While still in school, Cooper began his professional career, appearing opposite Sarah Jessica Parker in "Sex and the City" and in the series, "The Beat." His weekends were spent with LEAP (Learning through the Expanded Arts Program), a non-profit organization that teaches acting and movement to inner city school children.

The summers took him all across the globe, from kayaking in British Columbia with Orca Whales to ice climbing in the Peruvian Andes, while hosting Lonely Planet’s "Extreme Treks in a Wild World" for the Discovery Channel.

Cooper had to skip his graduation ceremony from the Actor’s Studio in order to star in his first feature film, "Wet Hot American Summer," opposite Janeane Garofolo, David Hyde Pierce and Molly Shannon. After finishing his second feature, "Carnival Knowledge," Cooper’s plans to relocate to Los Angeles were delayed when Darren Star hired him to star in the series, "The $treet," opposite Jennie Garth, Tom Everett Scott, Adam Goldberg and Jennifer Connelly.

Cooper went on to win the role of young law student Gordon Pinella in the film, "Changing Lanes," starring Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson; and also stars as Travis Paterson in "My Little Eye," which will be released in 2002.

Cooper finally decided that it was time to forgo his other New York projects and move to Los Angeles when he was cast in "Alias." Although he lives in LA, he will never abandon his New York nightly ritual of watching Charlie Rose, while finishing off a pint of Cherry Garcia ice cream.