Plymouth Philharmonic OrchestraGuest Artist

Marianne Leone Cooper is an actress, screenwriter, and author. She had a recurring role on HBO’s The Sopranos as Joanne Moltisanti, Christopher’s (Michael Imperioli’s) mother. She has also appeared in films by Martin Scorsese, John Sayles, Nancy Savoca, and the Farrelly brothers. Her essays and op-ed pieces on a variety of topics have appeared in the Boston Globe. She is married to Chris Cooper, an academy-award-winning actor, and was Jesse Cooper’s mother for seventeen years. After his death in 2005, her essay on grief was published in the Boston Globe (“He Was Our Touchstone”). Her memoir, Knowing Jesse: A Mother’s Story of Grief, Grace, and Everyday Bliss, published by Simon & Schuster, grew out of that essay. A Foundation has been set up in Jesse’s name, which supports inclusion and adapted sports for disabled people through the Federation for Children with Special Needs and AccesSportAmerica. The foundation also supports disabled orphans in Romania through the Romanian Children’s Relief Fund. Ms. Cooper lives on a tidal river on the South Shore of Massachusetts with her husband and two rescue dogs, Titi and Sugar.