Editing Wunka (section)

===2001–2008: Early roles===
Cooper missed his MFA graduation ceremony to film ''[[Wet Hot American Summer]]'' (2001), an ensemble comedy that marked his cinematic debut. Taking place at a fictional summer camp in 1981, the film had him play Ben, a counselor and the love interest of [[Michael Ian Black]]'s character.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Collis |first1=Clark |title='Wet Hot American Summer': The crazy story behind the cult classic |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/06/24/wet-hot-american-summer-crazy-story-behind-cult-classic/ |access-date=March 18, 2022 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=June 24, 2011 |language=en}}</ref> Although the film was critically and commercially unsuccessful, it has since developed a [[cult following]]. Cooper reprised the role in the film's prequel ''[[Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp]]'' (2015), an eight-episode [[Netflix]] series.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/jul/28/wet-hot-american-summer |title=Wet Hot American Summer: the obscure cult favourite is about to get a TV reboot |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=July 28, 2015 |access-date=August 21, 2016 |author=Mumford, Gwilym |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815043041/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/jul/28/wet-hot-american-summer |archive-date=August 15, 2016}}</ref>

In the television series ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'' (2001–2006), Cooper achieved some success with the role of [[Will Tippin]], a local reporter for a newspaper and the best friend of [[Jennifer Garner]]'s character, [[Sydney Bristow]].<ref name="tca" /> Garner was one of the first people he met in Los Angeles and was, in Cooper's words, "very maternal{{nbs}}... She wanted to take care of me, make sure I was okay all the time."<ref>{{cite news |title=Jennifer Garner: A Master of Motherhood |url=http://okmagazine.com/get-scoop/jennifer-garner-master-motherhood/ |access-date=July 3, 2017 |work=[[OK!]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170703082255/http://okmagazine.com/get-scoop/jennifer-garner-master-motherhood/ |archive-date=July 3, 2017 |date=December 9, 2009}}</ref> A writer for [[Complex Networks]] called his character "arguably the heart of [[Alias (season 1)|Season{{nbs}}1]]".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tharpe |first1=Frazier |title='Alias', One of the Aughts' Most Underrated TV Shows, Is Finally Streaming Again |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2020/05/alias-amazon-prime-streaming-jj-abrams-jennifer-garner |publisher=[[Complex Networks]] |access-date=March 18, 2022 |date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> As his screen time began to decrease, Cooper grew frustrated. Although he would work only three days, he requested creator [[J. J. Abrams]] to write his character off the show.<ref name="quitalias">{{cite news |last1=Fernández |first1=Alexia |title=Why Bradley Cooper Begged J.J. Abrams to Write Him Out of Alias at the Start of His Career |url=https://people.com/movies/bradley-cooper-asked-written-off-alias/ |access-date=March 18, 2022 |work=People |date=January 17, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Shortly after his conversation with Abrams, Cooper tore his [[Achilles tendon]] while playing basketball. During his recovery, he considered quitting acting permanently, though in 2004, he was cast in ''[[Wedding Crashers]]'' (2005).<ref name="quitalias" /> During this period, he acted in the 2002 psychological thriller ''[[Changing Lanes]]''. The scenes in which he appeared were edited out of the final cut of the film, but are featured on the film's DVD and Blu-ray releases.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/693650?view=cast |title=BFI Film & TV Database: ''Changing Lanes'' 2002 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |access-date=August 28, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004232020/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/693650?view=cast |archive-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://slantmagazine.com/dvd/review/changing-lanes/9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110001207/http://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/review/changing-lanes/9 |archive-date=November 10, 2013 |title=''Changing Lanes'' DVD Review |last=Gonzalez |first=Ed |work=[[Slant Magazine]] |date=August 27, 2002 |access-date=August 28, 2011}}</ref> Other roles included in ''[[Bending All the Rules]]'' (2002),<ref name="cooper tomatoes">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/bradley_cooper/ |title=Bradley Cooper |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=October 4, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008214358/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/bradley_cooper/ |archive-date=October 8, 2016}}</ref> the short-lived TV series ''[[Miss Match]]'' (2003),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvguide.com/tvshows/miss-match-2003/episode-5-season-1/i-got-you-babe/100301 |title=Watch Miss Match Season 1, Episode 5: I Got You Babe |work=TV Guide |access-date=November 24, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125173906/http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/miss-match-2003/episode-5-season-1/i-got-you-babe/100301 |archive-date=November 25, 2015}}</ref> the television film ''[[I Want to Marry Ryan Banks]]'' (2004) and the [[WB Television Network|WB]] series ''[[Jack & Bobby]]'' (2004–2005).<ref name="tribute"/>
[[File:BradleyCooperCCJuly07.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Cooper at an event for ''[[The Midnight Meat Train]]'' in 2007]]

Cooper's career prospects improved with a more prominent role in [[David Dobkin (director)|David Dobkin]]'s comedy ''Wedding Crashers'' alongside [[Owen Wilson]], [[Vince Vaughn]] and [[Rachel McAdams]].<ref name="biography">{{cite web |title=Bradley Cooper |url=http://www.biography.com/people/bradley-cooper-547062 |publisher=[[Biography.com]] |access-date=August 21, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160901195932/http://www.biography.com/people/bradley-cooper-547062 |archive-date=September 1, 2016}}</ref> In the film, he played Sack Lodge, the competitive, arrogant and aggressive boyfriend of Claire (McAdams), a role he described as "kind of a sociopath".<ref>{{cite news |title=Bradley Cooper |url=http://www.people.com/people/bradley_cooper/biography |access-date=August 26, 2016 |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829122532/http://www.people.com/people/bradley_cooper/biography |archive-date=August 29, 2016}}</ref> Cooper believed the antagonistic character changed people's perception of him, as he had previously played the "nice guy".<ref>{{cite news |title=Bradley Cooper Says 'Wedding Crashers' Role Changed His Reputation |url=http://okmagazine.com/get-scoop/bradley-cooper-says-wedding-crashers-role-changed-his-reputation |access-date=August 21, 2016 |work=OK! |date=March 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150123094102/http://okmagazine.com/get-scoop/bradley-cooper-says-wedding-crashers-role-changed-his-reputation |archive-date=January 23, 2015}}</ref> With a production budget of $40{{nbs}}million, the film grossed over $285{{nbs}}million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wedding Crashers (2005) |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=weddingcrashers.htm |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=August 22, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606170423/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=weddingcrashers.htm |archive-date=June 6, 2016}}</ref> In September 2005, [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] debuted the sitcom ''[[Kitchen Confidential (TV series)|Kitchen Confidential]]'', based on a memoir by chef [[Anthony Bourdain]], with Cooper in the leading role. Despite positive reviews for the series, the show was canceled after only four episodes due to low ratings.<ref>{{cite news |last=Adalian |first=Josef |title='OC' sees new slot amid Fox sked shakeup |url=https://variety.com/article/VR1117935016 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=December 21, 2005 |page=3 |access-date=January 31, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Adalian |first=Josef |title=Alphabet has Star quality |url=https://variety.com/article/VR1117935067 |work=Variety |date=December 21, 2005 |page=1 |access-date=January 31, 2012}}</ref>

In March 2006, Cooper starred as Pip/Theo in ''[[Three Days of Rain]]'' on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] with [[Julia Roberts]] and [[Paul Rudd]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brantley |first1=Ben |title=Three Days of Rain – Review – Theater |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/20/theater/reviews/20rain.html |access-date=August 31, 2016 |work=The New York Times |date=April 20, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016001917/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/20/theater/reviews/20rain.html |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> This was followed by minor roles in the romantic comedy ''[[Failure to Launch]]'' (2006) and the satirical comedy ''[[The Comebacks]]'' (2007).<ref name=tribute>{{cite news |url=http://www.tribute.ca/people/bradley-cooper/13310/ |title=Bradley Cooper biography |work=[[Tribute (magazine)|Tribute]] |access-date=November 1, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103220218/http://www.tribute.ca/people/bradley-cooper/13310/ |archive-date=November 3, 2016}}</ref> Cooper next appeared in the fifth season of ''[[Nip/Tuck]]'' (2007) as Aidan Stone, a television star on the fictional show ''Hearts 'N Scalpels''. In 2008, he played the lead in ''[[Older than America]]'',<ref name="tribute"/> and appeared onstage in a production of [[Theresa Rebeck]]'s play ''The Understudy'' at the [[Williamstown Theatre Festival]] alongside [[Kristen Johnston]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2008/07/29/the_understudy_combines_comedy_and_kafka_in_williamstown/ |title='The Understudy' combines comedy and Kafka in Williamstown |last=Kennedy |first=Louise |date=July 28, 2008 |access-date=August 29, 2011 |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004224812/http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2008/07/29/the_understudy_combines_comedy_and_kafka_in_williamstown/ |archive-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> Between his small roles of best friend to the main character in the 2008 comedies ''[[Yes Man (film)|Yes Man]]'' and ''[[The Rocker (film)|The Rocker]]'',<ref name="tribute"/> Cooper landed the lead role in the [[Ryuhei Kitamura]]-directed horror film ''[[The Midnight Meat Train]]'' (2008), based on [[Clive Barker]]'s 1984 [[Books of Blood#The Midnight Meat Train|short story of the same name]]. Playing the dark character of a freelance photographer who tries to track down a serial killer was a departure from Cooper's previous comedic roles and an experience he found enjoyable. The film received positive reviews from critics, though it earned little at the box office.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204349404578100900651413248 |title=The Sexiest Bipolar Man Alive |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=November 9, 2012 |access-date=November 1, 2016 |author=Dodes, Rachel |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103220209/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204349404578100900651413248 |archive-date=November 3, 2016}}</ref>
{{clear}}