"What Happened To His Face?": Bradley Cooper’s New Look Has Fans Comparing Him To Barry Manilow
“He’s ruined his face. I loved his old look.”
Bradley Cooper is no stranger to turning heads — but this time, it’s not for a blockbuster movie or a red-carpet romance. The 50-year-old actor made waves at the New York Film Festival, sparking an internet frenzy over what fans are calling his “new face.”
Social media lit up with side-by-side photos, and let’s just say people had… thoughts. Some couldn’t get over how dramatically different he looked, while others insisted he now bears an uncanny resemblance to Barry Manilow.
Plastic surgeons have been weighing in, too, offering theories on what might explain the shift in Cooper’s appearance. According to aesthetics expert Dr. Jonny Betteridge, the actor seems to have taken a “refined and youthful” turn that’s quite the departure from his famously rugged look.
“Once known for his masculine charm, he now appears to have embraced a smoother, more polished vibe,” Betteridge explained. He suggested a mix of potential treatments — Botox, eyelid lifts, facelifts, and even laser resurfacing — could be behind the transformation.
The doctor even noted small clues, like changes in Cooper’s earlobes, that might hint at surgical tweaks. “There are subtle signs of a facelift near the ears,” he said, hinting that the actor’s refreshed look might not be entirely au naturel.
Other experts chimed in with their own observations. Consultant plastic surgeon Paul Tulley pointed out that while Cooper has always had great bone structure, something about his jawline and neckline now looks “more defined.”
“His face appears a little slimmer and tighter,” Tulley said, suggesting that some contouring or lifting could be at play. “He’s always had striking features, but these recent changes give him a distinctly different aesthetic.”
Patrick Mallucci, another plastic surgeon, agreed — and didn’t mince words. “It looks like he’s had a facelift and eyelid surgery,” he said, adding that Cooper’s newly sharpened jaw and lighter neck are telltale signs.
Naturally, fans have had mixed reactions. Some are mourning what they see as the loss of the actor’s original charm, saying age had actually made him even more handsome.
“That’s a shame,” one fan wrote online. “He was so good-looking that aging made him better!” Another was even more direct: “He’s ruined his face. I loved his old look — it had character.”
Others were quick to compare his latest photos to another famous crooner. “He looks like Barry Manilow now,” one user commented, summing up what became one of the most viral takes on Cooper’s transformation.
Despite all the chatter, Cooper hasn’t addressed the speculation. He’s continued appearing at high-profile events — including the BFI London Film Festival and a Vogue party alongside his 29-year-old girlfriend, Gigi Hadid — both of which kept the conversation alive.
Meanwhile, the conversation isn’t just about one celebrity’s potential surgery. Experts say Cooper’s transformation mirrors a growing trend among men turning to cosmetic procedures to maintain a youthful appearance.
According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, facelifts have risen by eight percent overall in the last year, with a whopping 26 percent increase among male patients. It’s clear that more men are quietly opting for tweaks that promise “effortless youth” — even if the results aren’t always subtle.
The cost? Anywhere between £20,000 and £150,000, depending on how extensive the work is. And while many patients pursue these treatments in their 30s to 50s, doctors say the pressure to “age gracefully” (but not too gracefully) is starting earlier than ever.
Dr. David Jack, another aesthetics specialist, explained that the goal for many men is to look refreshed without looking “done.” “The logic is that earlier surgery can be less obvious, but it risks creating a mismatch between the face and the rest of the body,” he said.
In other words — a 50-year-old face that looks 35 can be more jarring than flattering. Jack also warned that overdoing it can have the opposite of the intended effect. “If it’s too aggressive or not tailored to male anatomy, the result can look overly feminine — with full cheeks, softened jawlines, or shiny, overly tight skin.”
The 50-year-old actor made waves at the New York Film Festival, sparking an internet frenzy over what fans are calling his “new face.”
Michael Ostuni/Getty Images“Once known for his masculine charm, he now appears to have embraced a smoother, more polished vibe.”
Jim Spellman/Getty Images"There are subtle signs of a facelift near the ears,” Dr. Jonny Betteridge said.
E! News
"He looks like Barry Manilow now,” one user commented.
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Social media lit up with side-by-side photos.
Experts say Cooper’s transformation mirrors a growing trend among men turning to cosmetic procedures to maintain a youthful appearance.
E! News
Fans are still divided about Cooper's new look.
Karwai Tang/Getty Images
Social media exploded with opinions on Bradley Cooper’s supposed makeover.
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Ultimately, experts agree that the best aesthetic work is invisible. “The art lies in knowing when to stop,” Jack said. “The goal should always be to look like the best version of yourself — not someone else entirely.”
As for Cooper, fans are still divided — some nostalgic for the star who once defined effortless masculinity, others fascinated by the new, polished version. Whatever the truth behind his transformation, one thing’s certain: Hollywood’s golden boy just reminded everyone that even perfection isn’t immune to a little tweak here and there.
