Rising Romance Stars
Michael Cooper Jr. Is the Breakout Star of Netflix’s ‘Forever’: Meet the Actor
Michael Cooper Jr. is the leading man in Netflix’s new series Forever. He stars as Justin Edwards alongside Lovie Simone in the show, which is a reimagining of Judy Blume’s 1975 novel.
The show is “an epic love story of two Black teens exploring romance and their identities through the awkward journey of being each other’s firsts, set in Los Angeles, 2018.”
Something tells us it won’t be long before everybody knows Michael Cooper Jr.’s name. Scroll down to learn more about him as Forever debuts.
What has Michael Cooper Jr. starred in?
After appearing in a few short films, Cooper landed his first role in the 2021 movie The Pros of Cons. That year, he also appeared in an episode of Vindication.
His first major roles were in 2022’s On the Come Up and The Inhabitant. He was cast in Forever in February 2024. The Netflix series marks Cooper Jr.’s first series regular role.
When did Michael Cooper Jr. start acting?
Cooper first started “dabbling” in theater as a child. His first acting gig was a role as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a play at his church. After continuing to perform in plays, he became serious about acting as a senior in high school.
The actor graduated a semester early and signed with an agent in January 2020. At that point, he began starring in shorts and commercials, while also perfecting his craft at workshops and in acting classes.
Elizabeth Morris/Netflix
Did Michael Cooper Jr. go to college?
Despite pursuing acting full-time, Cooper also continued his education after high school. He was able to maintain a 4.0 GPA while studying at the University of Texas and Texas Tech. Cooper majored in political science.
Who are Michael Cooper Jr.’s acting influences?
“I have several acting role models,” he told The Knockturnal in 2022. “One of the biggest would be Denzel Washington. Not only is he extremely talented in the work but he also expresses his strong relationship with God. Another acting role model is Daniel Kaluuya. He’s extremely grounded in the work and he just seems like a cool guy overall.”
Forever, Season 1, Thursday, May, 8, Netflix
