May 7, 1901 – May 13, 1961
Coop had a long, long lengthy career that was admired by many.
He was nominated for 5 Academy Awards and won two.
If you were to write down a list of his lovers on a sheet of loose leaf paper, the list would be over a foot schlong, such the man-slut he was.
Patricia Neal, Lupe Velez, Clara Bow, Marlene Dietrich, Grace “the mattress” Kelly…
When he and Lupe were doing the do, they were (I’m not kidding) living in the Happy Days house.
Lupe: “He has the biggest organ in Hollywood but not the ass to push it in.”
A great Gary Cooper resource.
At the end of his life, Gary Cooper was living in this home in Bel Air.
A mid-century masturbation fantasy.
In 1960 Cooper had surgery for prostate cancer and colon cancer. Docs thought the treatment was a success, but shortly afterward the cancer returned to his lungs and bones. He refused aggressive treatment.
“We’ll pray for a miracle but if not, it is God’s will and that’s all right too.”
The Academy awarded him with an honorary Oscar in 1961, but he was too ill to show up. Jimmy Stewart accepted it and gave an emotional speech, cluing in the world that something was wrong with Gary. The next day, news broke that The Coop had the big C.
The photograph above shows where Gary’s death bed was located in the room.
On May 12 he was given last rites.
He died on May 13, 1961.
He was 60 years old.
His funeral was held in Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Beverly Hills.
Pall bearers included Jimmy Stewart and Jack Benny. Other attendees included Dean Martin, Marlene Dietrich, Randolph Scott, Burt Lancaster, Jimmy Durante, John Wayne, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Fred Astaire, Bob Hope, Dinah Shore, and Frank Sinatra.
He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City.
Until he wasn’t anymore.
In 1974 his family moved back east and brought Gary along with them. He’s now buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Southampton, NY.
“Cousin” Ginny Michaels snapped these quality photos for us to enjoy. Thanks!
In 2000 his wife passed away as well.
Wanna see his mailbox?
Special thanks to Marla Brooks and her fab book, Ghosts of Hollywood.
Trivia from Kevin Hassell: Bing Crosby named his son, Gary Crosby, after Coop.
One slight, small correction. No as trivial as a spelling typo, but close. The shown Cooper house wasn’t in Bel Air, it was in Holmby Hills. Arguably, to those in the know, on par or better than Bel Air, Beverly Hills, etc. Cooper commissioned the house, on almost 2 1/2 flat acres, in 1955 from architect A. Quincy Jones. The place is one of LA’s serious mid century masterpieces. Believe sold for something like fifty million dollars over ten years ago to one of the internet’s masters of the universe.
Old, old, old, listing (based on the price) with more great pics:
https://www.lindamay.com/property/baroda-park-estate/
And yes it is wild that Gary & Lupe spent time at the “Happy Days” house. Read lots of stories on the pair, but first time reading about this!
Photo above reveals massive uncut sizemeat in the pants, was it a semi?
Patricia Neal had an abortion during their affair. When it became clear after several years that he wasn’t going to divorce his wife (because catholic) and marry her, she had a nervous breakdown. And then rebounded to Roald Dahl.