Bradley Cooper to reprise 'Elephant Man'

Bradley Cooper in character as John Merrick in “The Elephant Man”.

Though Bradley Cooper is internationally known for his handsome good looks, the former “Sexiest Man Alive” is going to again star in the title role of “The Elephant Man” on Broadway. According to Entertainment Weekly, the two-time Oscar nominee will reprise a role he first played at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts in 2012. And, as was the case then, Cooper will perform the role without the benefit of make-up or prosthetics.

Bernard Pomerance’s 1979 Tony-winning play is about the real-life Englishman John Merrick who went from being a circus sideshow “freak” to become the toast of London society in the Victorian era. David Lynch’s 1980 film garnered eight Oscar nominations, including one for John Hurt who did wear prosthetics based on casts from Merrick’s body.

This will be Cooper’s first return to Broadway since his 2006 performances in “Three Days of Rain” with Julia Roberts and Paul Rudd.