Early life

He attended the University of Louisville

University of Louisville

The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...

 where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts

Bachelor of Fine Arts

In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...

 degree in Theatre. For several years he worked as a stage actor and director.

Acting career

In 1997, he moved into acting for film and television. In 1998 (during a four month period), he played three different villainous roles on Xena: Warrior Princess

Xena: Warrior Princess

Xena: Warrior Princess is an American–New Zealand supernatural fantasy adventure series that aired in syndication from September 4, 1995 until June 18, 2001....

. One of the roles gave him the distinction of being victim to Gabrielle

Gabrielle (Xena)

Gabrielle is a fictional character played by Renée O'Connor in Xena: Warrior Princess. She is referred to by fans as the Battling Bard of Potidaea. Her trademark weapons are the Amazon fighting staff and later, the sais...

 (Renee O'Connor

Reneé O'Connor

Renée O'Connor is an American actress, producer and director best known for playing the role of Gabrielle on the TV series Xena: Warrior Princess from 1995 to 2001.-Early career:...

) in the "infamous Drool scene" (as named by Xena fans) from the episode, In Sickness and In Hell.

In 2005 he appeared in New Zealand's medical soap opera Shortland Street

Shortland Street

Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...

 as nurse 'Liam Todd', caregiver to Dr. Chris Warner’s twin sister, Amanda Warner

Amanda Warner

Amanda Warner is a fictional character in the long running New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. Amanda is the disabled twin sister of Chris Warner. She has appeared in two short stints throughout the show, and was portrayed by Marissa Stott in 2005....

 (Marissa Stott

Marissa Stott

Marissa Stott is an actress who currently resides in New Zealand.One of her most memorable roles was on New Zealand's medical soap opera Shortland Street where in 2005 she played Amanda Warner, twin sister to Dr...

).

In 2007 he revived the voice of Alpha 6

Alpha 6

The Alpha 6 is a controversial "molecular detector" that is claimed to be able to detect from a distance various substances including explosives and drugs...

 from the long running Power Rangers

Power Rangers

Power Rangers is a long-running American entertainment and merchandising franchise built around a live action children's television series featuring teams of costumed heroes...

 series; a challenge, considering all the prior voice-artists for the character were women.

In 2010 Cooley featured in the fantasy horror film Wound, which was directed by David Blyth.

Voice acting

He has done numerous international radio and TV ad campaigns along with regular voice work for Power Rangers

Power Rangers

Power Rangers is a long-running American entertainment and merchandising franchise built around a live action children's television series featuring teams of costumed heroes...

, Legend of the Seeker

Legend of the Seeker

Legend of the Seeker is a television series based on The Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind. Distributed in U.S. by Disney-ABC Domestic Television, ABC Studios produced the series, which was its first foray into broadcast syndication, with Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Joshua Donen, Ned Nalle and...

 and Sam Raimi

Sam Raimi

Samuel Marshall "Sam" Raimi is an American film director, producer, actor and writer. He is best known for directing cult horror films like the Evil Dead series, Darkman and Drag Me to Hell, as well as the blockbuster Spider-Man films and the producer of the successful TV series Hercules: The...

's, Spartacus: Blood and Sand

Spartacus: Blood and Sand

Spartacus: Blood and Sand is a Starz television series that premiered on January 22, 2010. The series is inspired by the historical figure of Spartacus , a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BC led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Executive producers Steven S...

 and Spartacus: Gods of the Arena

Spartacus: Gods of the Arena

Spartacus: Gods of the Arena is a Starz television mini-series and prequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand, which premiered January 21, 2011. The series follows the character Gannicus , the first gladiator to become Champion of Capua representing Lentulus Batiatus...

.

Directing career

He is also an award-winning short-film maker. His first short ‘The Hit’, (made for $95) went on to immediately win several awards and was purchased by The Rialto Channel

Rialto Channel

The Rialto Channel, is a commercial television station in New ZealandIt began broadcasting on November, 2002 on SKY Network Television.The channel is a movie, documentary and entertainment channel broadcasting 24-hours, 7-days-a-week...

. His second film, ‘Mrs Bracegirdle's Woodlyn Park Adventure

Mrs Bracegirdle's Woodlyn Park Adventure

Mrs. Bracegirdle's Woodlyn Park Adventure is a comedic documentary about a motel park in Waitomo, New Zealand, rated by Lonely Planet as one of the top ten most unusual accommodations in the world...

’ (made for $450) was only submitted to one festival where it earned another Most promising film maker award. His next short film, ‘The Heist’ was also purchased by The Rialto Channel

Rialto Channel

The Rialto Channel, is a commercial television station in New ZealandIt began broadcasting on November, 2002 on SKY Network Television.The channel is a movie, documentary and entertainment channel broadcasting 24-hours, 7-days-a-week...

, and has screened in several festivals across Europe. In April 2009, the film was bestowed a Highly Commended Award (in the category of self-funded films) by the Magma Short Film Festival.

External links