Jenkintown native Bradley Cooper is once again nominated for an Oscar, this time for Best Actor for the role of composer Leonard Bernstein in Maestro, writes Caroline Goggin for 6abc.

He also directed the movie, which was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.

For his former teacher, Gabrielle Russomagno, an innovation consultant for Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, this comes as no surprise.

“I see in Maestro the culmination of decades of him polishing not only his acting creds but his ability to understand the story and how actors are directed,” she said.

She also described Cooper as an exceptional actor who invests his all into his craft.

When recalling what he was like as a student, Russomagno only had good things to say about the actor.

“He was a very serious thinker, but he was also a really fun person and a really beautiful person and a lovely guy,” she said. “That authenticity has really never left him.”

In Jenkintown, Cooper is beloved for a good reason. Residents remember him as a genuine guy who always made sure to support local businesses.

Read more about Bradley Cooper and his life growing up in Jenkintown before hitting big in Hollywood at 6abc.

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