Movies

Barry Michael Cooper, writer-producer known for ‘New Jack City’ and ‘Above the Rim,’ dies at 66

BBG News

Barrie Michael Cooper, a former investigative journalist who later became a screenwriter notable for movies such as “New Jack City,” “Above the Rim,” and “Sugar Hill,” passed away.

On Tuesday, it was confirmed by a representative from the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner that Cooper had passed away. At this time, further information regarding his demise, such as the cause of death, is yet to be disclosed. He was 66 years old.

Matthew J. Cooper, the screenwriter’s son, announced his father’s passing on social media platforms like Instagram on Thursday. There, young Cooper paid tribute to his dad by calling him a “purveyor of kindness,” a “legend,” and a “superhero.

He transformed an entire culture on his own. Though he was a tranquil figure, his greatness is now recognized globally. He’s admired by many and truly understood by just a few.” Matthew Cooper posted this with a picture of him embracing his father, “I’ve always been proud of you, then as well as now, and there will never be another like you.

Music

Prior to his role in “Law and Order: SVU”, Ice-T had already made a name for himself by playing a significant part in the 1991 movie, “New Jack City”, which was instrumental in opening doors for aspiring rapper-actors.

Journalist Nelson George, a contemporary of Barry Cooper, expressed his grief over Cooper’s passing through Substack. “Barry significantly shaped pop culture during the ’80s and ’90s,” George wrote on Wednesday, referencing Cooper’s comprehensive reporting on music and the crack epidemic.

Although most of his later years were spent in Baltimore, he was deeply connected with Harlem,” George remarked.

The Violent Drug Trade of Detroit – New Jack City.” This latter piece, which provided graphic depictions of Detroit’s drug-trade violence, eventually drew Hollywood’s attention and laid the foundation for his “Harlem trilogy.

About two weeks passed, and I found myself aboard a top-tier aircraft bound for Hollywood, where I was due to meet Quincy Jones. To put it mildly, my mind was buzzing with anticipation,” was how Cooper described his state of mind to the Voice in 2007.

Sports

Kyle, played by Duane Martin, aspires to become a brilliant college athlete and an NBA all-star, having honed his skills on the bustling basketball courts of Harlem’s high schools.

In a former time, the esteemed and celebrated producer Jones assigned Cooper the job of reworking a screenplay based on the ’70s drug kingpin Nicky Barnes. Cooper, in collaboration with Thomas Lee Wright, transformed this script into the 1991 movie “New Jack City,” which Mario Van Peebles directed. The cast included Mario Van Peebles, Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, Allen Payne, and Chris Rock.

In 2023, the movie “New Jack City” earned close to $50 million at the U.S. box office, paving the way for additional films portraying urban life with rappers as main characters, according to a critique by The Times’ Mikael Wood. Furthermore, Cooper’s initial film appearance marked the beginning of his trilogy continuation.

In 1994, Cooper and Snipes came together again for the film “Sugar Hill,” where Snipes played a drug dealer aiming to break free from his violent past. This movie was directed by Leon Ichaso and featured Michael Wright, Theresa Randle, and Clarence Williams III alongside them.

1994 saw the release of “Above the Rim,” Cooper’s third film. This movie featured Duane Martin, Leon, Tonya Pinkins, Bernie Mac, and a then-popular rapper, Tupac Shakur. Directed by Jeff Pollack, who co-created “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” the story revolved around the character played by Martin, an aspiring basketball player.

Television

In a natural and easy-to-understand way, we could say that Spike Lee’s updated version of his groundbreaking 1986 film, “She’s Gotta Have It,” exists in a peculiar realm where it feels contemporary and relevant, yet retains some elements that are reminiscent of the past.

After completing his Harlem trilogy, Cooper’s creative work appeared to grind to a standstill for several years. In an interview with The Voice in 2007, he admitted, “I got so self-inflated that I rejected job offers.” He also mentioned that he had legal troubles and found it difficult to secure new employment.

In 2005, he restarted his professional journey as a writer, producer, and director for the web series “Blood on the Walls$,” reteaming him with Wright from “Sugar Hill.” This production chronicled the life of a popular Hollywood producer. Furthermore, in the 2010s, Cooper contributed to the short film “Guilt…” and served as a co-writer for the video game “NBA 2K16,” as per IMDb.

In a return to mainstream television, Cooper made his comeback to Hollywood by featuring in the Netflix revival of “She’s Gotta Have It” – a series that originated from Spike Lee’s 1986 film debut. This 2017 production was developed by Lee and featured DeWanda Wise, Anthony Ramos, Lyriq Bent, and Cleo Anthony in leading roles. The show’s two seasons can currently be streamed on Netflix. Cooper contributed to the writing of three episodes and also joined the producing team.

“Until next time. Harlem’s finest,” Cooper’s son concluded in his Instagram tribute.

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2025-01-23 21:32

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