GARY COOPER
Actor Gary Cooper signed this document in 1949 to certify that he agreed a contract to appear in a Warner Brothers movie for $275,000.
Document signed: "Gary Cooper". Pencil notations in unknown hand, 1p, 8½x11, on Warner Brothers letterhead. 1949 October 12. Addressed to Mr. Gary Cooper c/o I. H. Prinzmetal, Beverly Hills, California. Cooper signed this to certify that he agreed to a contract that he signed that same day with Warner Brothers that would have paid him $275,000 in return for performing in an unspecified movie. This is possibly a contract for Bright Leaf (1950) by Warner Brothers. Cooper released two movies in 1949, when he signed this contract - The Fountainhead and Task Force - and one other movie in 1950, Dallas. All of these movies were released through Warner Brothers. Cooper (1901-1960) won two Oscars as Best Actor, in the title role in Sergeant York (1942) and as Marshal Will Kane in High Noon (1952). He was also nominated for the role of Longfellow Deeds in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), Lou Gehrig in The Pride of the Yankees (1942) and Robert Jordan in For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943). Cooper was awarded a Special Academy Award in 1961 "for his many memorable screen performances and the international recognition he, as an individual, has gained for the motion picture industry." Cooper was too ill to accept the Oscar in person and his close friend, a tearful Jimmy Stewart, accepted it in his name. A month later, Cooper died of cancer at the age of 60. Lightly toned and creased. Pencil marks touch signature, which is lightly smeared but legible. Random ink stains. Two file holes at top edge. Otherwise, fine condition.