Barry Michael Cooper, ‘New Jack City’ Writer, Dies at 66

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Barry Michael Cooper, a writer and movie producer who collaborated on the ’90s blaxploitation hit “New Jack City” and completed his “Harlem trilogy” with the films “Sugar Hill” and “Above the Rim,” passed away in Baltimore, Maryland on Tuesday. He was 66 years old.

I was saddened to learn about the passing of a remarkable individual who had worked closely with filmmaking legend Spike Lee on the Netflix adaptation of his iconic debut feature “She’s Gotta Have It.” In this collaboration, I had the privilege of working alongside him as a producer for both seasons, and even penned three captivating episodes. This talented soul left an indelible mark on the series that will forever be cherished by its dedicated fans.

In his first attempt at screenwriting for a full-length film, Richard Cooper collaborated with Mario Van Peebles on “New Jack City.” Alongside Thomas Lee Wright, they penned this movie that featured Wesley Snipes and Ice-T in leading roles as a ruthless gang leader and a tough cop respectively. The story unfolded against the backdrop of a crack epidemic in Harlem, with the characters skillfully avoiding each other. Prior to this, Cooper was employed as an investigative journalist at The Village Voice, where his work resulted in the 1989 cover feature “Youth Under Fire: New Jack City’s Impact on Detroit’s Young,” which delved into the drug war in Detroit.

Three years after, Cooper finished what became known as a “Harlem trilogy” by releasing two more films: “Sugar Hill” in 1994 and “Above the Rim,” both of which were part of this trilogy. Although these movies didn’t receive the same critical acclaim or long-term impact as “New Jack City,” they did offer Cooper a chance to write for some of the most prominent Black actors from the ’90s, with Wesley Snipes reprising his role in “Sugar Hill” and Tupac Shakur, the Wayans brothers (Leon and Marlon) starring in “Above the Rim.

In the year 2005, Cooper first stepped into directing with the low-budget web-series titled “Blood on the Wall$.” This series followed the tale of a television producer who experienced a descent into turmoil. Later in 2008, he took on the role of producer for the Larry Davis episode that was part of Season 3 in the series “American Gangster.

Growing up in the vibrant heart of Harlem, my experiences deeply resonated within the films I later crafted. Prior to embarking on my screenwriting journey, my bylines graced publications like Spin Magazine and offered insights into music criticism. In 1987, while penning pieces for The Village Voice, I wrote an article entitled “Teddy Riley’s New Jack Swing: Harlem Gangsters Raise a Genius,” which would become the moniker for a groundbreaking fusion of R&B and rap. After my successful screenwriting stint in the ’90s, Baltimore became my new home.

Information about other surviving family members of Cooper wasn’t readily accessible at the time. However, it’s confirmed that he has a son named Matthew.

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2025-01-23 03:17