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Pat Cooper was an actor and comedian whose loud radio appearances, biting Friar’s Club roasts, and angry outbursts earned him the nickname, “Comedian of Outrage.”
Pat Cooper’s legacy
Cooper’s experience growing up in an Italian family in New York informed just about every aspect of his career. He started performing in the city in the 1950s, often to Italian audiences, and built a name for himself as a brash personality in the world of comedy. His career took off after he appeared on “The Jackie Gleason Show” in 1963. Soon, Cooper was performing in Las Vegas, Reno, and Atlantic City shows with Frank Sinatra (1915–1998), Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr. (1925–1990),Connie Francis, Liza Minnelli, and many others.
He found himself a regular part of the infamous New York Friar’s Club Roasts, in which fellow comedians and celebrities are subjected to a whirlwind of good-natured insults. He had successful comedy albums, such as 1965’s “Our Hero” and 1966’s “Spaghetti Sauce and Other Delights,” as well as some notable acting roles with appearances in “Seinfeld,” “Analyze This,” and “Analyze That.”
When not acting or doing stand-up, Cooper became a regular on a wide array of provocative radio shows, frequently appearing as a guest on Howard Stern, Opie and Anthony, and Imus in the Morning.
Notable quote
“When I was a boy, we had forty-five statues of saints in my house. Ever have ninety eyes looking at you every time you have to go to the bathroom?”—comedy routine
Tributes to Pat Cooper
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter