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Bradley Cooper took on the challenging role of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in the biographical war drama,American Sniper. In real life, Chris Kyle was a 230-pound muscular-built soldier with 160 confirmed kills as a sniper during his service in Iraq. To portray him authentically, Cooper underwent a drastic physical transformation in a short period of 10 weeks. He packed nearly 40 pounds for the role, which is widely regarded as his best film by fans.
Despite its modest budget of $59 million, the film became a box-office success, earning a remarkable $547 million. It stands as director Clint Eastwood’s highest-grossing film. The film was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Cooper.
Also Read:“I don’t remember having any….”: Bradley Cooper Reveals Why He Skipped a Major Storyline for ‘Maestro’ That Many Fans Are Upset About
Bradley Cooper’s Intake Was 6000 Calories A Day For His Role
The monumental challenge of transformingBradley Cooperfrom his 185-pound frame to the 230-pound Chris Kyle fell into the hands of trainer Jason Walsh. Cooper’s previous role required him to avoid lifting weights to have a worn-down appearance. Furthermore, he had existing back and shoulder issues. However, the biggest issue was the time constraint, with just 10 weeks before the filming ofAmerican Sniper.
Walsh, a trainer for celebrities as well as athletes, began by addressing Cooper’s major imbalances. He put theMaestroactor through corrective movements, training twice a day. The first session involved foundation-building exercises like deadlifts and squats, while the second session involved muscle-building routines.
Cooper incorporated unilateral exercises such as Bulgarian split squats and single-leg deadlifts, including the Romanian deadlift with a landmine (a piece of exercise equipment). By the end of the 10-week training, Cooper advanced to heavy rack pulls and hex bar deadlifts. The latter became a major part of their routine and even found its way into the movie in a workout scene.
Walsh revealed that the training would have been futile without his high-calorie diet. The trainer had to force-feed the actor almost 6000 calories of food. Walsh shared withMen’s Health,“Bradley was coming off a movie where he had to be smaller. We had to force-feed him. That was the hardest part.”Cooper also agreed that the diet was“a real shock to my body.”
Following the diet plan, theAmerican Hustleactor’s personal chef prepared five daily meals, aiming for a nutrient-rich diet. To meet the required calorie intake, Cooper supplemented the meals with a pre-and post-workout drink along with energy bars, ensuring sufficient carbs and protein. While the heavyweight lifestyle was a unique experience for the actor, he also outgrew his clothes and even his wedding ring.
Also Read:“I stole from all three of those guys”: Before Maestro, Bradley Cooper Went Full Method for 1 Flop Movie by Imitating Gordon Ramsey
American SniperVoted Bradley Cooper’s Best Film By Fans
In a poll conducted byRanker, which included the votes of more than 2,200 fans,American Sniperemerged as Bradley Cooper’s fan-favorite film. The film surpassed his other two Oscar-nominated roles inA Star is BornandSilver Linings Playbook. It appears that the impressive effort Cooper put into the film garnered recognition from the fans.
After the filming ofAmerican Sniper, Cooper had to shed the extra weight for his next role inBurnt. Cooper’s transformation once again made headlines last year, this time portraying American composer Leonard Bernstein inMaestro. However, this change was facilitated by makeup, prosthetics, and some mental preparations from Cooper.
Also Read:“That’s how I’ve done it as an actor”: Bradley Cooper is Grateful for Christian Bale’s Advice for Maestro After Going Crazy Trying to Be Like Daniel Day-Lewis
American Sniperis now available for streaming on Max, while his latest critically acclaimed filmMaestrocan be streamed on Netflix.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3018
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
