. During the 1940s, Cooper continued to appear in some of the more popular films of the decade, including Alfred Hitchcock's ''

Rebecca Rebecca, ; Syriac: , ) from the Hebrew (lit., 'connection'), from Semitic root , 'to tie, couple or join', 'to secure', or 'to snare') () appears in the Hebrew Bible as the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau. According to biblical ...

'' (1940) with Joan Fontaine, ''

'' (1940) with Greer Garson, '' The Lady Eve'' (1941) and '' You Belong to Me'' (1941) with

Barbara Stanwyck Barbara Stanwyck (; born Ruby Catherine Stevens; July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American actress, model and dancer. A stage, film, and television star, during her 60-year professional career she was known for her strong, realistic sc ...

and Henry Fonda, '' This Above All'' (1942) with Joan Fontaine, '' Random Harvest'' (1942) with Greer Garson, Henry Hathaway's ''

13 Rue Madeleine ''13 Rue Madeleine'' is a 1947 American World War II spy film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring James Cagney, Annabella, Richard Conte and Frank Latimore. Allied volunteers are trained as spies in the leadup to the invasion of Europe, ...

'' (1947) with

James Cagney James Francis Cagney Jr. (; July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor, dancer and film director. On stage and in film, Cagney was known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing. He ...

and '' The Red Danube'' (1949) with Walter Pidgeon. Cooper also appeared in ''Harvey'', with James Stewart. In the 1950s, he continued to appear in popular feature films, such as '' Father of the Bride'' (1950), ''

It Should Happen to You ''It Should Happen to You'' is a 1954 American romantic comedy film starring Judy Holliday, Peter Lawford and Jack Lemmon; it was Lemmon's first major film appearance. The film was directed by George Cukor, and partly filmed on location in New Y ...

'' (1954), and '' Around the World in 80 Days'' (1956), his second supporting role in an Academy Award winning film. In addition to his film work throughout the decade, Cooper appeared in numerous television series, including ''Musical Comedy Time'' (1950–51), ''

Fireside Theatre ''Fireside Theatre'' (also known as ''Jane Wyman Presents'') is an American anthology drama series that ran on NBC from 1949 to 1958, and was the first successful filmed series on American television. Productions were low-budget and often base ...

'' (1951), ''

Kraft Television Theatre ''Kraft Television Theatre'' is an American anthology drama television series running from 1947 to 1958. It began May 7, 1947 on NBC, airing at 7:30pm on Wednesday evenings until December of that year. It first promoted MacLaren's Imperial Chees ...

'' (1952), '' Robert Montgomery Presents'' (1952–53), ''Broadway Television Theatre'' (1952–53), '' Schlitz Playhouse of Stars'' (1954), ''

Lux Video Theatre ''Lux Video Theatre'' is an American television anthology series that was produced from 1950 until 1957. The series presented both comedy and drama in original teleplays, as well as abridged adaptations of films and plays. Overview The ''Lux Vid ...

'' (1951–55), ''

The Red Skelton Show ''The Red Skelton Show'' is an American television comedy/variety show that aired from 1951 to 1971. In the decade prior to hosting the show, Richard "Red" Skelton had a successful career as a radio and motion pictures star. Although his televi ...

'' (1956), '' Studio 57'' (1957), ''

Playhouse 90 ''Playhouse 90'' was an American television anthology drama series that aired on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. The show was produced at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology drama series of th ...

'' (1957), ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was r ...

'' (1957), '' Shirley Temple's Storybook'' (1958), and '' Whirlybirds'' (1959). Cooper's final television appearance was on ''The Best of the Post'' (1961). Towards the end of his career, Cooper focused on stage work and appeared in such productions as ''Much Ado About Nothing'' (1952), ''Escapade'' (1953), ''My Fair Lady'' (1956–62) and ''Hostile Witness'' (1966). Cooper's final acting role was Brassett in the revival of ''Charley's Aunt'', which closed on 11 July 1970. After a brief first marriage to Gladys Grice that ended in divorce, Cooper married actress Rita Page. Their marriage produced one child and ended with her death in London on 19 December 1954. Cooper's third marriage to Elizabeth Sutherland lasted until his death. Cooper died of cancer on 13 March 1973 in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...

, California. He was buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Filmography

* '' Black Coffee'' (1931) as Inspector Japp * '' The Calendar'' (1931) as Mr. Wayne * '' Wives Beware'' (1932) as Mack * '' To Brighton with Gladys'' (1933) as Slingby * '' Forging Ahead'' (1933) as Smedley * '' Leave It to Me'' (1933) as Honorable Freddie * '' The Private Life of Don Juan'' (1934) as Leporello * '' The Scarlet Pimpernel'' (1934) as Romney * '' The Bishop Misbehaves'' (1935) as Collins * '' Rendezvous'' (1935) as Doorman (uncredited) * ''

The Gorgeous Hussy ''The Gorgeous Hussy'' is a 1936 American period film directed by Clarence Brown, and starring Joan Crawford and Robert Taylor. The screenplay was written by Stephen Morehouse Avery and Ainsworth Morgan, which was based on a 1934 novel by Samue ...

'' (1936) as Cuthbert * '' The Last of Mrs. Cheyney'' (1937) as William * ''

Personal Property property is property that is movable. In common law systems, personal property may also be called chattels or personalty. In civil law systems, personal property is often called movable property or movables—any property that can be moved fr ...

'' (1937) (scenes cut) * '' Thin Ice'' (1937) as Krantz * ''

'' (1937) as M. Picard * '' Tovarich'' (1937) as Charles Dupont * ''

Women Are Like That ''Women Are Like That'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Stanley Logan and written by Horace Jackson. The film stars Kay Francis, Pat O'Brien, Ralph Forbes, Melville Cooper, Thurston Hall and Grant Mitchell. The film was released by ...

'' (1938) as Mainwaring * ''

'' (1938) as High Sheriff of Nottingham * '' Gold Diggers in Paris'' (1938) as Pierre aka Fernand LeBrec * ''

'' (1938) as Bingham * '' Garden of the Moon'' (1938) as Maurice * '' Hard to Get'' (1938) as Case * ''

Comet Over Broadway ''Comet over Broadway'' (1938) is an American film starring Kay Francis and released by Warner Brothers. John Farrow stepped in as director when Busby Berkeley became ill, but Farrow was uncredited on the film. Plot Eve Appleton (Francis), wife ...

'' (1938) as Emerson * '' Dramatic School'' (1938) as Boulin * '' The Dawn Patrol'' (1938) as Sgt. Watkins * '' I'm from Missouri'' (1939) as Hearne * '' Blind Alley'' (1939) as George Curtis * '' The Sun Never Sets'' (1939) as Cosey * ''

Two Bright Boys ''Two Bright Boys'' is a 1939 American drama film directed by Joseph Santley, written by Val Burton and Edmund Hartmann, and starring Jackie Cooper, Freddie Bartholomew, Alan Dinehart, Melville Cooper, Dorothy Peterson and J. M. Kerrigan. It was ...

'' (1939) as Hilary Harrington * ''

Too Many Husbands ''Too Many Husbands'' (released in the United Kingdom as ''My Two Husbands'') is a 1940 American romantic comedy film about a woman who loses her husband in a boating accident and remarries, only to have her first spouse reappear—yet another var ...

'' (1940) as Peter * ''

'' (1940) as Coroner * '' Escape to Glory'' (1940) as Ship's Mate Penney * ''

'' (1940) as Mr. Collins * ''

Murder Over New York ''Murder Over New York'' is a 1940 American mystery film directed by Harry Lachman and starring Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan. The cast also features Marjorie Weaver, Robert Lowery and Ricardo Cortez.Backer p.128-29 Chan must solve a murder myst ...

'' (1940) as Herbert Fenton * '' The Lady Eve'' (1941) as Gerald * ''

Scotland Yard Scotland Yard (officially New Scotland Yard) is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, the territorial police force responsible for policing Greater London's 32 boroughs, but not the City of London, the square mile that forms London's ...

'' (1941) as Dr. Crownfield * '' The Flame of New Orleans'' (1941) as Brother-in-Law * '' You Belong to Me'' (1941) as Moody * '' This Above All'' (1942) as Wilbur * ''

The Affairs of Martha ''The Affairs of Martha'', also known as ''Once Upon a Thursday'', is a 1942 American romantic comedy film directed by Jules Dassin and written by Isobel Lennart based on her story. It stars Marsha Hunt and Richard Carlson. Plot The peace and ...

'' (1942) as Dr. Clarence Sommerfield * '' Life Begins at Eight-Thirty'' (1942) as Barty * '' Random Harvest'' (1942) as George * ''

Immortal Sergeant ''Immortal Sergeant'' is a 1943 American war film directed by John M. Stahl for 20th Century Fox. Set in the North African desert during World War II, it stars Henry Fonda as a corporal lacking in confidence in both love and war, Maureen O'Hara ...

'' (1943) as Pilcher * '' Hit Parade of 1943'' (1943) as Bradley Cole * '' Holy Matrimony'' (1943) as Dr. Caswell *''

My Kingdom for a Cook ''My Kingdom for a Cook'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Richard Wallace, which stars Charles Coburn, Marguerite Chapman, and Bill Carter. Synopsis A visiting British emissary on a goodwill tour of the United States struggles to r ...

'' (1943) as Angus Sheffield (uncredited) * ''

'' (1946) as Pappy Simpson * '' Heartbeat'' (1946) as Roland Latour * '' The Imperfect Lady'' (1947) as Lord Montglyn * '' Enchantment'' (1948) as Jones, the Jeweler * '' The Red Danube'' (1949) as Private David Moonlight * '' Love Happy'' (1949) as Throckmorton * '' And Baby Makes Three'' (1949) as Gibson, Fletcher's Butler * '' Father of the Bride'' (1950) as Mr. Tringle * ''

The Underworld Story ''The Underworld Story'' is a 1950 American film noir crime film directed by Cy Endfield and starring Dan Duryea, Herbert Marshall, Gale Storm, Howard Da Silva and Michael O'Shea. Da Silva plays the loud-mouthed gangster Carl Durham, one of his ...

'' (1950) as Maj. Redford * ''

The Petty Girl ''The Petty Girl'' (1950), known in the UK as ''Girl of the Year'', is a musical romantic comedy Technicolor film starring Robert Cummings and Joan Caulfield. Cummings portrays painter George Petty who falls for Victoria Braymore (Caulfield), th ...

'' (1950) as Beardsley * '' Let's Dance'' (1950) as Charles Wagstaffe * ''

'' (1954) as Guest Panelist #4 * '' Moonfleet'' (1955) as Felix Ratsey * '' The King's Thief'' (1955) as Henry Wynch * '' Diane'' (1956) as 1st Court Physician * '' Around the World in 80 Days'' (1956) as Mr. Talley - Steward R.M.S 'Mongolia' * ''

Bundle of Joy ''Bundle of Joy'' is a 1956 Technicolor musical remake of the comedy film ''Bachelor Mother'' (1939), which starred Ginger Rogers and David Niven. It stars Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds (who were married in real-life at the time), and Adolphe ...

'' (1956) as Adams, the Butler * ''

The Story of Mankind ''The Story of Mankind'' is a book written and illustrated by Dutch-American journalist, professor, and author Hendrik Willem van Loon. It was published in 1921. In 1922, it was awarded the Newbery Medal for an outstanding contribution to children ...

'' (1957) as Major Domo * '' From the Earth to the Moon'' (1958) as Bancroft

Radio appearances

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, Melville Deaths from cancer in California English male film actors English male stage actors English male television actors People from Birmingham, West Midlands 1896 births 1973 deaths 20th-century English male actors English expatriates in the United States Burials at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery British expatriate male actors in the United States British Army personnel of World War I Seaforth Highlanders officers British World War I prisoners of war World War I prisoners of war held by Germany