Ralph Cooper

Ralph Cooper (January 16, 1908 – August 4, 1992) was an American actor, dancer, choreographer, and screenwriter born in Harlem, New York City. He appeared on Broadway in 1923 in the musical Runnin' Wild, and went on to build a multifaceted career spanning stage, film, and live entertainment.

Cooper studied at New York University with the intention of pursuing medicine, while simultaneously working as a dancer in small clubs near the campus. His performing career ultimately took precedence, and he became a prominent figure in Black entertainment during the 1930s. His physical appearance earned him the nickname "dark Gable" during that decade.

In July 1935, Cooper founded Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, a weekly Wednesday night event that became one of the most celebrated talent showcases in American entertainment history. He served as the original master of ceremonies for the program. When the Apollo closed in the mid-1970s and subsequently reopened following renovations in 1985, Cooper returned to the master of ceremonies role. He continued in that capacity until late 1986, when he was hospitalized with cancer, at which point his son, Ralph Cooper II, assumed responsibility for the show.

Cooper's film career was equally substantial. In 1937, he formed Cooper-Randol Productions alongside actor George Randol, and later established Million Dollar Productions with producers Harry Popkin and Leo Popkin to create race films. Scholar Tino Balio credited Million Dollar Productions with moving Black filmmaking closer to the mainstream and expanding its ability to attract broader audiences. Cooper wrote, produced, directed, and acted in ten motion pictures, including Dark Manhattan, The Duke Is Tops, Gang War, and Gangsters on the Loose.

In 1963, following the March on Washington, Cooper narrated an album titled The March On Washington (A Chronological History Of Negro Contributions), released the same year as the march, which reached number 102 on the US charts.

Cooper died on August 4, 1992, from cancer. He is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York City.