Cooper Norris
Portrayed by Jacob Lofland
Compromised Wildcatter & Aspiring Oil Company Owner
Character Overview
In Season 2, Cooper Norris gets everything he wanted—and loses everything that mattered. After striking oil on his first well, he faces the devastating departure of his girlfriend Ariana, who sees his moral decay. Worse, he discovers his newfound fortune is built on cartel money ("blood money"), trapping him in a deadly game that threatens to destroy the entire Norris family. Cooper's journey is no longer just about ambition; it's a tragic slide into the very corruption he once judged his father for.
Biography
Cooper Norris is the son of Tommy Norris and Angela Norris, portrayed by Jacob Lofland in Taylor Sheridan's Landman. At the heart of Season 1, Cooper represents the next generation of oil workers—young, ambitious, and caught between the dangerous reality of roughneck work and dreams of entrepreneurial success in the Permian Basin.
Cooper works on oil rigs alongside his father's crew at M-Tex Oil, learning the brutal hands-on aspects of the petroleum industry that Tommy knows so well. Unlike his sister Ainsley, who wants nothing to do with the oil business, Cooper has embraced it—but with his own vision. He plans to start his own oil company to provide financial security for his relationship with Ariana Medina, a young widow still grieving her husband who died in an oil field accident.
Throughout Season 1, Cooper's journey explores the human cost of the oil industry through multiple lenses: as Tommy's son watching his father navigate corporate crises and cartel threats, as a young worker experiencing the physical dangers of rig work firsthand, and as Ariana's new boyfriend helping her heal from devastating loss. His character embodies the show's central question: is the financial promise of oil worth the personal sacrifices it demands?
Jacob Lofland brings authenticity to Cooper's portrayal, balancing youthful optimism with the hard-earned maturity that comes from working one of America's most dangerous jobs. His chemistry with Paulina Chávez (Ariana) provides some of Season 1's most emotionally resonant moments, while his scenes with Billy Bob Thornton showcase the complicated father-son dynamic at the show's core.
Season 2: Success at a Terrible Price
Season 2 brings Cooper's dreams to fruition—but at a cost that may destroy everything. Every drilling site he targets strikes oil. The wells are productive beyond expectations. Cooper's vision of building his own oil company appears to be coming true. There's just one problem: his secret business partner is Gallino, the Mexican cartel leader from Season 1, operating under the alias "Dan Morrell" through the Sonrisa company.
Cooper made this devil's bargain out of desperation and ambition. He needed capital to start drilling, and Gallino offered it—no questions asked, no traditional banking hurdles, just money in exchange for a partnership Cooper couldn't refuse. At first, Cooper might have told himself he could manage the relationship, that business is business. But as the wells come in and the money flows, the reality becomes inescapable: Cooper has entangled the entire Norris family with organized crime.
The revelation devastates Tommy. His son—the kid he's tried to protect while respecting his independence—has made the exact kind of dangerous compromise that Tommy spends his career preventing. Cooper's success is built on cartel financing, making every barrel of oil a potential liability. If Gallino wants leverage over M-Tex or the Norris family, he now has it through Cooper's operation.
Cooper's relationship with Ariana also shows unexpected strain in Season 2. Despite the oil strikes, despite the financial success that should solve their problems, cracks appear. The weight of Cooper's secret deal, the stress of managing wells, the realization that success doesn't automatically bring happiness—all of these create distance between them. Success, it turns out, can be as corrosive to relationships as failure.
The arrival of grandfather T.L. Norris (Sam Elliott) adds another layer of pressure. T.L. represents the oil industry's brutal history and the generational pattern of sacrificing everything—family, health, morals—for the business. Cooper sees in T.L. both a cautionary tale and a possible future: the patriarch who built wealth but destroyed relationships, who succeeded in oil but failed at everything else. As T.L. and Tommy clash over family history and current crises, Cooper must choose which Norris legacy he wants to inherit.
Season 2 forces Cooper to confront the central question his character poses: what is success worth? He wanted to prove himself, build his own company, provide for Ariana, escape his father's shadow. He's achieved all of that—technically. But the cost includes moral compromise, family danger, relationship strain, and the constant threat of cartel manipulation. Cooper's arc in Season 2 explores whether you can truly "make it" in the oil business without losing your soul in the process—and what happens when you realize the answer might be no.
Personality
Cooper is determined, hardworking, and fiercely loyal—traits he clearly inherited from Tommy, though he'd probably resist that comparison. He's in his early twenties, at that pivotal age where confidence often outpaces experience, leading to both admirable ambition and dangerous impulsiveness.
What sets Cooper apart from typical "son of the protagonist" characters is his genuine capability. He's not coasting on his father's reputation; he's out on the rigs doing backbreaking labor, earning respect from roughnecks twice his age. He understands that the oil industry doesn't care about your last name—only what you can deliver under pressure.
His relationship with Ariana reveals Cooper's emotional depth. Rather than being intimidated by her grief or the shadow of her deceased husband, Cooper shows remarkable patience and maturity. He doesn't push, doesn't demand—he simply makes himself available, offering comfort without expectation. This emotional intelligence contrasts sharply with his occasional recklessness on the job, suggesting a young man still figuring out when to lead with his heart versus his head.
Cooper's dynamic with Tommy is complex. He seeks his father's approval while simultaneously trying to prove he can succeed on his own terms. He respects Tommy's experience but bristles at his overprotectiveness. This push-pull defines many of their interactions—Cooper wanting to be seen as an equal in the oil business while Tommy still sees his son, not just another roughneck.
Unlike Angela and Ainsley, who want distance from the oil world's chaos, Cooper is drawn to it. He sees opportunity where others see danger, potential where others see risk. Whether this optimism is admirable ambition or dangerous naivety remains one of Season 1's open questions.
Memorable Quotes
"I'm not asking for your permission. I'm telling you what I'm going to do."
"Dad, I know what I'm doing. I've been learning from the best."
"She's been through enough. I just want to be there for her."
Key Relationships
- Tommy Norris (father)
- Angela Norris (mother)
- Ainsley Norris (sister)
- T.L. Norris (grandfather)
- Ariana Medina (girlfriend)
- Gallino (business partner - Season 2)
Character Analysis
Cooper Norris represents a crucial element in Taylor Sheridan's exploration of the modern American oil industry. Through Jacob Lofland's nuanced performance, the character embodies the complexities and contradictions inherent in this high-stakes world.
The character's role as compromised wildcatter & aspiring oil company owner provides insight into the various layers of the oil business, from the personal relationships that drive decision-making to the broader economic and environmental implications of the industry.
Behind the Scenes
- Jacob Lofland is best known for his breakout role in "Mud" (2012) alongside Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon
- Lofland has worked with Taylor Sheridan before, appearing in "1883" and "Bass Reeves"
- Cooper's character represents real statistics: workers aged 18-24 have the highest injury rates in oil field work
- The Cooper-Ariana relationship explores a tragic reality—oil field accidents leave behind many young widows in Texas communities
- Jacob Lofland trained with real roughnecks to authentically portray the physical demands of oil rig work
- Cooper appears in 8 out of 10 episodes in Season 1, making him one of the most featured younger characters
Season 1 & 2 Appearances
Cooper Norris appears as a main character throughout the series, playing a vital role in the unfolding drama of the Texas oil industry.
Character Details
Frequently Asked Questions About Cooper Norris
âť“ Who plays Cooper Norris in Landman?
Answer: Cooper Norris is portrayed by Jacob Lofland, a talented young actor best known for his breakout role in the 2012 film "Mud" alongside Matthew McConaughey. Lofland has previously worked with Taylor Sheridan in "1883" and "Bass Reeves," making him a familiar face in the Sheridan universe. His authentic portrayal of a roughneck brings credibility to Cooper's character, as Lofland trained with real oil field workers to understand the physical demands and dangers of the job.
âť“ Is Cooper Norris Tommy's son?
Answer: Yes, Cooper Norris is Tommy and Angela's son, making him Billy Bob Thornton's character's only son in the series. This father-son dynamic is central to the show, as Cooper tries to follow in Tommy's footsteps in the oil industry while also forging his own path. Unlike Tommy who became a crisis manager and corporate fixer, Cooper works hands-on as a roughneck on oil rigs, representing a different generation's approach to the family business. Their relationship explores themes of legacy, approval, and whether the younger generation can succeed in an industry that's claimed so many lives.
âť“ What happened to Ariana's husband in Landman?
Answer: Ariana Medina's husband died in an oil field accident before the events of Season 1, leaving her a young widow. This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers Cooper faces daily on the rigs. The show uses Ariana's grief and Cooper's developing relationship with her to explore the human cost of the oil industry—not just the workers who die, but the families left behind. Cooper's patience and understanding as Ariana navigates her grief while developing new feelings demonstrates the emotional complexity both characters face. The shadow of her late husband hangs over their relationship, adding tension to their romance throughout Season 1.
âť“ Does Cooper Norris die in Landman Season 1?
Answer: Without spoiling specific plot details, Cooper Norris appears in 8 out of 10 episodes in Season 1 and plays a significant role throughout the season. The show uses his character to highlight the constant danger roughnecks face—oil field work has one of the highest fatality rates of any profession in America, particularly for young workers aged 18-24. Whether Cooper survives the season is something viewers will discover, but Taylor Sheridan doesn't shy away from showing the real consequences of this dangerous work. The tension around Cooper's safety is part of what makes his story so compelling.
âť“ What does Cooper Norris do for work?
Answer: Cooper works as a roughneck on oil rigs in the Permian Basin, performing the dangerous manual labor required for drilling operations. This is entry-level oil field work that involves physical tasks like connecting drill pipes, operating heavy equipment, and maintaining rig machinery—often in extreme weather conditions and with serious safety risks. Unlike his father Tommy who's a corporate crisis manager, Cooper is learning the industry from the ground up, working 12-hour shifts alongside experienced crew members. His goal is to eventually start his own oil company, showing entrepreneurial ambition beyond just following in his father's footsteps. The show depicts roughneck work realistically, showing both the financial promise (starting pay of $50,000-$70,000) and the brutal physical toll.
âť“ How old is Cooper Norris supposed to be?
Answer: While the show doesn't explicitly state Cooper's exact age, context clues suggest he's in his early twenties (approximately 21-24 years old). Jacob Lofland was 26 when Season 1 was filmed, and Cooper is portrayed as old enough to work dangerous oil field jobs independently but young enough that his parents still worry about him constantly. He's at that pivotal age where youthful confidence meets dangerous reality—old enough to think he's invincible, but inexperienced enough that every shift on the rig carries significant risk. This age is statistically the most dangerous for oil field workers, which adds authenticity to Tommy's constant concern for his son's safety.
Featured Videos
Official content from @paramountplus
đź”— Explore More Characters
Discover how Cooper's relationships with other characters shape his journey through Season 1.