Tommy Cooper
Updated: 12/11/2025, 6:11:47 PM Wikipedia source
Thomas Frederick Cooper (19 March 1921 – 15 April 1984) was a Welsh prop comedian and magician. As an entertainer, his appearance was large and lumbering at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m), 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. By the end of the 1970s, Cooper was smoking and drinking heavily, which affected his career and his health, effectively ending offers to front new programmes and relegating him to performing as a guest star on other entertainment shows. On 15 April 1984, Cooper died at the age of 63 after suffering a heart attack on live television.
Infobox
Born
Thomas Frederick Cooper(1921-03-19)19 March 1921Caerphilly, Glamorgan, Wales
Died
15 April 1984(1984-04-15) (aged 63)Her Majesty's Theatre, Westminster, London, England
Monuments
Ocklynge Cemetery, Eastbourne, East Sussex, England
Occupations
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Years active
1947–1984
Height
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Spouse
mw- Gwen Henty (m. 1947)
Children
2, including Thomas
Tables
· Filmography
1948
New To You
Role(s)
BBC
Notes
1
Comedy Capers
Role(s)
BBC
Notes
1
1952
It's Magic
Role(s)
BBC
Notes
8
1953–1979
Role(s)
The Royal Variety Performance
Notes
BBC / ATV
1957
Cooper / Life With Tommy
Role(s)
A-RTV
Notes
12
The Tommy Cooper Hour
Role(s)
ATV
Notes
1
1958
The Stars Rise in the West
Role(s)
TWW
Notes
1
Cooper's Capers
Role(s)
ATV
Notes
6
1966
Cooperama
Role(s)
ABC
Notes
7
1966–1969
Role(s)
Life With Cooper
Notes
ABC / Thames
1967
1968
Cooper King-Size
Role(s)
Thames
Notes
1
Cooper At Large
Role(s)
Thames
Notes
1
1969–1971
Role(s)
Tommy Cooper / It's Tommy Cooper
Notes
LWT
1973–1975
Role(s)
The Tommy Cooper Hour
Notes
Thames
1975
Cooper
Role(s)
Thames
Notes
6
1976
Tommy Cooper's Guest Night
Role(s)
Thames
Notes
1
1977
Night Out at the London Casino
Role(s)
Thames
Notes
1
The Silver Jubilee Royal Variety Gala
Role(s)
ATV
Notes
1
30 Years ... Just Like That!
Role(s)
Thames
Notes
1
1978–1979
Role(s)
London Night Out
Notes
Thames
1978
The Tommy Cooper Show
Role(s)
Thames
Notes
1
Cooper – Just Like That
Role(s)
Thames
Notes
6
Must Wear Tights
Role(s)
Thames
Notes
1
1980
Cooper's Half Hour
Role(s)
Thames
Notes
6
| Year | Title | TV company | Episodes |
| 1948 | New To You | BBC | 1 |
| 1948 | Comedy Capers | BBC | 1 |
| 1952 | It's Magic | BBC | 8 |
| 1953–1979 | The Royal Variety Performance | BBC / ATV | 7 |
| 1955 | Sunday Night at the London Palladium | ATV | 1 |
| 1957 | Cooper / Life With Tommy | A-RTV | 12 |
| 1957 | The Tommy Cooper Hour | ATV | 1 |
| 1958 | The Stars Rise in the West | TWW | 1 |
| 1958 | Cooper's Capers | ATV | 6 |
| 1959 | After Hours | ABC | 1 |
| 1960 | And the Same to You | Film | 1 |
| 1963 | The Cool Mikado | Film | 1 |
| 1966 | Cooperama | ABC | 7 |
| 1966–1969 | Life With Cooper | ABC / Thames | 19 |
| 1967 | The Plank | Film | 1 |
| 1967 | Spotlight | ATV | 1 |
| 1967 | Sykes Versus ITV | ABC | 1 |
| 1968 | Cooper King-Size | Thames | 1 |
| 1968 | Cooper At Large | Thames | 1 |
| 1969–1971 | Tommy Cooper / It's Tommy Cooper | LWT | 13 |
| 1973–1975 | The Tommy Cooper Hour | Thames | 9 |
| 1975 | Cooper | Thames | 6 |
| 1976 | Tommy Cooper's Guest Night | Thames | 1 |
| 1977 | Night Out at the London Casino | Thames | 1 |
| 1977 | The Silver Jubilee Royal Variety Gala | ATV | 1 |
| 1977 | 30 Years ... Just Like That! | Thames | 1 |
| 1978–1979 | London Night Out | Thames | 2 |
| 1978 | The Tommy Cooper Show | Thames | 1 |
| 1978 | Cooper – Just Like That | Thames | 6 |
| 1978 | Must Wear Tights | Thames | 1 |
| 1979 | Parkinson at Christmas | BBC | 1 |
| 1980 | Cooper's Half Hour | Thames | 6 |
| 1982 | It's Your Move | Thames | 1 |
| 1982 | The Eric Sykes 1990 Show | Thames | 1 |
| 1983 | This Is Your Lunch | BBC | 1 |
| 1983 | The Bob Monkhouse Show | BBC | 1 |
| 1984 | Live from Her Majesty's | LWT | 1 |
· UK VHS/DVD releases
A Tribute to Tommy Cooper (TV9936)
A Tribute to Tommy Cooper (TV9936)
VHS title
A Tribute to Tommy Cooper (TV9936)
Release date
3 November 1986
The Magic of Tommy Cooper - Tribute to a Comedy Genius (TV8091)
The Magic of Tommy Cooper - Tribute to a Comedy Genius (TV8091)
VHS title
The Magic of Tommy Cooper - Tribute to a Comedy Genius (TV8091)
Release date
4 June 1990
The Best of Tommy Cooper (TV8141)
The Best of Tommy Cooper (TV8141)
VHS title
The Best of Tommy Cooper (TV8141)
Release date
19 August 1991
Tommy Cooper - "Not Like That" (TV8160)
Tommy Cooper - "Not Like That" (TV8160)
VHS title
Tommy Cooper - "Not Like That" (TV8160)
Release date
1 June 1992
Tommy Cooper - Solid Gold (TV8169)
Tommy Cooper - Solid Gold (TV8169)
VHS title
Tommy Cooper - Solid Gold (TV8169)
Release date
5 October 1992
The Magic of Tommy Cooper - Tribute to a Comedy Genius (LC0012)
The Magic of Tommy Cooper - Tribute to a Comedy Genius (LC0012)
VHS title
The Magic of Tommy Cooper - Tribute to a Comedy Genius (LC0012)
Release date
1 March 1993
The Magic Lives of Tommy Cooper (TV8182)
The Magic Lives of Tommy Cooper (TV8182)
VHS title
The Magic Lives of Tommy Cooper (TV8182)
Release date
11 October 1993
Tommy Cooper - The Magic Touch (TV8184)
Tommy Cooper - The Magic Touch (TV8184)
VHS title
Tommy Cooper - The Magic Touch (TV8184)
Release date
7 March 1994
The Very Best of Tommy Cooper (TV8198)
The Very Best of Tommy Cooper (TV8198)
VHS title
The Very Best of Tommy Cooper (TV8198)
Release date
6 March 1995
Tommy Cooper - The Missing Pieces (TV8211)
Tommy Cooper - The Missing Pieces (TV8211)
VHS title
Tommy Cooper - The Missing Pieces (TV8211)
Release date
2 October 1995
The Feztastic Tommy Cooper
The Feztastic Tommy Cooper
VHS title
The Feztastic Tommy Cooper
Release date
6 May 1996
Tommy Cooper - The Golden Years (TV8261)
Tommy Cooper - The Golden Years (TV8261)
VHS title
Tommy Cooper - The Golden Years (TV8261)
Release date
3 November 1997
A Feztival of Fun With Tommy Cooper (B00005M1YE)
A Feztival of Fun With Tommy Cooper (B00005M1YE)
VHS title
A Feztival of Fun With Tommy Cooper (B00005M1YE)
Release date
16 September 2002
| VHS title | Release date |
| A Tribute to Tommy Cooper (TV9936) | 3 November 1986 |
| The Magic of Tommy Cooper - Tribute to a Comedy Genius (TV8091) | 4 June 1990 |
| The Best of Tommy Cooper (TV8141) | 19 August 1991 |
| Tommy Cooper - "Not Like That" (TV8160) | 1 June 1992 |
| Tommy Cooper - Solid Gold (TV8169) | 5 October 1992 |
| The Magic of Tommy Cooper - Tribute to a Comedy Genius (LC0012) | 1 March 1993 |
| The Magic Lives of Tommy Cooper (TV8182) | 11 October 1993 |
| Tommy Cooper - The Magic Touch (TV8184) | 7 March 1994 |
| The Very Best of Tommy Cooper (TV8198) | 6 March 1995 |
| Tommy Cooper - The Missing Pieces (TV8211) | 2 October 1995 |
| The Feztastic Tommy Cooper | 6 May 1996 |
| Tommy Cooper - The Golden Years (TV8261) | 3 November 1997 |
| A Feztival of Fun With Tommy Cooper (B00005M1YE) | 16 September 2002 |
References
- BBChttps://www.bbc.co.uk/webarchive/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fblogs%2Fwales%2Fentries%2F73df52ee-8e65-3188-9eea-64e2e315fbf4
- Fez-tival: Tommy Cooper interviewhttps://www.facebook.com/bbcradiowales/videos/262522925357468/
- The Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/drama/3592301/Just-like-Tommy.html
- The Times
- ExeterMemories.co.ukhttp://www.exetermemories.co.uk/em/_people/cooper.php
- GRO Register of Marriages: Dec 1919 11a 1538 Pontypridd – Thomas H. Cooper = Gertrude C. Wright.
- BBC Newshttps://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/3625301.stm
- BiographyOnline.nethttp://www.biographyonline.net/comics/tommy-cooper.html
- GRO Register of Births: Se 1930 5b 60 St Thomas – David J. Cooper, mmn – Wright
- SoPSE.org.ukhttp://www.sopse.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=query&p=gateway&f=generic_objectrecord_postsearch.htm&_IXFIRST_=3652&_IXMAXHITS_=1&m=quick_sform&tc1=i&tc2=e&s=6_1o_IDUuQi
- Sussex Worldhttps://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/end-of-an-era-as-eastbourne-magic-shop-to-disappear-forever-1128918
- h2g2https://web.archive.org/web/20040916160730/https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2116496
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/shortcuts/2016/dec/05/tommy-cooper-fez-much-more-than-prop
- British Music Hall: An Illustrated Who's Who from 1850 to the Present Dayhttps://books.google.com/books?id=hHKfAAAAMAAJ
- John Fisher, Tommy Cooper: Always Leave Them Laughing, Harper Collins, 2006, p. 137
- The Registerhttps://www.theregister.com/2015/05/25/feature_will_hay_british_comedy_legend/
- Fisher, Tommy Cooper, pp. 157–158
- "BBC Two - The Art of Tommy Cooper"https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007hzl2
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/the-secret-life-of-tommy-cooper-417272.html
- "Tags: 762"https://www.beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/762/tommy-cooper-%E2%80%93-flawed-genius/page/0/2
- The Guardian 25 Apr 1977 - Page 5.
- Cooper, Thomas Frederick [Tommy] (1921–1984)https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-1005434
- For the Love of Tommy
- Court of Great Lambeth Law England and Wales (CGPLA)
- Express.co.ukhttps://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1063324/Tommy-Cooper-death-daughter-His-Own-Words-jokes-latest-news-update
- Irish Mirrorhttps://www.irishmirror.ie/whats-on/tommy-coopers-dark-side-id-3430619
- Wales on Sundayhttp://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/04/12/tommy-cooper-s-last-act-fooled-us-all-says-jimmy-tarbuck-91466-23367910/
- Wales on Sundayhttp://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/05/10/tommy-cooper-death-video-posted-on-youtube-91466-23585341/
- My Mate Bought A Toasterhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENoiHgh7iUI
- English Heritagehttps://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/tommy-cooper/
- Lodge Brothers Funeral Directorshttp://www.lodgebros.co.uk/news/mortlake-crematorium-celebrates-75-years/
- Richmond and Twickenham Timeshttp://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/11261771.Mortlake_Crematorium_marks_75_years/
- "Just Like That! | catspaw"https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/3153430705082466305
- Channel 4https://www.channel4.com/press/news/channel-4-reveals-untold-tommy-cooper
- TheGuardian.comhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/dec/28/tv-review-the-untold-tommy-cooper-ben-hur
- tommycooper.homesteadcloud.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20181227230552/https://tommycooper.homesteadcloud.com/statue
- BBC Newshttps://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7260219.stm
- Wales Newshttp://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/01/30/tommy-cooper-statue-s-red-nose-gone-just-like-that-91466-22814692
- "Roll of Honour"http://www.gowr.co.uk/roll-of-honour/
- "Cook Tops Poll of Comedy Greats"https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/jan/02/arts.artsnews
- Walesonline.co.ukhttp://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/television-in-wales/2011/07/11/i-thought-about-retraining-as-a-plasterer-says-ex-one-show-presenter-jason-manford-91466-29033283/
- Observer.guardian.co.ukhttps://www.theguardian.com/observer/omm/story/0,,1240051,00.html
- The Independenthttps://web.archive.org/web/20100220000859/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/just-like-that-tommy-coopers-final-days-447928.html
- Andy Harries, Coventry Conversations, 25 Aprilhttps://archive.today/20120713040451/http://podcasting.services.coventry.ac.uk/podcasting/index.php?id=117
- Digital Spyhttps://web.archive.org/web/20130609013221/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a483937/shameless-david-threlfall-to-play-tommy-cooper-in-one-off-itv-drama.html
- South Wales Echohttps://www.questia.com/read/1G1-223745229
- Marketing Weekhttps://www.marketingweek.com/bhf-uses-tommy-cooper-in-latest-ads/
- "Being Tommy Cooper"https://web.archive.org/web/20130409033025/http://www.beingtommycooper.co.uk/
- TOMMY COOPER: NOT LIKE THAT, LIKE THIShttps://web.archive.org/web/20150904060704/http://presscentre.itvstatic.com/presscentre/sites/presscentre/files/Tommy%20Cooper.pdf
- "Lincolnshire-based professional theatre company"http://www.hambledonproductions.com/
- "Home"http://www.museumofcomedy.com/
- BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37193991
- BBChttps://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000stwt
- British Comedy Guidehttps://www.comedy.co.uk/people/tommy_cooper/
- BFIhttps://web.archive.org/web/20190423165208/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f8d6f86
- BBC Programme Indexhttps://web.archive.org/web/20231008113318/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?order=first&q=%22tommy+cooper%22#top
- British Hit Singles & Albums