Gary Cooper began his career when he was 22 in the early 1920s, during the silent film era, starring in Westerns like “The Thundering Herd,” and “The Lucky Horseshoe.” It wasn’t until he played the lead role in “The Virginian,” his first talking picture, that he was on his way to becoming a major Hollywood star. Cooper was one of the few silent film stars who seamlessly transitioned to talking films, and while he excelled in Westerns, he also did extremely well in other genres. These are Gary Cooper’s timeless one-liners that defined a Hollywood icon.
The Oscar-winning actor had close friendships with several noted artists and writers up until his death from prostate cancer at the age of 60. He was Ernest Hemingway’s good friend and played the lead in Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” He was also friends with Pablo Picasso and James Stewart. When Cooper died, Stewart was asked to take Cooper’s role in “How the West Was Won.” (Also read The Most Epic Showdowns in Western Films.)
“People Ask Me How Come You’ve Been Around so Long. Well, It’s Through Playing the Part of Mr. Average Joe American.”
- Year: Unknown
- From: Unknown
This quote is undated, but it’s very fitting as Cooper never saw himself as a handsome, dashing actor. It’s part of the reason he turned down the role of Rhett Butler in “Gone With the Wind.”
“For Me the Really Satisfying Things I Do Are Offered Me, Free, For Nothing. Ever Go Out in the Fall and Do a Little Hunting? See the Frost on the Grass and the Leaves Turning?… Free to Everybody.”
- Year: Unknown
- From: Unknown
Despite his money and fame, being out in nature where it didn’t cost a dime was Cooper’s true joy. It’s something many of us can relate to.
“Nobody in Hollywood Is Normal. Absolutely Nobody. And They Have Such a Vicious Attitude Toward One Another . . . Nobody Has Any Real Friends.”
- Year: Unknown
- From: Unknown
This quote is odd for him because Cooper had a large group of close friends. Something he’d address in another famous quote by Gary Cooper: “The only achievement I am really proud of is the friends I have made in this community.”
“That’s For Me to Know and You to Find Out.”
- Year: 1933
- From: “One Sunday Afternoon”
This quote may not have originated with Cooper – it is said to come from an unidentified story in an 1881 magazine – but it’s a popular taunt used by elementary school children.
“What Puzzles Me Is Why People Seem to Get So Much Pleasure Out of Hurting Each Other.”
- Year: 1936
- From: “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town”
Cooper played a Vermont greeting card writer who amasses great wealth and heads to New York City. There people keep trying to get his money from him. I find the line has a lot of meaning, especially today with all the negativity in politics, news, and social media.
“Uh, That’s a Word We Made Up Back Home for People Who Make Foolish Designs on Paper When They’re Thinking: It’s Called Doodling.”
- Year: 1936
- From: “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town”
This line has incredible value as the screenplay introduced the verb “doodling” to the world and became a new entry in the dictionary in 1935.
“Movie Acting Is a Pretty Silly Business for a Man Because It Takes Less Training, Less Ability, and Less Brains to Be Successful in It Than Any Other Business I Can Think Of.”
- Year: Uncertain, but after 1938’s “The Adventures of Marco Polo”
- From: “Gary Cooper: American Hero” by Jeffrey Meyers
Many disagree with him. Memorizing lines, pulling off different facial expressions, emoting on cue, and following the script’s directions takes skill.
“Gone With the Wind Is Going to Be the Biggest Flop in History.”
- Year: 1939
- From: An interview about Clark Gable being cast as Rhett Butler
He couldn’t have been more wrong. He’d later say that Gable played the role to “perfection.”
“If I Had to Wash Dishes, I Guess I’d Give Up Eating.”
- Year: 1940
- From: “The Westerner”
This line from his role as Cole Harden is one of his funniest. It’s a good take on how much many dislike common household chores.
“The Creator Stands on His Own Judgment. The Parasite Follows the Opinions of Others.”
- Year: 1949
- From: “The Fountainhead”
The character Howard Roark presents his own closing arguments after being tried for demolishing a building. It’s a design he created as an architect. After making a few changes, others took his work and claimed it as their own.
“There’s a Point Here You Either Grow Up and Become Human Being or You Rot.”
- Year: 1958
- From: “Man of the West”
This quote shows his character, Link Jones’ view of what makes a bad guy after leaving his former outlaw ways.
“I Like Westerns Because the Good Ones Are Real…Our Country Was and Is Full of People Who Believe in America.”
- Year: 1959
- From: An interview
While Cooper dabbled in many movie themes, Westerns remained his passion throughout his career.
“Cancer Is Everybody’s Enemy. We Can’t ‘Think’ an Enemy Out of Existence by Ignoring It.”
- Year: 1961
- From: Message to his fans
This quote came from his response to all the well-wishers who had sent him messages. He didn’t like that some writers avoided using the word “cancer.” He wanted it known that a fight against cancer starts with being open to talking about it.
“I Know That What Is Happening Is God’s Will. I Am Not Afraid of the Future.”
- Year: 1961
- From: His final message to the public
Those would be Cooper’s last words after learning from his family that his cancer metastasized and had spread throughout his body. He died nine days later on May 13, 1961, at the age of 60.
“Trying Hard to Look Like Gary Cooper. Super-Duper.”
- Year: 1946
- From: The song “Puttin’ on the Ritz”
The final quote that comes to mind isn’t even from Cooper. It’s about him. “Puttin’ on the Ritz” was by Irving Berlin and sung originally by Lew Conrad with Leo Reisman and His Orchestra. The Cooper line was added in Fred Astaire’s version of the movie “Blue Skies.” Speaking of “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” it’s a song that should be added to One Hit Wonders From the ’80s You Can’t Get Out of Your Head.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Earl Crowley / Hulton Archive via Getty Images.