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Maria Cooper Janis

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Maria Cooper Janis BIO

Maria Cooper Janis was born in Los Angeles, California and lived there with her parents, the actor Gary Cooper and his wife Veronica Cooper.
She followed a painting career in New York and in 1966 married the world renowned concert pianist, Byron Janis. Although Mr. Janis' busy schedule has led them all over the world, Mrs. Janis has enjoyed a successful career as an artist. She pursues her paintings with great energy, exhibiting in the United States as well as Europe and Asia.
Maria Cooper Janis is involved with the American Arthritis Foundation of which her husband, Byron Janis is the National Spokesperson and she sits on the board of Pro Musicis, an organization committed to furthering the careers of young musicians. She also works with the Neuropathy Foundation and is an active board member of the ASPR (American Society for Psychical Research).
She has collaborated on three television specials, one produced by TNT "Gary Cooper, American Life, American Legend," another, part of TNT's Biography Series entitled "The Life and Times of Gary Cooper" and she has worked with A&E to contribute to a special on her father for their Biography program titled, "Gary Cooper: The Face of a Hero" which was aired in March of 1998. She has collaborated abroad with a PBS/French production of "Frederick Chopin: A Voyage with Byron Janis." Mrs. Janis frequently lectures around the country on such topics as, "Growing Up in Hollywood" often with her longtime friend Joan Benny.
She has written a book Gary Cooper off Camera: A Daughter Remembers which gives an inside look into the persona of one of the greatest movie stars of all time. She has collaborated with author Bruce Boyer on Gary Cooper Enduring Style, published in November of 2011 by powerHouse Books with an introduction by Ralph Lauren.
Maria Cooper Janis has been working on a feature film documentary, "The True Gen," about the special 20-year friendship between Gary Cooper and Ernest Hemingway, the score of which is composed by Byron Janis. She has just finished work as a consultant on the PBS documentary produced by Peter Rosen, The Byron Janis Story, about the life of Byron Janis which is currently being aired nationally and contributed to his new autobiography, Chopin and Beyond: My Extraordinary Life in Music and the Paranormal.
In addition to film projects, she continues her work as a painter and also works with American Indian interests, something that was very close to her father's heart, and has started the Gary Cooper Scholarship for American Indian Students in Film and Television at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

Maria Cooper Janis News


The Lambs Present a Virtual Conversation With Maria Cooper


The Lambs present a Virtual Conversation with Maria Cooper, taking place on November 17th at 7:00 PM. Maria Cooper Janis will talk about her father, Gary Cooper.

Photo Coverage: Broadway Producers 'Launch' at the Friars Club


Some of Broadway's leading women producers lunched at the Friars Club today followed by a panel discussion moderated by Friar and Broadway producer Jamie deRoy.  Ms. deRoy who happens to be the 8th woman inducted into the Friars (back in the day), guided the discussion of the distinguished Tony Award Winning group which included Susan Gallin (Other People's Money, Angels in America), Robyn Goodman (Avenue Q, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella), Mara Isaacs (Hadestown, McCarter Theater), Nelle Nugent (Latin History for Morons, For Colored Girls), and Daryl Roth (Kinky Boots, Indecent).

ADG Film Society 2018 Screening Series Kicks Off Sunday April 22 With GRAND HOTEL Screening


Art Directors Guild (ADG) and American Cinematheque kick off the 2018 ADG Film Society Screening Series with a A Tribute To CEDRIC GIBBONS, MGM'S Oscar®-winning Supervising Art Director, featuring a special screening of GRAND HOTEL (1932). A conversation will follow exploring the legacy of Gibbons' work and spotlighting in the Golden Age of Hollywood socialites. A short tribute film will be shown depicting the range of Gibbons extraordinary work and his enduring contributions to design and Art Deco in cinema. The ADG Film Society Series is sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter. 

ADG Film Society Presents GRAND HOTEL Screening Honoring MGM Legendary Art Director Cedric Gibbons


GRAND HOTEL (1932) will launch the Art Directors Guild (ADG) Film Society's 2018 screening series with a spotlight on CEDRIC GIBBONS, MGM'S Legendary Oscar®-winning Supervising Art Director with a record 11 Academy Awards® and 38 nominations, at the Aero Theatre on Sunday, April 22. Gibbons legendary film honors include Singin' In The Rain (1952), An American In Paris(1951), Pride And Prejudice (1940), The Wizard of Oz (1939) and The Great Ziegfeld (1936). He designed the iconic gold Oscar statuette and influenced the architecture of the majestic movie palaces. The annual 2018 Screening Series “Production Design: Designers On Design,”highlighting the work of renowned Production Designers and their creative collaborations, is in association with American Cinematheque and sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter. 

Art Directors Guild Film Society Announces 2018 Screening Series Presented with the American Cinematheque


The Art Directors Guild (ADG) Film Society and the American Cinematheque are co-hosting the annual 2018 Screening Series “Production Design: Designers On Design” highlighting the work of renowned Production Designers and their creative collaborations. The monthly series will run from April through August, and the screenings will alternate between the American Cinematheque's Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the Egyptian (6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood) and the Max Palevsky Theatre at the Aero (1328 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica) with all screenings starting at 5:30 pm. Moderating the screenings are Production Designers THOMAS A. WALSH ADG, JOHN MUTO ADG,and MICHAEL ALLEN GLOVER ADG. The screening series is sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter. For tickets, go to:www.americancinematheque.com.

Photo Coverage: Sheldon Margery & Matt Harnick Host Book Launch Party


The 90th Macy's Day parade balloons will not pass by the Friars Club on 55th street but the celebrity guests at the club got to see some great photos of them yesterday at the club.  Sheldon and Margery Harnick hosted a Book Launch Party for Matt Harnick who has a wonderful new book © Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: A New York City Holiday Tradition, Rizzoli N.Y. 2016, which is filled with exclusive photography by Matt, along with archival images of the spectacular floating balloons.  The book offers a never-before-seen look at the planning and preparation of the parade.  Italy features text by Stephen M. Silverman, Foreword by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Afterword by Terry J. Lindgren, Chairman & CEO of Macy's Inc. in conjunction with this milestone anniversary.  The guests in the Milton Berle Room of the Friars Club were also treated to a performance by Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin and a conversation with Sheldon Harnick, Matt Harnick and Amy Kule, Executive Producer of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  It was a great afternoon and it was nice and warm watching the parade go by inside the club.

Tony Cointreau Hosts Book Party Celebrating A GIFT OF LOVE


On Tuesday September 20, Tony Cointreau celebrated the publication of his new book, 'A Gift of Love - Lessons Learned from My Work and Friendship with Mother Teresa' with a party at Michaels in Midtown Manhattan.

Photo Coverage: Robert Cuccioli Brings A STANDARD LOVE to Birdland


Last night, October 8, the Broadway at Birdland concert series featured Robert Cuccioli, who celebrated the release of his debut solo album, “The Look Of Love.' BroadwayWorld was there for the concert, titled 'A Standard Love,' and we bring you full photo coverage below!

Cinema Arts Center Hosts Byron Janis Documentary Screening & Book Signing


BYRON JANIS, ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ACCLAIMED CONCERT PIANISTS, WHO HAS PLAYED IN THE COLD WAR KREMLIN AND THE REAGAN WHITE HOUSE, WILL JOIN CO-AUTHOR AND WIFE MARIA COOPER JANIS, DAUGHTER OF THE LATE GARY COOPER, FOR A SPECIAL SCREENING OF "THE BYRON JANIS STORY" AND BOOK SIGNING OF HIS RICHLY TEXTURED MEMOIR, CHOPIN AND BEYOND.

Cinema Arts Center Hosts Byron Janis Documentary Screening & Book Signing


BYRON JANIS, ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ACCLAIMED CONCERT PIANISTS, WHO HAS PLAYED IN THE COLD WAR KREMLIN AND THE REAGAN WHITE HOUSE, WILL JOIN CO-AUTHOR AND WIFE MARIA COOPER JANIS, DAUGHTER OF THE LATE GARY COOPER, FOR A SPECIAL SCREENING OF "THE BYRON JANIS STORY" AND BOOK SIGNING OF HIS RICHLY TEXTURED MEMOIR, CHOPIN AND BEYOND.

Photo Coverage: Byron Janis Celebrates 80th Birthday


Internationally renowned pianist Byron Janis celebrated his 80th birthday in grand style with a concert on Monday, March 10 at 6PM where he played his own music for the first time in front of an audience.

Photo Coverage: 'Edge' Opening Night & Party 9/9


Developed and first presented at The Actors Studio in 2003, Edge, written and directed by Paul Alexander, opened off-Broadway on September 9 at the ArcLight Theatre.

Photo Coverage: Celeste Holm's 90th Birthday Party


Stage, screen and TV legend Celeste Holm celebrated her 90th birthday at Tony's DiNapoli on April 29th, and BroadwayWorld was there!

Photo Coverage: Rita Moreno Opens at the Cafe Carlyle


Rita Moreno opens the Cafe Carlyle's 2007 Winter/Spring Season with her show 'Little Tributes,' which began on January 16th

Paul Alexander Forms Artists Theatre Group, Inc. Company


Playwright and director Paul Alexander has announced the creation of a new, not-for-profit theatre company that will spotlight what has historically been the focus of the theatre: the artist

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