Who Is Tommy Cooper? Age, Biography and Wiki
Thomas Cooper, widely known as Tommy Cooper, was born on March 19, 1921, and became one of the most beloved entertainers in the UK. Known for his distinctive style of comedy that blended magic and slapstick humor, Cooper captured the hearts of countless fans during his career, which spanned several decades until his untimely death in 1984. As of 2025, he would have celebrated his 104th birthday. His charm and humor remain timeless, reinforcing his status as an iconic figure in entertainment history.
| Occupation | Comedian |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 19, 1921 |
| Age | 63 Years |
| Birth Place | Caerphilly, Glamorgan, Wales |
| Horoscope | Pisces |
| Country | England |
| Date of death | 15 April, 1984 |
| Died Place | Westminster, London, England |
Popularity
Tommy Cooper's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Tommy Cooper stood tall at an impressive height of 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm). During his career, he was known for his robust build, weighing approximately 225 pounds (102 kg). While exact body measurements are not publicly documented, Cooper’s distinctive appearance included his trademark fez hat, which he often wore on stage while performing.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Despite his fame, Cooper's personal life remained fairly private. He was married to his wife, Gwen Cooper, whom he wed in 1945. The couple had two children together but their relationship was tested by the pressures of his career. Cooper’s dedication to his family was evident as he balanced his comedic career with his role as a husband and father. There were no widely known rumors or reports of extramarital affairs, which reflects Cooper's preference for a more discreet approach to his personal relationships.
He was delivered by the woman who owned the house in which the family were lodging. His parents were Thomas H. Cooper, a Welsh recruiting sergeant in the British Army and later coal miner, and Catherine Gertrude (née Wright), Thomas's English wife from Crediton, Devon.
Net Worth and Salary
Throughout his career, Tommy Cooper's unique performances led him to achieve significant financial success. At the time of his passing, his estimated net worth was around £1 million. Adjusted for inflation and considering his ongoing legacy, this figure would likely be considerably higher in today’s terms. In 2025, his earnings from television appearances, live performances, and merchandise sales continues to contribute to his estate, securing his legacy.
John Fisher writes in his biography of Cooper: "Everyone agrees that he was mean.
Quite simply he was acknowledged as the tightest man in show business, with a pathological dread of reaching into his pocket." One of Cooper's stunts was to pay the exact taxi fare and when leaving the cab slip something into the taxi driver's pocket, saying, "Have a drink on me." That something would turn out to be a tea bag.
Career, Business, and Investments
Cooper's career began as a magician in the 1940s, leading him eventually to stardom on television and stage. His comedic performances, characterized by slapstick humor and failed magic tricks, made him a household name. Noteworthy television performances include "The Tommy Cooper Hour" which showcased his comedic genius.
Cooper also dabbled in business ventures, partnering with various brands for promotional work. His investments, while not extensively reported, primarily revolved around securing his family’s future following his death.
Thomas Frederick Cooper (19 March 1921 – 15 April 1984) was a British prop comedian and magician. As an entertainer, his appearance was large and lumbering at 6 ft, and he habitually wore a red fez when performing. He served in the British Army for seven years before developing his conjuring skills and becoming a member of The Magic Circle.
Although he spent time on tour performing his magical act, which specialised in 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.
Social Network
Even posthumously, Tommy Cooper’s legacy endures on social media platforms. Fan pages dedicated to his work continue to thrive on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, celebrating his unique blend of comedy and magic. Followers can engage with content that highlights his iconic sketches and performances, keeping the spirit of this legendary entertainer alive for new generations.
The video of Cooper's heart attack on stage has been uploaded to numerous video-sharing websites. YouTube drew criticism from a number of sources when footage of the incident was posted on the website in May 2009. John Beyer of the pressure group Mediawatch-UK said: "This is very poor taste.
That the broadcasters have not repeated the incident shows they have a respect for him and I think that ought to apply also on YouTube." On 28 December 2011, segments of the Live from Her Majesty's clip, including Cooper collapsing on stage, were included in the Channel 4 programme The Untold Tommy Cooper.
Education
Tommy Cooper attended the already-established educational environment of the local schools where he excelled in art. His interest in magic surfaced during his teenage years, which fueled his ambition to perform. Despite lacking formal training in comedy, Cooper's talent blossomed through practice and determination, eventually leading to his successful career in entertainment.
In conclusion, Tommy Cooper's influence resonates even today, and as we explore his life in 2025, we celebrate not just the comedian, magician, and actor, but the legacy that he left behind—a legacy of laughter that continues to inspire countless entertainers around the world.
When he was eight years old an aunt bought him a magic set and he spent hours perfecting the tricks. In the 1960s his brother David (born 1930) opened D. & Z. Cooper's Magic Shop at 249 High Street in Slough, Buckinghamshire. The shop later moved to Eastbourne, East Sussex and was run by David's daughter Sabrina.
After leaving school, Cooper became a shipwright in Southampton, Hampshire. In 1940 he was called up as a trooper in the Royal Horse Guards, serving for seven years. He joined Montgomery's Desert Rats in Egypt.
Cooper became a member of a Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) entertainment party, and developed an act around his magic tricks interspersed with comedy.
One evening in Cairo, during a sketch in which he was supposed to be in a costume that required a pith helmet, having forgotten the prop Cooper reached out and borrowed a fez from a passing waiter, which got huge laughs. He wore a fez when performing after that, the prop later being described as "an icon of 20th-century comedy".
