Bradley Cooper Through the Years: From Guest Star to Leading Man

Bradley Cooper started off as a struggling actor from humble beginnings, but he quickly transformed into one of Hollywood’s hottest household names.

Before racking up awards, Cooper worked his way up from guest-starring roles on some of the most well-known television series of the early 2000s. In 2001, Cooper found a steadier position on ABC’s cult classic Alias.

It was around this same time that Cooper started to realize he was abusing alcohol and other substances to cope with life as a struggling actor. Cooper made a promise to himself in 2004 to stay sober after a night of heavy partying landed him in the hospital.

From that moment on, Cooper was primed for success and earned his first Oscar nomination in 2013. Cooper doesn’t let his busy career distract him from his daughter, Lea, whom he shares with ex Irina Shayk.

“They share a balanced schedule with their daughter, which also varies based on their work obligations,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly of the former couple in February 2021. “There have been no arguments about Lea’s schedule. Bradley usually is busier and has back-to-back films lined up, but he makes sure he spends a lot of time with Lea.”

Scroll down to learn more about Cooper’s rise to Hollywood stardom: