| Veronica Cooper | |
|---|---|
| Born | Veronica Balfe May 27, 1913 Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Died | February 16, 2000 (aged 86) Southampton, Suffolk County, New York, United States |
| Other names | Sandra Shaw, Rocky Cooper |
| Occupation | actress |
| Years active | 1933 |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Spouse | Gary Cooper (1933-1961) (his death) 1 child John Converse (1964-1981) (his death) |
Veronica Cooper (née Balfe) (May 27, 1913 - February 16, 2000) was an American actress who appeared in three films, acting under the name Sandra Shaw. She was the wife of the actor Gary Cooper and mother of painter Maria Cooper Janis.
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Veronica Balfe was born to Veronica Gibbons and Harry Balfe Jr., and lived in Paris with her mother following her parents' divorce. Balfe did not see her father for many years, but kept in touch with her grandfather who owned a ranch in California. Balfe saw her father a few years before his death in the 1950s. Balfe's mother remarried to Paul Shields, a successful Wall Street financier. From childhood, she maintained the nickname "Rocky".
Balfe was sent to Miss Bennett's School for Girls for her education. In 1933, she went to see her great-uncle, Cedric Gibbons, in Hollywood. She played parts in three 1933 films, King Kong, Blood Money, and No Other Woman. She also played herself in Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No.3, in 1942.
Balfe married the actor, Gary Cooper on December 15, 1933. In 1937, Balfe gave birth to their daughter, Maria Cooper. Following Cooper's death, Balfe married John Converse in 1964. Balfe was a heavy smoker. She was deeply interested in sports and was California's woman skeet champion in the 1930s. She also enjoyed golf, swimming, tennis and scuba-diving.
Balfe died in New York on 16 February 2000.
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | King Kong | Blonde dropped by Kong | |
| Blood Money | Girl at Racetrack | ||
| No Other Woman | |||
| 1942 | Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No.3 | Herself |