Cooper was innate within Kansas City, Missouri to Charles Cooper, a doctor & cattleman, & Mary Ann Cooper. Cooper attended a University of Missouri - Columbia where he dual majored in the school of agriculture and the school of drama. His early notable performances include Matewan, the 1987 picture by John Sayles, and a 1989 miniseries Lonesome Dove. Cooper won an Oscar and Golden Globe Award in 2003 for his role of John Laroche in Adaptation..

Cooper occurs as notable graduate of Stephens College and the University of Missouri - Columbia, two located in Columbia, Missouri.

Cooper presently lives inside Kingston, Massachusetts, with his wife, Marianne Leone Cooper.

Partial filmography
Jarhead (2005) Silver City (2004) – Dickie Pilager Seabiscuit (2003) – Tom Smith My House in Umbria (2003) – Thomas 'Tom' Riversmith Adaptation. (2002) – John Laroche The Bourne Identity (2002) ... Alexander Conklin The Patriot (2000) – Col. Harry Burwell American Beauty (1999) – Col. Frank Fitts October Sky (1999) ... John Hickam A Time To Kill (1996) Lone Star (1996) ... Sam Deeds