Ralph Cooper (actor)

Ralph Cooper
Cooper in The Duke Is Tops, 1938.
Born	(1908-01-16)January 16, 1908 Harlem, New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	August 4, 1992(1992-08-04) (aged 84) New York City, New York, U.S.
Cause of death	Cancer
Resting place	Woodlawn Cemetery The Bronx, New York City, New York
Nationality	American
Other names	The Dark Gable Bronze Bogart
Education	New York University (attended)
Occupation	Actor dancer screenwriter emcee choreographer
Years active	1927–1992
Known for	Founder of the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night (1935).
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth (Betti Mays) Cooper (m. 1945; his death 1992)
Children	2

Ralph Cooper (January 16, 1908 – August 4, 1992), was an American actor, screenwriter, dancer and choreographer. Cooper is best known as the original master of ceremonies and founder of amateur night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York City in 1935. He wrote, produced, directed and acted in ten motion pictures. Titles include, "The Duke Is Tops," "Dark Manhattan," "Gangsters on the Loose" and "Gang War."

Cooper was born on January 16, 1908 in Harlem, New York City. He worked as a dancer in small downtown clubs near New York University, which he attended with plans of becoming a medical doctor. In July 1935, Cooper started the Apollo's Amateur Night which ran every Wednesday night. In 1937, Cooper formed Million Dollar Productions with black actor George Randol and white producers Harry Popkin and his brother Leo Popkin to produce race films that he often starred in, wrote, produced and directed. Tino Balio has written that, "Million Dollar, more than any other company, moved black filmmaking away from a marginalized form towards the mainstream, advancing considerably its reputation and ability to attract audiences."

The Apollo closed in the mid–1970s, but the contest was restarted in 1985 after the renovations were completed. Cooper was again the master of ceremonies. His son, Ralph Cooper II, took over the show after his father was hospitalized with cancer in late–1986. He died on August 4, 1992 due to cancer. Cooper is interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York City.