Maria Cooper Janis was born in Los Angeles, California and lived there with her parents, the actor Gary Cooper and his wife Veronica Cooper. She followed a painting career in New York and in 1966 married the world renowned American classical concert pianist, Byron Janis.

Although Mr. Janis’ busy schedule has led them all over the world, Mrs. Janis has enjoyed a successful career as an artist. She pursues her paintings with great energy, exhibiting in the United States as well as Europe and Asia.

Maria Cooper Janis is involved with the American Arthritis Foundation of which her husband, Byron Janis is the National Spokesperson and she sits on the board of Pro Musicis, an organization committed to furthering the careers of young musicians. She also works with the Neuropathy Foundation and is an active board member of the ASPR (American Society for Psychical Research).

She has collaborated on three television specials, one produced by TNT “Gary Cooper, American Life, American Legend,” another, part of TNT’s Biography Series entitled “The Life and Times of Gary Cooper” and she has worked with A&E to contribute to a special on her father for their Biography program titled, “Gary Cooper: The Face of a Hero” which was aired in March of 1998. She has collaborated abroad with a PBS/French production of “Frederick Chopin: A Voyage with Byron Janis.” Mrs. Janis frequently lectures around the country on such topics as, “Growing Up in Hollywood” often with her longtime friend Joan Benny and Foster Hirsch.
She has written a book Gary Cooper off Camera: A Daughter Remembers which gives an inside look into the persona of one of the greatest movie stars of all time. Now 100% of the proceeds of the sales of this book are donated to The Gary Cooper Endowed Support Fund for Indigenous Cultures at The University of Southern California, School of Cinematic Arts. She has collaborated with author Bruce Boyer on Gary Cooper Enduring Style, published in November of 2011 by PowerHouse Books with an introduction by Ralph Lauren.
Maria Cooper Janis worked on a feature film documentary, “The True Gen,” about the special 20-year friendship between Gary Cooper and Ernest Hemingway, the score of which is composed by Byron Janis. In addition She co-produced the PBS documentary produced by Peter Rosen, The Byron Janis Story, about the life of Byron Janis which was nationally aired nationally and contributed to his autobiography, Chopin and Beyond: My Extraordinary Life in Music and the Paranormal.
Her artwork was used for CD, Album cover and limited edition liner note posters for three very special releases Byron Janis, Plays Chopin, Byron Janis, Live on Tour, Volume 1, Byro Janis, Live from Leningrad, the sketches were taken from her collection of work will she traveled on the road with her husband while he was appearing around the world. They can be found on byronjanislive.com, autographed and in limited quantities.
Before the pandemic, Maria and her trusted team archived the entire collection she has preserved and cherished from her Father, Mother, Fans and her own life including the Gary Cooper Papers, personal effects, correspondence, family movies and other incredible treasures to launch an exhibition at The University of Southern California, School of Cinematic Arts now rescheduled for April, 2022
In addition to film projects, she continues her work as a painter and also works with Indigenous Culture interests, something that was very close to her father’s heart, and has started the Gary Cooper Scholarship for American Indian Students in Film and Television at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

My Life with Byron

A Rainbow Life

To be married to a performing artist of the highest caliber possible is quite a trip – a magic carpet ride if you will. A life made up in large part of touring and performances all over the world – North and South America, Moscow to Tokyo, and thousands of points in between – really needs no further descriptions.

The specialness of life with an artist like Byron Janis is the constant saturation with beautiful music both when he is performing on stage or practicing at home. As a child growing up in Hollywood, the daughter of film icon Gary Cooper, I had been exposed to so many wonderful areas of life – except the world of Classical Music – so when I met Byron Janis, he had just returned from an unprecedented tour of the then Soviet Union. It was part of the USA’s efforts to thaw out the Cold War and open up a cultural exchange between our two countries. He was sent by our State Department to represent America and Byron Janis’ music melted the hearts of his Russian audiences and convinced them that America was not “the enemy.”

Living with and artist like Byron is exhilarating, inspiring, volatile and beautiful. It has shown me that to be great you don’t have to have an exploding ego or be so self-centered that you can’t care a lot about other people. Sensitivity for an artist is a double-edged sword – so needed to touch your audiences heart but often very hard to live and function in this daily world and deal with the mountains it puts in our way all the time. We have spent time with wonderful fascinating people in all areas of life from simple to complex, from politics, Ronald Reagan, to artists, Pablo Picasso, and fellow musician, Vladimir Horowitz. Life with Byron touches all areas, in sports, particularly baseball, and he’s been a fan since the age of 5, the same age he started to play the piano, of his hometown team the Pittsburgh Pirates.

I was blessed to know and love Byron’s son Stefan, a talented writer and beautiful human being. Their father/son relationship, in spite of all his travels, was very special, close and inspiring to see. Travelling with Byron over 50 years has shown me what passion and courage is about as I have witnessed his fight to overcome debilitating arthritis in his hands and wrists and keep on performing. But he never let his highest of high standards down. What a lesson! No self-pity – simply his love of music keeps finding a way through the darker days. My – our lives have been blessed and we are every day filled with deep gratitude for it all.

Life & The Art World

MCJ Show at Wildenstein Gallery Buenos Aires 1969.jpeg

University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts the Gary Cooper Endowed Fund for Student Support for Indigenous Cultures

Maria Cooper Janis continues to embrace her father’s legacy with the The Gary Cooper Endowed Fund for Student Support for Indigenous Cultures at The University of Southern California, School of Cinematic Arts.

Limited Edition Autographed Copy - $35; Limited Edition Personalized & Autographed Copy - $60

Purchase a copy of the book & 100% of the proceeds will be donated to The Gary Cooper Endowed Fund for Student Support for Indigenous Cultures at The University of Southern California, School of Cinematic Arts

Gary Cooper Off Camera: A Daughter Remembers

by Maria Cooper Janis. Introduction by Tom Hanks

Gary Cooper (1901-1961) is an American icon-an actor whose handsome features and unstudied poise made him one of the great stars of Hollywood’s Golden Era. Now, his only child gives us an extraordinary memoir - a book that reveals the Gary Cooper only she knew. Illustrated throughout with 175 photographs, including many never-before-published family pictures, Maria Cooper Janis’ heartfelt book offers an unprecedented look at her father’s private side, from his Montana boyhood and his Hollywood home life to his friendships with Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, and Jimmy Stewart, among others. Filled with anecdotes that capture the off-screen humor and warmth of this avid outdoorsman and great humanitarian, Gary Cooper Off Camera is an unforgettable portrait of a great star and a beloved father.

Purchase