A Leeds-born English character actor, renowned for his versatility in portraying stern, implacable, or vindictive characters on British television and film. Prior to pursuing a career in the performing arts, Cooper initially trained as an electrical engineer and architect, before serving his national service with the Royal Artillery in India, where he discovered his passion for the arts.
Upon returning to the UK, Cooper joined Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop in Manchester, where he adopted the initial 'A' in his stage name to avoid confusion with American actor George Cooper. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he became a familiar face on British television, appearing in numerous popular entertainments, including The Adventures of Robin Hood, Ivanhoe, Danger Man, The Avengers, Sherlock Holmes, and Softly Softly.
Cooper's impressive repertoire of characters often featured darker roles, such as treacherous pirates in Doctor Who, authoritarian fathers in Billy Liar, grumpy caretakers in Grange Hill, dishonest businessmen in Coronation Street, and cowardly braggarts in An Age of Kings. However, he also brought to life a range of more positive characters, including clergymen, court officials, and police inspectors.
The actor is fondly remembered for his roles in several classic British sitcoms, including Bless This House, Steptoe and Son, and Rising Damp. In Bless This House, he played the cafe owner who ends up being 'caked', while in Steptoe and Son, he portrayed the self-serving Uncle Arthur. In Rising Damp, he appeared as a stern father, aptly named 'Mr. Cooper'.
Cooper retired from acting in 1995 and passed away on November 16, 2018, at the age of 93, in Petersfield, Hampshire.
