What Happened to Cooper Alexander Hoffman?
Cooper Hoffman is an American actor who gained prominence with his debut lead role in Paul Thomas Anderson's 2021 film "Licorice Pizza," earning a Golden Globe nomination. Since then, he has actively built a diverse filmography, appearing in several films and making his stage debut, with multiple projects slated for release in 2025 and 2026, and is currently rumored for a major Marvel role.
Quick Answer
Cooper Hoffman, son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, has rapidly established himself as a notable actor since his critically acclaimed debut in "Licorice Pizza" (2021). He has starred in films like "Wildcat" (2023), "Saturday Night" (2024), and the Stephen King adaptation "The Long Walk" (2025), and made his Off-Broadway debut in 2025. As of July 2026, he is set to star in Hulu's drama pilot "Durango" and is reportedly Marvel Studios' top choice to play Cyclops in the upcoming X-Men reboot.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
Born in New York City
Cooper Alexander Hoffman is born to actor Philip Seymour Hoffman and costume designer Mimi O'Donnell.
Father Philip Seymour Hoffman Passes Away
Cooper's father, acclaimed actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, dies when Cooper is 10 years old.
Cast as Lead in Paul Thomas Anderson's Film
It is announced that Cooper Hoffman will star in Paul Thomas Anderson's untitled 1970s coming-of-age drama, later revealed as 'Licorice Pizza,' marking his acting debut.
Film Debut in 'Licorice Pizza'
Hoffman makes his critically acclaimed film debut as Gary Valentine in Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Licorice Pizza.'
Golden Globe Nomination
He receives a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his performance in 'Licorice Pizza.'
Appears in 'Wildcat'
Hoffman stars in Ethan Hawke's biopic 'Wildcat,' portraying Manley Pointer, which premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival.
Roles in 'Saturday Night' and 'Old Guy'
He portrays Dick Ebersol in the biographical comedy-drama 'Saturday Night' and stars as Wihlborg in the action-comedy 'Old Guy.'
Stars in 'The Long Walk' and Stage Debut
Hoffman takes on the lead role of Raymond Garraty in the Stephen King adaptation 'The Long Walk' and makes his Off-Broadway debut in Sam Shepard's 'Curse of the Starving Class.'
Filming for 'Artificial' and 'The Chaperones'
He joins the cast of Luca Guadagnino's 'Artificial,' with filming commencing in July and wrapping in October. Production for A24's 'The Chaperones' also begins in late October.
Premiere of 'Poetic License'
Maude Apatow's directorial debut, the relationship comedy 'Poetic License,' in which Hoffman co-stars, premieres at the Toronto Film Festival.
Cast in Hulu Pilot 'Durango'
It is announced that Cooper Hoffman will star opposite Kathryn Newton in Hulu's drama pilot 'Durango.'
Rumored for Marvel's Cyclops Role
Reports surface that Cooper Hoffman is Marvel Studios' 'top choice' to play Scott Summers, a.k.a. Cyclops, in the upcoming X-Men reboot.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Cooper Alexander Hoffman was born on March 20, 2003, in New York City, the son of acclaimed actor Philip Seymour Hoffman and costume designer Mimi O'Donnell. His father's death in 2014, when Cooper was just ten years old, left a significant impact, with Philip Seymour Hoffman's will expressing a wish for his son to grow up away from the pressures of Hollywood. Despite this, Cooper eventually pursued acting, initially participating in short films with friends and family friend Paul Thomas Anderson.
Hoffman made a remarkable acting debut in 2021, starring as Gary Valentine in Paul Thomas Anderson's coming-of-age film "Licorice Pizza." His performance garnered critical acclaim and earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy in 2022, immediately establishing him as a talent to watch.
Following his breakout role, Hoffman quickly diversified his portfolio. In 2023, he appeared in Ethan Hawke's Flannery O'Connor biopic "Wildcat," which premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival. The year 2024 saw him in two films: the biographical comedy-drama "Saturday Night," where he portrayed Dick Ebersol, and the action-comedy "Old Guy," starring opposite Christoph Waltz and Lucy Liu.
2025 was another busy year for Hoffman, featuring significant roles. He starred as Raymond Garraty in Francis Lawrence's adaptation of Stephen King's dystopian novel "The Long Walk," a physically and emotionally demanding role that resonated with audiences and was a box office success. He also made his stage debut in an Off-Broadway production of Sam Shepard's "Curse of the Starving Class." Additionally, he premiered Maude Apatow's directorial debut, the relationship comedy "Poetic License," at the Toronto Film Festival.
Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, Hoffman continues to be active. He joined the cast of Luca Guadagnino's biographical comedy-drama "Artificial," which wrapped filming in October 2025 and is slated for a 2026 release. He is also set to reunite with his "Long Walk" co-star David Jonsson in A24's "The Chaperones," with production scheduled to begin in late 2025 for a 2026 release. In June 2026, it was announced that Hoffman would star in Hulu's drama pilot "Durango" alongside Kathryn Newton. Most recently, on July 16, 2026, rumors surfaced that Cooper Hoffman is Marvel Studios' "top choice" to portray Cyclops in the highly anticipated X-Men reboot.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Cooper Alexander Hoffman made different choices?