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The Interview: Meet Matt Katzenbach, the hunk who punked Sundance as Cradley Booper

DREAMBOAT Matt Katzenbach, of Salt Lake City (at right in photo), is not related to former Daily News intern and Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper. Nor, quite obviously, is Matt's identical twin, Scott (the handsome fellow on the left). Nonetheless, the Arizona-born brothers bear a striking resemblance to the Rydal-raised star of Silver Linings Playbook.

DREAMBOAT Matt Katzenbach, of Salt Lake City (at right in photo), is not related to former Daily News intern and Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper. Nor, quite obviously, is Matt's identical twin, Scott (the handsome fellow on the left). Nonetheless, the Arizona-born brothers bear a striking resemblance to the Rydal-raised star of Silver Linings Playbook.

Way back since the days of Alias, from L.A. to London to Bangkok, the siblings have, with increasing frequency, had to answer the same question from strangers: "Do you know who you look like?"

For the record, they do. But only one of the 27-year-old twins - Matt, a university entrepreneurship program manager - has put his "Sexiest Man Alive" doppelganger-ness to the test. Recently, on a friend's dare, he made like Coop and waltzed into a private party or two during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

The bouncers weren't onto him. But the tabloids were. So, naturally, he did it again. That time, he turned his frolics into a hilarious YouTube video. The Internet now knows him as "Cradley Booper." He tells Lauren McCutcheon why he'd prefer to be known as . . . Matt.

Q So. This little prank of yours.

It started at Sundance last year. I was walking down the street, and all of a sudden, there was a huge mob of people following me, asking for pictures and autographs. This year, I did it on a dare, as just a fun way to poke some fun at the situation, how everyone is so celebrity crazed.

Q But now you're a celebrity, too.

This has actually been helpful. Every day - I'm not joking with you - probably since Alias, people have been coming up to me and asking, "Has anyone ever told you, you look like Bradley Cooper?"

It really kicked off with Wedding Crashers. Then The Hangover was a huge catalyst, and most recently, American Sniper. Now, people say, "You're the fake Bradley Cooper."

Q And that's . . . better?

Here's what I've learned from this whole thing: Because I happen to resemble Bradley Cooper, I've realized all this crazy attention comes at the expense of anonymity and your identity.

You're not able to go out to a public space without being recognized. You want to go to places and not be known. How does Bradley Cooper deal with all this?

Q He seems to manage. What do you do when you're not using your looks to get into parties?

I create and manage the Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Utah. We've made an app called Green Changes, to introduce and increase glass recycling rates, and to get staff and faculty to take more public transit.

Q What did your brother think of your new notoriety? Was he in on it?

He had no idea it was even happening. Seven, eight months ago, he took a volunteer severance package from a large tech company in the Bay Area, and he's been traveling around the world, experiencing different cultures. Right now he's motorcycling through Vietnam.

Q Have you guys ever made an effort to not look like Bradley Cooper?

We are the exact same height. We're the same weight. It doesn't matter if I have a longer beard, or how I dress. We still pass off as him.

Q Any other ways you're like the Coop? You an Eagles fan?

The Cardinals and ASU are my teams.

Q Never heard of em. Any upside to looking like a celebrity?

It has its pros. It has its cons. At the end of the day, the end goal is to produce a laugh or a smile. If I make someone's day a little better, then it was worth it.

Plus, he's awesome. He's an incredible actor, an upstanding guy. At least I look like someone who is a respectable member of society and seems like a good human. At least I don't look like Donald Trump.

Q Ever been to Philly?

Haven't visited yet. But it's on my list.

Q It might help with your accent. Next time you pose as Coop, be sure to name-drop Philly. He always does. And learn to pronounce the word "w-a-t-e-r" as "wudder."

Wudder? Really?

Q Yes. Next say, "downdah shu-ah," which means beach.

[Silence.]

Q Any plans to crash an Oscars after-party later this month?

I can neither confirm nor deny.

Q Anything you need to know about Coop beforehand, just ask me.

Does his girlfriend have a little sister?