Lilli Cooper

Life and career Cooper is the daughter of actor Chuck Cooper and Tisa Farley. Her grandfather acted at the Karamu House in Cleveland. graduating from the latter in 2012.

She was the standby for Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked, and originated the role of Martha Bessell in Spring Awakening. She also played Hélène Kuragina in the American Repertory Theatre production of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 in 2015. She originated the role of Sandy Cheeks in the Broadway production of SpongeBob SquarePants, which opened on December 4, 2017. In September 2018, Cooper played Julie Nichols in the musical adaptation of the 1982 film Tootsie in its Chicago debut and reprised the role on Broadway in spring 2019, receiving a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for her performance.

In 2022, she played the role of Doc on Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock. Also in 2022, she took part in the HBO documentary film Spring Awakening: Those You've Known, which saw the 15 year reunion of the original cast of the musical.

In 2024, she served as the voice of the character Velvette in Hazbin Hotel.

Cooper lived in New York City with her husband Paul. Their first child, a son named Bodie, was born in September 2021. Their second child, a son named Desi, was born in April 2024. The couple divorced in June 2026.

Theatre credits Year Production Role Notes 2006 Spring Awakening Martha Bessell Atlantic Theater Company • Off-Broadway 2006–08 Eugene O'Neill Theatre • Broadway 2014 The Threepenny Opera Lucy Brown Atlantic Theater Company • Off-Broadway Wicked Elphaba understudy/standby Munchkinland national tour Elphaba standby Regent Theatre • Australian tour 2014–15 Gershwin Theatre • Broadway 2015–16 Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Hélène Kuragina American Repertory Theater2016 The SpongeBob Musical Sandy Cheeks Oriental Theatre Tick, Tick... Boom! Susan Acorn Theater • Off-Broadway 2017 Sundown, Yellow Moon Ray Second Stage Theater (McGinn/Cazale Theater) • Off-Broadway 2017–18 SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical Sandy Cheeks Palace Theatre • Broadway 2018 Tootsie Julie Nichols Cadillac Palace Theatre 2019–20 Marquis Theatre • Broadway 2020 Mack and Mabel Lottie Ames New York City Center • Encores! 2021 Spring Awakening Martha Bessell Imperial Theatre • Broadway 2022 POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive Chris Shubert Theatre • Broadway2023 Oliver! Nancy New York City Center • Encores! The Cottage Marjorie Helen Hayes Theater • Broadway2024 Titanic Kate Murphey New York City Center • Encores!Edge of the WorldKathLynn F. Angelson Theater • Off-Broadway 2025–26The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Rona Lisa PerettiNew World Stages • Off-Broadway

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2017 The PostProtest Singer 2024 SheepdogAlice St. Germain 2026 The DebutCompleted

Television

Accolades Year Awards Category Work Result Ref. 2019 Tony Awards Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical Tootsie 2024 Broadway.com Audience Awards Favorite Featured Actress in a Play The Cottage 2026Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding Featured Performance in a MusicalThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee