George Frederick "Jeff" Cooper (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, c.1936 – March 24, 2018) was a Canadian actor who participated in projects of diverse genres in both film and television.[1]

Jeff Cooper
Bornc. 1936
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
DiedMarch 24, 2018(2018-03-24) (aged 81–82)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Alma materCentral Collegiate

Early life

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George Frederick Cooper[1] was born in Hamilton, Ontario.[2] He first auditioned for film roles but as he was not having any success he decided to go for the realtor business. Coincidentally, the day he received his license was the same day he was cast as Dr. Simon Ellby in the hit T.V. soap opera show Dallas. Cooper played the role from 1979 to 1981.[2]

Career

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Besides his famous role as Dr. Ellby he was also cast in various iconic roles. In Mexico, he was perhaps best known as the superhero Kalimán[3] in the famous international production of Kalimán, el hombre increíble (Kalimán, the incredible man) and its sequel Kalimán en el siniestro mundo de Humanón (Kalimán in the sinister world of Humanón.)[2]

Another iconic role of his is the character of Cord in the Bruce Lee written film Circle of Iron, where he co-starred with David Carradine and Christopher Lee.[4]

Cooper left Hollywood in 1995 and moved back to his hometown of Hamilton. He spent his days playing guitar, working out at the local YMCA, and reading books he checked out from the public library.

Filmography

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Film performances
Year Title Role Notes
1966 Duel at Diablo Trooper Casey Uncredited
1967 The Born Losers Gangrene
1968 The Impossible Years Bartholmew Smuts
1968 1001 Nights Omar
1968 Mir hat es immer Spaß gemacht Bob Greene
1973 Kalimán, el hombre increíble Kalimán
1974 A Knife for the Ladies Burns
1975 Viaje fantástico en globo Kennedy
1976 Kalimán en el siniestro mundo de Humanón Kalimán
1978 Circle of iron Cord
1986 Oceans of fire Handsome Man TV movie
2002 Bleed Pool Party Person Also costume designer
2006 The Abberdine County Conjurer Sean Steel Also director
Television performances
Year Title Role Notes
1961 Hawaiian Eye Orville Granger The Final Score
1963 The Great Adventure Micajah Clark Episode: "The Treasure Train of Jefferson Clark"
1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Pete Phillips Season 2 Episode 8: "The Cadaver"
1964 Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre The MC Episode: "Runaway"
1964 Channing Professor Gray Episode: "Freedom Is a Lovesome Thing God Wot"
1964 Broadside Lieutenant Davison Episode: "The Great Lipstick War"
1964 The Virginian Matt Potter Episode: "All Nice and Legal"
1964 Profiles in Courage Killroy Episode: "John Adams"
1965 Kraft Suspense Theatre Daniel Episode: "In Darkness Waiting", Parts 1 & 2
1965 Perry Mason Henning Dolwig Episode: "The Case of the Impetuous Imp"
1965 Vacation Playhouse Frank Merriwell Episode: "Frank Merriwell"
1976 Wonder Woman Major Charlie Scott TV role
1977 Barnaby Jones Billy Cranston TV role
1979 Dallas Dr. Simon Ellby 19 episodes
1980 Beyond Westworld Dean Stoner
1981 The Love Boat Humphrey Clark
1981 Vega$ Mike Kier
1982 The Greatest American Hero Reo Crocker
1982 The Powers of Matthew Star Vate
1983 Knight Rider Ricky

Death

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Cooper died on March 24, 2018, in his hometown of Hamilton, at the age of 82. He was survived by his wife Colette, a well-known realtor in Hamilton.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Nolan, Daniel (July 15, 2018). "Obituary: Hamilton-born actor Jeff Cooper best known for role as psychiatrist in TV's Dallas". Muskoka Region. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Lentz, Harris (June 3, 2019). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2018. McFarland. p. 83. ISBN 9781476670331 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Marketing The Well-Furred Chest". The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. November 18, 1972. p. 102. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ Freese, Gene (October 5, 2017). Classic Movie Fight Scenes: 75 Years of Bare Knuckle Brawls, 1914-1989. McFarland. p. 261. ISBN 9781476669434 – via Google Books.
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