Pat Cooper, a famous comedian and actor, passed away at the age of 93 in his Las Vegas home. His wife, Emily Connor, declared the news of his demise. Born Pasquale Caputo on July 31, 1929, in Brooklyn, Cooper tried to join multiple branches of the U.S. Armed Forces but was rejected. He then turned to comedy and adopted his stage name, which was a source of frustration for his Italian family, who he often roasted in his acts.
Cooper became estranged from his parents while focusing on his insult-heavy comedy career. He often portrayed an angry persona on stage, which led to several firings from stints opening for the likes of Frank Sinatra and Paul Anka. However, by the mid-’60s, he was being booked on many of the era’s most popular variety and shows, including those hosted by Ed Sullivan, Dean Martin, Merv Griffin, and Dinah Shore. Cooper made about a half-dozen appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in the early 1970s and was a regular on Jerry Lewis’ telethons.
Moreover, Cooper also appeared in many TV series and films, including Seinfeld, Analyze This, its sequel, the original Charlie’s Angels, and many more. He later became a guest on popular shows such as Late Night with both David Letterman and Conan O’Brien, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, and Howard Stern. He became a favorite of Howard Stern and appeared on his radio show many times.
Cooper also released several comedy albums during the 1960s recorded-comedy boom. His first album, Our Hero… Pat Cooper, in 1966, featured one side of stand-up comedy, mainly making fun of his family’s Italian stereotypes, and one side of parody songs. The album only reached No. 88 on the Billboard 200 but remained on the chart for more than nine months. His late 1966 follow-up album, Spaghetti Sauce & Other Delights, peaked at around the same position.
In 2011, Cooper wrote his memoir, How Dare You Say How Dare Me!, with Rich Herschlag and Steve Garrin, which was published and gave an insight into his life and career.
Pat Cooper was a famous comedian and actor who had a successful career in the entertainment industry. Despite his early struggles, he managed to make a name for himself and became a favorite of many fans. His unique style of comedy and ability to make people laugh will always be remembered.
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