Thomas Frederick Cooper was a British prop comedian and magician. As an entertainer, his appearance was large and lumbering at 6 feet 4 inches, and he habitually wore a red fez when performing. He initially served in the British Army for seven years, before eventually developing his conjuring skills and becoming a member of the The Magic Circle. Although he spent time on tour performing his magical act, which specialised on magic tricks that appeared to "fail", he rose to international prominence when his career moved into television, with programmes for London Weekend Television and Thames Television. By the end of the 1970s, Cooper slipped into heavy smoking and drinking, which impacted his career and his health, effectively ending offers to front new programmes and regulating him as a guest star on other entertainment shows. Ill health eventually claimed his life when, on 15 April 1984, Cooper died of a heart attack live on television.
Born: | Thomas Frederick Cooper, March 19, 1921, Caerphilly, Glamorgan, Wales |
Died: | April 15, 1984, Her Majesty's Theatre, Westminster, London, England |
Cause of death: | Heart attack |
Occupation: | Prop comedian, magician |
Years active: | 1947–1984 |
Children: | Victoria Cooper (b. 1953), Thomas Henty, (b.1956 d. 1988) |
IMDb: | Tommy Cooper's IMDb |
About Tommy Cooper
Renowned British comedian and magician who tragically collapsed during a live TV broadcast.
Before Fame
The woman who owned the house his family was living in also helped deliver him as a baby.
Achievement
He was a member of the Magic Circle.
Family Life
He was born to parents Thomas Cooper and Catherine Gertrude. His younger brother David opened up a magic shop in Berkshire, which remained there for decades.
Associations
He was in the British army fighting against Erwin Rommel's forces in North Africa in WWII.
Information related to Tommy Cooper
- Prop comics
- People educated at Mount Radford School
- British clowns
- Royal Horse Guards soldiers
- British male comedians
- British magicians
- Music hall performers
- 20th-century British male actors