Hollywood Film Awards to Honor 'Silver Linings Playbook' Star Bradley Cooper (Exclusive)

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The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Bradley Cooper, the actor best known for The Hangover franchise but now a serious best actor Oscar contender for his performance in David O. Russell's dramedy Silver Linings Playbook, will receive the Hollywood Actor Award at the 16th annual Hollywood Film Awards -- the first awards show of the 2012 Oscar season -- when its gala ceremony is held Oct. 22 at the Beverly Hilton.

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The Hollywood Film Awards, which are associated with the Hollywood Film Festival and determined by HFF founder and executive director Carlos de Abreu and his advisory team, recognize individuals for both career achievement and work released within the calendar year.

Previous recipients of the Hollywood Actor Award include Jackie Chan (1999), Russell Crowe (2000), Ewan McGregor (2001), Tom Hanks (2002), Johnny Depp (2003), Leonardo DiCaprio (2004), Joaquin Phoenix (2005), Forest Whitaker (2006), Richard Gere (2007) Josh Brolin (2008), Robert De Niro (2009), Robert Duvall (2010), and George Clooney (2011). Crowe and Whitaker went on to win the best actor Oscar just months after collecting theirs, while Hanks, Depp, DiCaprio, and Clooney received nominations.

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Cooper is a graduate of Georgetown University and the Actors Studio MFA program. His credits include David Dobkin's Wedding Crashers (2005), Peyton Reed's Yes Man (2008), Todd Phillips's The Hangover (2009), Ken Kwapis's He's Just Not That Into You (2009), Garry Marshall's Valentine's Day (2010), Joe Carnahan's The A-Team (2010), Neil Burger's Limitless (2011), Phillips's The Hangover Part II (2011), Brian Klugman's The Words (2012), and Derek Cianfrance's The Place Beyond the Pines (2013).

Silver Linings Playbook, meanwhile, generated great acclaim following its world premiere last month at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the audience award. In it, Cooper portrays a depressed high school teacher who, after being institutionalized for four years, returns home to live with him and his wife (two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro -- with whom he also co-starred in Limitless -- and Oscar nominee Jacki Weaver) and becomes romantically involved with a fellow tortured soul (Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence). The film will be released nationwide on Nov. 21.

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De Abreu tells THR, "We are honored to celebrate Bradley for this major milestone in his career."

THR recently revealed the identities of several other films and people who will be honored at this year's Hollywood Film Awards, including the recipients of the Hollywood Ensemble Acting Award, Hollywood Director Award, Hollywood Actress Award, Hollywood Supporting Actor Award, Hollywood Supporting Actress Award, Hollywood Producer Award, Hollywood Screenwriter Award, Hollywood Animation Award, Hollywood Comedy Award, New Hollywood Award, Hollywood Breakout Performance Award, Hollywood Cinematographer Award, Hollywood Editor Award, Hollywood Production Designer Award and Hollywood Visual Effects Award.

In the past nine years, Hollywood Film Awards honorees went on to garner a total of 85 Oscar nominations and 32 Oscars.