Actress. Known primarily for comedic character roles, she appeared on Broadway for nearly 40 years, and won a Tony Award in 1981. Raised in New York City, Cooper was inspired to pursue a career in show business by her aunt, singer Belle Baker, and made her Broadway debut in the chorus of the 1956 "Mr. Wonderful." After appearing in a revival of "Brigadoon," she was chosen for the part of Rosalia, a Sharks girl desiring to return to Puerto Rico in Leonard Bernstein's 1957 "West Side Story." (She can be heard in the original cast recording singing the line "Puerto Rico, you lovely island.") She was an original cast member of the 1959 "Gypsy," the 1961 "I Can Get It For You Wholesale," "Mame" (1969), and "Two by Two" (1970). Her big moment came as Jan Donovan in 1981's "Woman of the Year" the duet with Lauren Bacall, "The Grass is Always Greener," proved an every night show-stopper, and won her both a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for 1981. Cooper was to take part in two Neil Simon productions, a 1985 female version of "The Odd Couple," and the 1986 "Broadway Bound." Her final Broadway credit was a 1994 revival of "Grease." On television, she had roles in "Alice," "Cheers," "Kate and Allie," "Law & Order," and "The Nanny." In addition to "West Side Story," she took part in the original cast recordings of "I Can Get It For You Wholesale," "Two by Two," and "Woman of the Year." Cooper died in a New Jersey nursing home after a long illness.
Actress. Known primarily for comedic character roles, she appeared on Broadway for nearly 40 years, and won a Tony Award in 1981. Raised in New York City, Cooper was inspired to pursue a career in show business by her aunt, singer Belle Baker, and made her Broadway debut in the chorus of the 1956 "Mr. Wonderful." After appearing in a revival of "Brigadoon," she was chosen for the part of Rosalia, a Sharks girl desiring to return to Puerto Rico in Leonard Bernstein's 1957 "West Side Story." (She can be heard in the original cast recording singing the line "Puerto Rico, you lovely island.") She was an original cast member of the 1959 "Gypsy," the 1961 "I Can Get It For You Wholesale," "Mame" (1969), and "Two by Two" (1970). Her big moment came as Jan Donovan in 1981's "Woman of the Year" the duet with Lauren Bacall, "The Grass is Always Greener," proved an every night show-stopper, and won her both a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for 1981. Cooper was to take part in two Neil Simon productions, a 1985 female version of "The Odd Couple," and the 1986 "Broadway Bound." Her final Broadway credit was a 1994 revival of "Grease." On television, she had roles in "Alice," "Cheers," "Kate and Allie," "Law & Order," and "The Nanny." In addition to "West Side Story," she took part in the original cast recordings of "I Can Get It For You Wholesale," "Two by Two," and "Woman of the Year." Cooper died in a New Jersey nursing home after a long illness.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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MARILYN COOPER
"THE GRASS IS
ALWAYS GREENER"
DEC. 14, 1934 - APR. 22, 2009
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