Two At-Bats with Bradley Cooper
I’m a big Bradley Cooper fan. We have a lot in common. We’re both from the East coast, Italian mom, same height, blue collar swagger and mesmerizing blue eyes. I’ve always wanted to work with him. The way he immerses himself in character roles is Deniro-esque. From real life con man to animated raccoon to spiraling alcoholic country singer, his range is as broad as the Serengeti. I play cops. That’s about it. It’s my thing. Like an ape with a badge. For guys like me, booking an acting job is a shot of luck mixed with a splash of divine intervention. So when I book a gig, I want it to provide me with footage I can use to get the next job. It always helps to have the footage feature an all-star actor.
The first time I noticed Bradley Cooper was the action mystery series Alias. I got hooked on the show quickly after it debuted in Fall of 2001. When I auditioned for it the next summer, Jennifer Garner’s Sydney Bristow had already sidekicked her way into America’s hearts. I remember serving her at the bar at Houston’s in Century City around that time, with then hubby Scott Foley. “We worked together on Time of Your Life, remember?” I told Garner as she dipped her peel-and-eat shrimp into a ramekin of remoulade. “Um…” she replied, mouth full of seafood. I continued, “The fat cop with one line?” Then I proudly reminded Foley he may have seen me as an angry “Customer” (probably a cop) busting Keri Russell’s chops about a latte at Dean & Deluca on his show Felicity. I’m sure they loved sitting at the bar. (Seriously, they were both so sweet, good tippers). Speaking of tippin’ (segway!), Bradley Cooper’s character on Alias was named “Will Tippin” (rimshot), who was about to start a story arc doing time in the clink. I knew this before most people because I booked a two-scene role playing an overzealous chain gang felon selling him drugs. I was super excited. Another hit show for the ol’ demo reel, and I wasn’t even playing a cop. Bring on the Bradley footage!
I worked on my lines feverishly. They were fun scenes. When I arrived on set, they showed me to my little quarter banger dressing room, where I found my miniature “sides” (day’s schedule, dialogue). That’s when I discovered the changes. My part went from two scenes down to one, from a couple pages of back-and-forth dialogue to two measly lines. I remember thinking, We don’t even need this scene now! I took a deep breath, put on my orange onesie from wardrobe and headed to hair and makeup. They sat me next to Victor Garber, whom I loved in Titanic. His warm greeting was more invigorating than my cup of coffee. Maybe this day wouldn’t be so bad after all?
I’m very good when I have time to absorb my lines. Once they’re inside me, I can really let go and play. When I have limited time, I sometimes struggle. This was the case here. The director of the episode was patient. I probably also self-sabotaged a bit because I figured the scene was destined for the cutting room floor. Bradley was gracious and encouraging. We chatted in between takes. He told me his character would be in jail for a while, hopefully he’d see me again. At this period in time, he wasn’t famous yet. But I knew it in my bones, he was going to be a star. When the episode finally aired, all that was left of my once substantial part was a no-dialogue, momentary establishing long shot of us picking up trash (pic below). My first at-bat with Bradley…was a whiff.
Five years later, summer of ’07, Coop was coming off a hilarious supporting turn as “Sack Lodge” in the popular Owen Wilson-Vince Vaughn romp Wedding Crashers, but the idea of him being a bankable leading man was still in question. Hollywood is always wary of dishing out boatloads of cash to someone who hasn’t already carried a movie. Sandra Bullock was a major star in need of her next hit, hoping the wacky comedy All About Steve would be it. My friend Maria Faillace, a development executive at Fox, helped champion Cooper to be the movie’s co-star. Like me, she had a feeling about him. Some associates were skeptical. After all, he wasn’t a star. With Faillace’s prodding, they did the deal, and Coop had his next project. It was his first starring role in a major motion picture.
A few friends and I had tickets to see the Red Sox play the Padres. The drive from LA down to San Diego on a Friday is brutal if you don’t leave early, so we planned to leave around noon to make the 7pm first pitch. Unfortunately, my agent called with the audition for All About Steve at 1pm up in the Valley. Faillace had convinced producers to see me for a few small roles. I got there early, read, and busted out as soon as possible to head south, picking up my friends before hitting the freeway around 2pm. Five hours should’ve given us plenty of time to make the normally two and a half hour trip. By the time we got to the stadium at the end of the first inning, we’d hit so much traffic, we were speaking to each other in tongues. Sox pitcher Dice-K beat Greg Maddux 2–1, and shortly after, I got booked for two days on the movie in which I’d be shooting a poker scene with Miss Congeniality, the monotoned mechanic from Wings, and my brother from another mother, Bradley frickin’ Cooper.
I showed up to basecamp early, excited to see Bradley again. As luck would have it, we sat next to each other on the shuttle van to set. It had been five years since we briefly met, and for Coop, probably thousands of faces later. I reminded him about Alias. “Yeah man, I totally remember you,” he replied with his megawatt smile. Maybe he did and maybe he didn’t, but he really sold it. He’s such a gracious dude. We chatted the whole ride over. I was ready to play some poker, say my precious couple of lines, and get some new footage!
It was my first time on a big budget movie. Sandra Bullock skipped onto set like a ferret with her blonde hair and blue striped umbrella. Thomas Haden Church swaggered in like a lion in cargo pants. Ken Jeong happily wafted about like a butterfly. Then there was Bradley, our unicorn. During our first poker scene rehearsal, Bullock made it clear what she wanted. Not only was Sandy #1 on the callsheet, she was also a producer. I thought it went great, especially my moments. Could we shoot the entire scene, camera tight on me? (Full disclosure, it’s what I always think). Maybe a two-shot of Bradley and me? I pondered. Haden Church immediately offered his two manly cents. “We don’t even need this scene now!” he jabbered. Hmm, where have I heard that before? Then Church continued, “What if we did this over there?” Sandy seemed to like the idea. They huddled with the director. All I could think was, Do something, Coop! They’re destroying my demo! Alas, the director acquiesced, the entire scene was played outside our tent, away from the poker table, and if you look really closely you can see my face blurry in the background getting cooled. Another swing and a miss.
Church and Bullock were right. Our scene wasn’t playing. It was the product of a problematic script. And when the movie was completed that year, I’m guessing it showed. It got shelved, destined to sit on the shelf. While the film canisters collected dust, a couple years later, The Proposal became a smash hit. Sandy was hot again. What a fickle business. On top of that, a little comedy came out called The Hangover, demolishing the box office. Bradley was now a star. The raunchy comedy even made Ken Jeong a household name. It was time to let All About Steve shine. It finally got released in 2009, making a hefty profit.
I still don’t have any footage with Bradley Cooper on my demo reel. I’m 0-for-2. But that doesn’t mean I can’t get one more at-bat. Put me in, coach. I’m ready to play.
