Honestly, if you were a teenager or in college around 2012, you probably remember Oliver Cooper. He was that loud, fast-talking guy in the green sweater vest who basically convinced an entire generation that throwing a party involving a flamethrower and a jumping castle was a viable life goal. That movie was Project X, and for a while, it felt like Cooper was destined to be the poster child for "America’s favorite dirtbag."
But here’s the thing. While most people still associate him with the chaos of that found-footage rager, his career has taken some pretty wild turns. He didn't just stick to playing the obnoxious best friend. From chilling turns as a real-life serial killer to a lovable stoner valet in the 80s, the list of Oliver Cooper movies and tv shows is actually way more diverse than you might think.
He’s a Sylvania Township, Ohio native who basically skipped the whole "graduating college" part at Arizona State to try his luck in LA. It worked. Within a few years, he wasn't just acting; he was writing and producing his own indie films.
The Project X Shadow and the Early Years
Let's talk about Costa. That’s the character that started it all. In Project X, Cooper played the mastermind behind the most destructive high school party in cinematic history. He wasn't even supposed to be a "New York guy," but he gave off such a strong Queens vibe during his audition that the writers actually changed the character’s backstory to fit his energy.
It’s a performance that earned him two MTV Movie Award nominations—one for Best Comedic Performance and another for Best On-Screen Dirtbag. He lost, but the label stuck. For a few years, it seemed like Hollywood only wanted him for that specific brand of "confident but probably shouldn't be" energy.
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You saw him pop up in The Hangover Part III as a pharmacy assistant. He had a role in Runner Runner alongside Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake. Then there was Grown Ups 2. He was getting work, sure, but he was still very much in that "funny sidekick" lane.
Breaking the Mold: Red Oaks and Californication
Things started to get interesting when he jumped into TV. If you haven't seen Red Oaks on Amazon Prime, you’re missing out on his best work. He played Wheeler, a valet at a posh New Jersey country club in the 1980s.
Wheeler is basically the polar opposite of Costa. He’s a sweet, perpetually stoned philosopher who’s desperately in love with a lifeguard named Misty. It’s a quiet, vulnerable performance that proved Cooper had range beyond just yelling at people to "party harder."
Around the same time, he joined the final season of Californication. He played Levon, the long-lost son of David Duchovny’s Hank Moody. It was a weird, polarizing role for fans of the show, but it allowed him to play a character that was awkward, desperate for connection, and deeply uncool—another sharp pivot from his breakout role.
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A Chilling Turn in Mindhunter
If you want to see Cooper truly disappear into a role, look no further than Mindhunter Season 2. Most people didn't even realize it was him at first.
He played David Berkowitz, the notorious "Son of Sam" killer.
Gone was the comedic timing and the smirk. Instead, he was heavy-set, soft-spoken, and deeply unsettling. He captured Berkowitz's frantic energy and the bizarre "demon dog" stories with a precision that was honestly a bit terrifying. It’s a masterclass in transformative acting that doesn't get talked about enough when people bring up the best cameos in the series.
Recent Projects and Creative Control
Cooper hasn't just been waiting for the phone to ring. He’s been carving out a space for himself in the indie world, often working with his childhood friend, director Joe Burke.
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In 2024 and 2025, his output has been surprisingly prolific. He starred in Stealing Pulp Fiction, a quirky heist comedy that feels right in his wheelhouse. But the real passion project seems to be Burt (2025). Cooper didn't just star in it; he wrote and produced it. The film is a deeply personal story about a street musician with Parkinson’s, inspired by real-life musician Burt Berger. It’s a far cry from the debauchery of his early 20s.
His filmography lately looks like a "one for them, one for me" strategy:
- Clawfoot (2023): A twisted thriller where he plays a guy named Samuel.
- The Ultimate Playlist of Noise (2021): A moving Hulu original where he plays Dennis.
- Valley of the Boom (2019): A National Geographic docudrama where he portrayed tech pioneer Todd Krizelman.
- The Front Runner (2018): Playing political consultant Joe Trippi in a serious biographical drama.
What’s Next for Oliver Cooper?
As we head into 2026, he’s got Soulm8te on the horizon, a project that’s currently in post-production. It looks like he’s leaning more into the sci-fi and thriller genres lately, which is a cool evolution to watch.
If you’re looking to catch up on his work, don't just stop at the movies where he’s the "party guy."
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch Red Oaks: It’s the hidden gem of his career. If you liked the nostalgia of Stranger Things but want something more grounded and funny, start here.
- Revisit Mindhunter: Seriously, watch the Berkowitz interview (Season 2, Episode 2). It’ll change how you see his acting ability.
- Check out his indie work: Films like Four Dogs or the upcoming Burt show the side of him that Hollywood usually ignores—the writer and the producer.
Oliver Cooper is one of those actors who has managed to survive the "breakout teen star" curse by simply being better at his job than people expected. He's not just the guy from the party movie anymore. He's a storyteller who’s just as comfortable in a crime scene as he is in a comedy club.