Background
Cohen was born in Manhattan, New York City, the son of Donna (née Ackerman), a director of a preschool, and Noel Cohen, a music teacher.
Cohen was born in Manhattan, New York City, the son of Donna (née Ackerman), a director of a preschool, and Noel Cohen, a music teacher.
He graduated from Elisabeth Irwin High School in 2008 and received a full scholarship to study acting at University of Arts in Philadelphia.
He made his feature film debut in Afterschool (2008). He is best known for his roles as AJ Cross in Derek Cianfrance"s film The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) and as Tony Fiorello in John Crowley"s acclaimed film Brooklyn (2015). He is Jewish, and is a fourth generation New Yorker whose ancestors immigrated from Russia.
Cohen made his stage debut as Mr.
Peachum in a school production of The Threepenny Opera. This is when he realized his passion for acting.
He trained at UArts for two years before dropping out to study acting in New New York 2008–2014: Early career
Cohen made his feature film debut in Afterschool (2008) opposite Ezra Miller.
The film premiered at the 2008 Cannes Festival and received positive reviews from critics." His next role was in the 2010 drama film The Hungry Ghosts.
In 2012, he co-starred in Derek Cianfrance"s crime drama film The Place Beyond the Pines opposite Bradley Cooper and Dane DeHaan. The film received generally positive reviews and was a box office success. He also had a recurring role as Debra Messing"s character"s son Leo in the first season of the National Broadcasting Company television series Smash and starred as Wendell Pierce"s lover in the independent film Four.
In 2014, he appeared in the drama The Gambler playing a tennis player and in the independent film Beneath the Harvest Sky, for which he received positive reviews.
2015–present: Wider recognition
In 2015, he portrayed Tony, the love interest of Eilis, played by Saoirse Ronan, in the universally-acclaimed drama film Brooklyn, directed by John Crowley, for which he received rave reviews. Rex Reed praised his "wonderful, warm and deeply touching performance".
In Variety, Kristopher Tapley wrote that Brooklyn offered "another reminder that Emory Cohen is one of the most exciting actors of his generation." Actress Cate Blanchett publicly lauded Cohen"s performance, calling him "extraordinary". Cohen had the leading role in the independent film Stealing Cars (2015), opposite Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy.
He received positive reviews for his role as the rebellious smart kid Billy Wyatt.