Cooper may be used to playing the dashing character in past films, but he’s trying something a little different this time.  The Hangover star is returning to the Broadway stage for the lead role in “The Elephant Man”, Bernard Pomerance’s Tony-award winning 1979 play, according to the New York Times.  The play centers on the life of a disfigured man, and how his genuine kindness forces people to realize that it’s what is on the inside that counts.  “The Elephant Man” was an incredible success when it first debuted, and was most recently at Broadway in 2002, when the role of the Elephant Man was played by Big Fish actor Billy Crudup.  David Bowie and even Star Wars actor Mark Hamill had their time as the lead role, according to the Washington Post.

The Silver Lining Playbooks star will be joining Patricia Clarkson and Alessandro Nivola once again under director Scott Ellis for the performance.  Ellis and the three actors worked together in the 2012 Williamstown Theater Festival production of the play, according to the Washington Post.  The Broadway edition, starring Cooper, Clarkson and Nivola will be taking place at a Shubert theatre.  Cooper’s last time on the Broadway stage was in 2006 along with Julia Roberts and Paul Rudd in “Three Days of Rain”.Cooper’s last time on the Broadway stage was in 2006 along with Julia Roberts and Paul Rudd in “Three Days of Rain”.

Fresh off of receiving an Academy Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role in American Hustle, Cooper will put his acting skills to the test as the Elephant Man, named John Merrick.  Cooper will be performing the role of the disfigured Merrick without the help of any makeup.  Instead, he will be using only his voice and body to convey Merrick’s severe deformities.  This won’t be Cooper’s first rodeo as the Elephant Man though.  According to the Washington Post, Cooper played the role for his senior thesis at the Actors Studio Drama School.