A 122-day Marriage, the insecurity that almost led Bradley Cooper to Suicide, and the Death of his father in His Arms
He confessed that he abused drugs because of his low self-esteem, but after managing to rescue himself from that hell he became a key figure in the rehabilitation of other Hollywood stars.
Having become one of the most internationally recognized actors, Bradley Cooper celebrated his 46th birthday on January 5 in a year that he hopes will be much better than the one he has just said goodbye to, like the entire world of cinema, which has been one of the areas most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Just one day before his daughter's mother, Irina Shayk, the Philadelphia-born actor celebrated his birthday at a stage in his life in which his daughter Lea De Seine has become the driving force behind the importance of his days. Although his directorial debut in A Star is Born has brought him more than one joy, the truth is that his undeniable chemistry with Lady Gaga ended up costing him his relationship with the Russian top model. In addition to his facet as a director, Cooper was also one of the producers of Joker (2019), a true big-screen phenomenon that managed to raise more than 1,063 million dollars, becoming one of the highest-grossing films in history.
With a lot of effort and years of personal struggles, Cooper rose to the top. After “A Star Is Born”, it would be impossible to think that anyone would underestimate him again in Hollywood. The greatest of the seventh art wants him in his films and the studios pay anything for him, making him one of the best-paid actors of his generation at the moment. But he takes nothing for granted. He knows firsthand the industry that nearly brought him down in his early days. Four times nominated for the Oscars, and even without the coveted golden statuette, he admitted that he was embarrassed when the Academy did not recognize him in his directorial debut: "I felt that I had not done my job."
After several years in an ascending career, Cooper can boast of calling Robert De Niro “father” after collaborating with him on four films, being friends with movie legend Clint Eastwood, and having an avowed admirer in Sean Penn.
On the brink of suicide
Even though he is currently recognized by both his peers and the public, the road was not easy for him: he had to face several obstacles to succeed in shining in Hollywood. Although he is reluctant to talk about personal issues, Cooper revealed that his low self-esteem led him to consume alcohol and drugs during his early years in Hollywood. “I was so worried about what others would think of me, how I would present myself to the world, how I would survive my day-to-day. I always felt like a stranger. I only lived inside my head. I thought I wasn't going to live up to my potential and it scared me,” he confessed to The Hollywood Reporter in 2012.
That insecurity pushed him to excesses. It happened when they were filming the series "Alias" a decade ago. “There comes a point where you accept the fact that the industry doesn't like you,” explained Cooper, who rose to fame after the smash hit comedy “What Happened Yesterday” in 2009. Speaking to The magazine about his time on the show, he explained that his frustration came when his role was reduced: “I only worked three days a week and by the second season I was even more marginalized. He destroyed my self-esteem and made me think about committing suicide, ”he confessed. That crisis coincided with his departure from the series.
He fell into a destructive spiral of drugs and alcohol that seemed to have no end. "It was a difficult time," the actor acknowledged on more than one occasion. "If I continued to use it, I was going to sabotage my entire life." He decided to quit after being involved in a drunken incident. "I was at a party and I deliberately slammed my head into the ground, as if trying to show that I was a tough guy," he told the Hollywood Reporter. After that moment, the interpreter decided to stay sober and learned a lesson that keeps him safe today: "One of the things I've learned in life is that you have to understand who you are to the maximum of its consequences, and then what has to happen, happens”.
An unconditional friend in Hollywood
The last actor who has revealed that Bradley Cooper has been with him in the most difficult moments has been Ben Affleck. In one of his last television interviews in which he talked about his dependence on alcohol and his painful divorce from the actress Jennifer Garner, Affleck revealed that both Cooper and Robert Downey Jr. have been by his side: "Bradley and Robert have been a lot of help for me. They are wonderful men."
The star and director of “Argo” stated: “One of the things about recovery that I think people sometimes overlook is the fact that it instills certain values. To be honest. To be responsible. Help others". This is what Cooper did with him, who after confessing to being sober since 2013, has become the support of his friends in Hollywood.
Last year, Brad Pitt revealed that Cooper helped him through his alcoholism rehab and was a key figure in his recovery. Like Affleck, the recent Oscar winner for his role in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" has dedicated himself in recent months to talking about his addiction and his divorce from Angelina Jolie. During the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures awards gala, held in New York, Cooper presented an award to Pitt and when the latter took the stage he dedicated some heartfelt words to his colleague: "Today I am sober thanks to this man and, since I did, my days have been much happier. I love you and I thank you for it."
In his speech, he highlighted that the actor from “The bright side of Things” went as fast as he could to the event because he had to attend to his family obligations first: “Bradley just put his daughter to bed and ran here to give me the award. He is a great father and a great person.” The actors embraced each other, a sign of the great friendship that unites them.
His father died in his arms
Cooper revealed that his father Charles died in his arms in January 2011 after a battle with lung cancer: The same day he finished shooting the second installment of the comedy "What Happened Yesterday?" in Thailand, the actor returned to his house to take care of him, since the end was near. Two weeks later, he was holding him in his arms when he drew his last breath from him. Nothing was the same again. “It's a new reality,” he said of life after that devastating loss. “Everything, everything… it's not just one thing, it's a whole new world. And it was at that moment, not months later. As soon as he breathed out for the last time and held him in his arms, he changed everything ”.
The death of his father prompted him to actively participate in an organization that helps families of cancer patients to cover the high costs of treatment against the disease. In an emotional speech in April 2016, the three-time Oscar nominee noted that even though he was able to drop everything to take care of it, the process was "just overwhelming, stressful, complex and exhausting."
“I can't imagine how difficult it is for those patients and their families who are less fortunate than me and simply can't afford treatment,” he said. "My hope is that one day all people fighting cancer will receive the support they need to maintain their quality of life, from the moment of diagnosis to the end of treatment, regardless of their financial situation or status."
Since the movie star was accompanied by his mother Gloria, a former NBC television presenter, to the Oscars ceremony, the excellent relationship that unites them was evident. But what no one suspected is that both have lived together since Bradley's father passed away and they decided to be closer to support each other to overcome the pain. “We were very close and his death was a blow to both of us. We need each other, so here we are, ”he confessed. About her living together, he said: “Let's face it, it's probably not easy for her to live with her child. This is life".
