Pat Cooper, an acerbic stand-up comedian who later had a career acting in films and TV series including Analyze This, its sequel, Seinfeld and the original Charlie’s Angels, died Tuesday at his home in Las Vegas. He was 93.
His wife, Emily Connor, announced the news.
Born Pasquale Caputo on July 31, 1929, in Brooklyn, he tried to join multiple branches of the U.S. Armed Forces but was rejected and turned to comedy. He adopted his stage name during an early-’60s stint doing stand-up, which further angered the Italian family he often roasted in his act.
Cooper became estranged from his parents while focusing on his insult-heavy comedy career. His angry onstage persona led to multiple firings from stints opening for the likes of Frank Sinatra and Paul Anka. 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 celebrity roasts and Jerry Lewis’ telethons.
He later would guest on such shows as Late Night — with both David Letterman and Conan O’Brien — Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and Howard Stern. He became a favorite of the Howard Stern and appeared more often on his radio show.
(Excerpt) Read more in: Deadline