Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Cooper grew up focusing primarily on competitive swimming. He received his MFA in Dramatic Performance from the Univ. of Cincinatti College Conservatory of Music (CCM) and then went on for further study at the Welsh College of Music and Drama (Welsh National Conservatoire) in Cardiff, Wales where he was honored as a President's Scholar. He was also honored at the British National Student Drama Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for his one man mul ...