Dallas' Michael Cooper Jr. is Feeling The Love on Netflix's Forever

Netflix’s new teen series Forever tells the story of two teenagers as they navigate young love. At the center of that love story is Dallas native Michael Cooper Jr.

Over the course of the first season, which is now streaming, we meet Justin (Cooper) and Keisha (Lovie Simone) — two young athletes who reconnect after time apart and become each other’s first loves.

An adaptation of Judy Blume’s 1975 novel Forever..., the show reimagines the story with two Black teenagers and takes place in 2018. Throughout the eight episodes — for which Mara Brock Akil is the showrunner — we see Justin and Keisha as they deal with dating, sex, college applications, and career ambitions, and how all of these milestones intertwine.

For those of us who grew up on Blume’s stories — like Forever, Deenie and Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret? — Akil’s modern-day adaptation maintains the heart of the original novel while offering Gen-Z audiences a fresh and relatable story for a new era.

We recently caught up with Cooper, just days after Netflix renewed Forever for season 2. He can’t say much about what’s next for Justin and Keisha, but he’s just as emotionally invested in the characters as we are.

Hi Michael! How are you today?
I’m good, man. Just working early.

What are some of your fondest memories of growing up in Dallas?
I think some of my fondest memories are probably going to the State Fair. I love the State Fair, love fair food. My family and I would always go — it was a tradition we would do every year. So when I think of memories of Texas, instantly, the fair comes up. Dallas Cowboys football games were also something that we all [went to] all the time.

Two great Dallas staples! Where did your passion for acting begin?
I think it was always in me. But I didn’t really listen to the calling until senior year of high school, so around 2020. I had done plays when I was younger, but I was really into sports growing up.


I read that when you were younger, you played Martin Luther King Jr. in a play.
Yeah, I did. I was nine years old, and it was during church. We did a Civil Rights Movement play, and I got to play MLK, which was pretty dope.

Which movies are on your Mount Rushmore as master classes in acting?
Oh, that’s a good question. I'll give you my three favorite movies, but there are many beautiful movies with such great acting. My favorite movies are The Godfather, Waves and The Pursuit of Happyness. But as for actors, I love Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep and Viola Davis. Anything they're a part of, they're brilliant in. But I would say those three movies inspired me with what I like, acting-wise. That's a hard question, but a good question.

You’ve also studied political science at University of Texas and Texas Tech. If you weren’t acting, do you think you’d be working in politics?
I don't know. I don't think so. Not anymore. I was supposed to be a lawyer and then potentially go into politics, but I don't think I'm as invested in a political future, necessarily. I think if I weren't acting, I probably would practice law of some sort, but probably not politics.

Alright, now I’m gonna hit you with some California vs Texas questions:

Whataburger or In-N-Out?
Whataburger

HEB or Trader Joe’s?
Trader Joe’s

Who has worse traffic — Dallas or LA?
Oh, definitely LA.

I’ll try to remind myself things could be way worse the next time I’m stuck in traffic here. What was the audition process like for Forever?
When I was home [from college in 2023], I was reading a book, and I asked my mom “What kind of books did you read [growing up?]” And she said, “Judy Blume.”

Two months later, the script came [from my agent], and it was a Judy Blume adaptation, Forever. So I got that audition, I did two tapes, and [Netflix] flew me out to LA the day after my second tape. We did a chemistry read, and I really didn't think I was gonna get it because everybody had a name, everybody had an extensive resume, and they'd been doing it since they were children. And I was like, “There's no way I'm gonna get this,” but we're here. I ended up getting called back for a second chemistry read, and I booked the part.

Were you familiar with the Judy Blume book before?
I actually wasn't. It wasn't until I got the part that I read the book and I started to fall in love with her work. But I wasn't really familiar with Forever.

A lot of fans have praised the show’s soundtrack. Kier Lehman, who was also the music supervisor on shows like Insecure, Mythic Quest and Abbott Elementary, always does a good job of making the music a character in the show, so to speak. Did you discover any new favorite artists during the filming?
Masego, I discovered in the first episode, while watching the show. Justin has this bedroom montage, and he's working on this essay, and I was like, ‘What song is this?’ So I had to pull out my Shazam.

I’m trying to think, what else? [Sings] “I need a gangsta” — That song by Kehlani.I think I had heard it, but I didn't know it was that good until I watched it and heard it. The music is beautiful, and it's such relatable music, especially in that time period, which I think really hits home for a lot of people.

Who is currently on your go-to playlist?
Daniel Caesar, Frank Ocean, Khalid, Lorde, and J. Cole. I listen to a lot of different people. My playlist is all over.

Throughout the story of Forever, love is the foundation. Did starring on this show change your perspective of love?
I don't think it necessarily changed my perspective, because I've always thought love was a powerful thing that we possess. But I think it created this even stronger foundation, that self-love is the best love, and you must know yourself before you're able to truly love someone else.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.