The Evolution of Bradley Cooper

6:00 AM PDT 9/4/2012 by Stephen Galloway

He's "ridiculously different" from his "Hangover" character, says director Todd Phillips of the poster boy for frat boys, who, having survived his demons, reveals a sensitivity, surprising intelligence and range as his two hot films take Toronto.

Ask anyone about Bradley Cooper, and the reaction is the same: "There's nobody who's better liked," says his childhood friend Brian Klugman, who co- directed The Words. Robert De Niro has invited Cooper to stay at his house several times; colleagues including The Hangover's Justin Bartha and Cooper's then-girlfriend Renee Zellweger showed up for his Inside the Actors Studio taping; and demanding directors like David O. Russell (The Fighter) are eager to work with him again and again.