Dominic Cooper

Dominic Edward Cooper (born 2 June 1978) is an English actor known for his portrayal of comic book characters Jesse Custer on the AMC show Preacher (2016–2019) and young Howard Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with appearances in Captain America: The First Avenger and the ABC series Agent Carter (2015–2016), among other Marvel productions. Cooper played Sky in Mamma Mia! (2008) and its sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018).

Early in his career, Cooper was cast in significant roles in productions by the Royal National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company; he received acclaim for originating the role of Dakin in the 2004 play The History Boys with which, in 2006, he returned to the West End, transferred to Broadway, and adapted to film. Since that time, he has acted in a series of British and American productions, including the acclaimed period pieces An Education (2009) and My Week with Marilyn (2011), as well as action films, such as Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) and Need for Speed (2014), and the fantasy film Warcraft (2016).

Early life and education Cooper was born and brought up in Greenwich, London, the son of Julie (née Heron), a nursery school teacher, and Brian Cooper, an auctioneer. He has two brothers, Simon and Nathan, a musician in the band The Modern, a half-brother, James, and a half-sister, Emma.

Dominic attended John Ball Primary School in Blackheath, London, followed by Thomas Tallis School in nearby Kidbrooke, then trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in Professional Acting, graduating in 2000.

Career

Cooper first worked in television and film before making his stage debut in Mother Clap's Molly House at the National Theatre in 2001. Cooper was involved in Alan Bennett's play The History Boys, as the character Dakin, from its first reading. He also toured with the production to Broadway, Sydney, Wellington and Hong Kong as well as appearing in the radio and film adaptations of the play. He has had notable roles in the Royal National Theatre's adaptation of the His Dark Materials trilogy where he played the lead character Will Parry, the TV series Down To Earth and Sense & Sensibility.

In 2008, he appeared as Sky in Mamma Mia!, in which he sang several songs. The same year, he appeared opposite Keira Knightley in The Duchess as Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey.

In 2010, he played rock drummer Ben in the film Tamara Drewe, and in 2011 played the leading roles of Latif Yahia and Uday Hussein, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's son in the biographical film The Devil's Double, which was critically acclaimed but criticised for whitewashing, and portrayed Milton H. Greene in My Week with Marilyn. In February 2012, he signed on to replace Clive Owen the financial thriller Cities, ultimately leaving Motor City. Cities was cancelled after production delays.

In 2014, he portrayed the main antagonist in two films: Dino Brewster in Need for Speed and Mehmed in Dracula Untold. Cooper depicted James Bond author Ian Fleming in the television mini-series Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond in 2014. The next year, he appeared in two films, Miss You Already and The Lady in the Van, a film by Nicholas Hytner, who had previously directed him in the stage adaptation of His Dark Materials and both theatrical and film versions of The History Boys.

Cooper played Jesse Custer, the lead role in AMC's Preacher; the programme debuted in May 2016. He co-starred in the Warcraft film adaptation, which was released in June 2016. In late 2016, he starred in a well-received West End revival of Stephen Jeffreys' 1994 play, The Libertine at the Haymarket Theatre; he played John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, the role originated on stage by John Malkovich and played by Johnny Depp in the 2004 film.

Cooper reprised his role of Sky in 2018's sequel film Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

Personal life Cooper shared a flat with James Corden, his co-star in The History Boys and Starter for 10, until Corden started a family with his wife, Julia Carey. He is also the godfather of Corden's first child, Max.

Cooper dated his Mamma Mia! co-star Amanda Seyfried on and off from 2008 to 2009. From 2010 to 2016, he was in a relationship with Irish actress Ruth Negga. They first met in 2009 on the set of the National Theatre's production of Phèdre, and starred opposite each other in other projects including the 2011 short film Hello Carter, the 2016 film Warcraft, and AMC's Preacher (2016–2019). They lived together in London's Primrose Hill. Despite breaking up in 2016, the press first reported the split in April 2018. Cooper has been in a relationship with actress Gemma Chan since 2018.

Politics In August 2014, he was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian expressing their hope that Scotland would vote to remain part of the United Kingdom in September's referendum on that issue. In 2023, he signed the Artists4Ceasefire's open letter to President Joe Biden calling for an immediate ceasefire during the Gaza war.

Filmography

+Key Denotes projects that have not yet been released Film Year Title Role Notes 2001 From Hell Constable 2002 Anazapta Clerk The Final Curtain Young Priest 2003 I'll Be There Boyfriend 2005 Breakfast on Pluto Disco Squaddie 2006 Starter for 10 Spencer The History Boys Stuart Dakin 2008 The Escapist Lacey Mamma Mia! Sky Rymand Official Selection The Stranger Short film The Duchess Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey 2009 An Education Danny Brief Interviews with Hideous Men Daniel / Subject No. 46 2010 Tamara Drewe Ben Sergeant A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures Sammy Voice role; UK Version 2011 The Devil's Double Latif Yahia / Uday Hussein Captain America: The First Avenger Howard Stark My Week with Marilyn Milton H. Greene Hello Carter Carter Short film 2012 Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Henry Sturges 2013 Dead Man Down Darcy Summer in February AJ Munnings Agent Carter Howard Stark Short film 2014 Reasonable Doubt Mitch Brockden Need for Speed Dino Brewster Dracula Untold Sultan Mehmed II 2015 The Lady in the Van Theatre Actor Miss You Already Kit 2016 Warcraft King Llane Wrynn 2017 Stratton John Stratton The Escape Mark 2018 Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Sky Rymand 2022 The Princess Julius 2026 The Lightkeeper Seamus

Television Year Title Role Notes 2001 Gentleman Thief PC Merrifield Television film The Infinite Worlds of H. G. Wells Sidney Davidson Miniseries; 6 episodes Band of Brothers Allington Episode: "Currahee" 2003 Boudica Foot Soldier Television film 2004 Down to Earth Danny Wood Series 4 regular; 2005 Jericho Marcus Hare Episode: "The Hollow Men" 2008 Sense and Sensibility John Willoughby Miniseries; 3 episodes God on Trial Moche Television film 2009 Horne & Corden Various Episode: "Episode 2" Freefall Dave Matthews Television film 2014 Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond Ian Fleming Miniseries; 4 episodes On Angel Wings Angel Gabriel Television film 2015–2016 Agent Carter Howard Stark Recurring role; 5 episodes 2016–2019 Preacher Jesse Custer Series regular; 43 episodes 2020 Spy City Fielding Scott Miniseries; 6 episodes 2021, 2024 What If...? Howard Stark Recurring role; 2 episodes 2022 That Dirty Black Bag Arthur McCoy Series regular; 8 episodes 2023–2025 The Gold Edwyn Cooper Series regular; 7 episodes 2024 My Lady Jane Lord Seymour Series regular; 8 episodes Suspect Jon Fallow Series 2 regular; 8 episodes 2025 The Last Frontier Levi Taylor 'Havlock' Hartman Series regular; 10 episodes Tom Kirkman Post-production

Radio Year Title Role Notes 2005 The All-Colour Vegetarian Cookbook Damien 2006 The History Boys Dakin

Theatre credits

Awards and recognition + Award Year Category Nominated work Result British Independent Film Awards 2006 Best Newcomer The History Boys Capri Hollywood International Film Festival 2011 Best Ensemble Cast My Week with Marilyn Dublin Film Critics' Circle 2007 Best Lead Actor The Devil's Double Drama Desk Award 2006 Best Actor The History Boys Empire Awards2008 Best Male Newcomer The History Boys and Starter for 10 London Film Critics' Circle Awards Best British Supporting Actor The History Boys Online Film & Television Association 2015 Best Guest Actor in a Drama Agent Carter Screen Actors Guild Awards 2010 Best Performance by an Ensemble An Education Satellite Awards 2015 Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie made for Television Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond Saturn Awards 2011 Best Actor Devil's Double 2015 Best Guest Actor Agent Carter