Actor Bradley Cooper and New England Patriot wide receiver Julian Edelman visited Jeff Bauman Jr., who lost his legs in the Boston Marathon bombing, at Boston Medical Center on Thursday.

Edelman later tweeted a photo of himself and the actor standing next to Bauman's hospital bed with the words "Visited #survivor #stud #hero Jeffrey Bauman Jr. today. He was looking great and is a true inspiration." Earlier, Edelman had tweeted, "Met a very tough guy today. #inspired."

Cooper also attended the interfaith prayer service held at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston on Thursday. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attended the service as well, with the president delivering a 20-minute speech honoring victims and the city. ABC News reporter Shushannah Walshe tweeted a photo of Cooper at the service.

Cooper is in the Boston area filming his next movie, "American Hustle," about the 1980s Abscam FBI sting operation. The film is scheduled to be released at Christmas.

Bauman, 27, was at the race cheering on his girlfriend. Both of his legs had to be amputated at the knee. After being treated at the hospital, he was interviewed by the FBI and described one of the bombers to law enforcement, his brother said.

Related content:

• Neil Diamond happy 'Sweet Caroline' comforts Bostonians
• Bomb-themed episode of 'Castle' rescheduled
• Amy Poehler spreads Boston love in new video
• Coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing investigation

First, Bradley Cooper told the BBC that he'd be "interested" in playing disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong, but now he says that's "nuts." Cooper told the L.A. Times this week that he didn't really grasp what the BBC was asking him.

Getty Images file

Bradley Cooper, right, says he won't play Lance Armstrong, left, in an upcoming movie.

"Oh my God, that's so nuts!" he said. "I had no idea what (the interviewer) was talking about. I didn't even know that J.J. (Abrams) has the rights, I had no idea. I don't know anything about it."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Lost" producer Abrams and Paramount Pictures have the movie rights to an upcoming book, "Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong."

Related content:

• Cooper 'interested' in playing Lance Armstrong
• Sheryl Crow on Armstrong: 'The truth will set you free'
• Bradley Cooper: Date Jennifer Lawrence? I could be her dad!

Jason Redmond / Reuters

Bradley Cooper at the Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 13.

Hey J.J. Abrams, pay attention. Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper is not wasting any time, and quickly revealed that he would be more than happy to portray Lance Armstrong, after news of a biopic on the former cyclist's life was announced to be in the works.

"I would be interested in [playing Armstrong]," Cooper told BBC News. "I think he's fascinating. What a fascinating character."

Sheryl Crow speaks out on Armstrong's confession

"I remember Matt Damon was going to do his autobiography at one point years ago," he continued, "I remember thinking, that would be a great character, I'd love to play that character. I would love to do something, I think he's pretty fascinating."

The biopic will reportedly be based on New York Times sportswriter Juliet Macur's upcoming book "Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong," to which the "Lost" producer and Paramount Pictures secured the movie rights, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

For the first time ever, Armstrong revealed to Oprah Winfrey during a sit-down for an episode of Oprah's Next Chapter that he used performance enhancing drugs, saying he didn't think he could've won the Tour de France seven times without them.

Check out our casting couch!

Related content:

• Sheryl Crow on Armstrong: 'The truth will set you free'
• Armstrong joins ranks of famous TV confessors

Getty Images file

Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper at the AFI Awards.

Yes, they played a couple in the Oscar-nominated "Silver Linings Playbook," but the romance was on-screen only. And Bradley Cooper isn't going for any of that May-December stuff. When asked by Entertainment Tonight at the Golden Globes if he was dating "Playbook" co-star Jennifer Lawrence, he had a clear answer.

"No no no no no," he told Nancy O'Dell of Entertainment Tonight. "Not even close. I mean, first of all, I could be her father."

He also told O'Dell, "We've done two movies together. If it didn't happen by now, it's not going to happen."

O'Dell later interviewed Lawrence, who attended the Globes despite a 100-degree fever, but was still able to laugh off the romance rumors. "Oh yes, we're in a relationship," she joked. "Apparently things are heating up."

She went on to agree with Cooper that the two weren't romantically inclined. "I concur," she said.

Cooper is 38, Lawrence 22. They also play a couple in the upcoming film "Serena," about a Depression-era timber baron and his wife who learn she can't have children. "Serena" is scheduled for release sometime this year.

Related content:

• Golden Globe presenters would make fine couples
• Cooper, Gosling go head-to-head in new film
• Jennifer Lawrence steals show on Critics' Choice red carpet

Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper, together at last! Fans of both actors will be delighted to know that the "Sexiest Man Alive" rivals are set to appear in their first film together, "The Place Beyond the Pines," next March — and that there's finally a trailer available to showcase their considerable talents.

It's a match up made particularly sweet thanks to a campaign fans waged in 2011, when Cooper was named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" — and petitions immediately surfaced asserting that Gosling was the better choice, and was robbed of the crown.

But with "The Place Beyond the Pines," it seems everybody wins. The trailer shows Gosling as a very blond stunt motorcycle driver who learns he has a child with a former flame. He decides to provide for the child by robbing banks. Cooper plays the rookie cop who goes after him. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film will unfold "in three chunks, taking place over 15 years." 

"The Place Beyond the Pines" is set to open March 20, 2013. 

Check out the trailer!

Related content:

• 'Hobbit' fever beats Tom Cruise's 'Jack Reacher' at box office
• Acting CIA director shoots down 'Zero Dark Thirty' accuracy
• Doctor diagnoses 'Home Alone' Wet Bandit injuries

Bradley Cooper may have passed People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive torch to successor Channing Tatum earlier this week, but Cooper doesn't need an official sexy title to prove his appeal. All he has to do is speak … in French.

OK, sure, the actor's English is pretty swoon-worthy too, but when the Cooper switched to his second language during his Friday morning visit to TODAY, there was no denying that it works for the star.

And as if speaking the language of love wasn't enough, Cooper also pulls out all the stops in his new film, "Silver Linings Playbook," by showing off his ballroom dancing moves alongside co-star Jennifer Lawrence.

Waltzes and tangos aside, his character in "Playbook," Pat, isn't quite as charming as Cooper is in real life. After all, Pat struggles to cope with anger and day-to-day life after leaving a mental institution. Still, despite the obvious differences, Cooper's own mother saw some parallels between her son's off-screen persona and the one on-screen.

"He's got anger management issues and a song can trigger a violent episode -- yeah, it's very autobiographic," he joked. "I took that (comparison by my mom) harshly, I've got say, because she meant it. I walked downstairs after we did a very intense scene and that's when she said, 'Bradley, it's like you're not acting.' And I thought, 'What does that say?!'"

See for yourself when "Silver Linings Playbook," also starring Robert De Niro and Chris Tucker, opens in theaters nationwide Nov. 21. And to see more memorable moments from Cooper -- from sports talk to Barry Manilow mentions -- check out the clip above.

Related content:

• Bradley Cooper on plans for post-'Sexiest Man Alive' life: 'Decompression'
• Chris Tucker admires, impersonates 'Silver Linings Playbook' co-star Robert De Niro
• Robert De Niro: 'Silver Linings' co-star Bradley Cooper 'really listens' to advice

More in Entertainment:

• Lucille Bliss, voice of Smurfette, dies at 96
• Mia Farrow's brother arrested on child sex abuse counts
• Rolling Stones remember 'everything' from their last 50 years

People

Channing Tatum.

The torch has officially been passed: Channing Tatum (and his abs) have been named People’s Sexiest Man Alive. And like the sexy title holders before him, Tatum is more than an admirable form with enviable BMI.

"He's the triple threat this year," People's Julie Jordan said on TODAY's plaza Wednesday. "There was romance in 'The Vow,' there was comedy with '21 Jump Street' and that little film 'Magic Mike' where he was a stripper. ... He's more than just a body, he's got heart, he loves his wife (actress Jenna Dewan) and he's ready to be a daddy."

7 photos to prove TODAY's Willie Geist has been sexy at every age

The 32-year-old Tatum was indeed one of Hollywood’s most prolific actors in 2012, not just starring in multiple movies but pushing them to the top of the box office as well. “The Vow,” “21 Jump Street” and “Magic Mike” earned a collective $376 million at theaters. In June, Tatum stopped by TODAY to offer a demonstration of the dance moves which made his male stripper flick a must-see movie this past summer.

With four films slated for a 2013 release, Mr. Sexiest Man could put himself in position for a repeat performance.

As for how the reigning Sexiest Man Alive, Bradley Cooper, is taking it, he told TODAY’s Matt Lauer on the eve of Tatum’s crowning that he’ll be decompressing from the experience. “After this I get whisked away to somewhere in Wisconsin and they talk me down for a week. I think (fellow former Sexiest Man Alive) Matt Damon runs (the program) now."

Last year's selection of Cooper caused a firestorm amongst runner-up Ryan Gosling's fans, who quickly set up a petition asking for People to admit a mistake had been made. (The magazine stood by their choice.)

Slideshow: Channing Tatum

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Launch slideshow

But, added Jordan, while Gosling is in the magazine this year, posing with his dog, he's a strong contender for future Sexiest Man accolades. "I guarantee in the future, you're going to see it," she said.

Related content:

• Channing Tatum wants to go 'bigger' in "Magic Mike 2"
• Channing Tatum shows off his stripper moves
• VIDEO: Watch the trailer for 'Side Effects'

Also in Entertainment:

• Elmo puppeteer's accuser recants allegations of underage sexual relationship
• Kristen Stewart is 'desperate to get a job'
• Lea Michele: Dog pee wrecked my spray tan

Bradley Cooper, the hunky "Hangover" star with the piercing blue eyes, is PEOPLE magazine's Sexiest Man Alive for 2011.

Cooper, 36, heads a list of 123 "super hot guys" that includes actors Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Robert Pattinson and Justin Timberlake to name a few (more photos here.)

PEOPLE

"I think it's really cool that a guy who doesn't look like a model can have this [title]," Cooper told the mag. "I think I'm a decent-looking guy. Sometimes I can look great, and other times I look horrifying."

On TODAY: Watch the magazine's reveal

PEOPLE says the actor -- who has also starred in "Limitless" and "The A-Team" -- is especially close with his mom. "My mother is going to be so happy," Cooper says of his first thought upon learning he had been crowned Sexiest. He also thought he was being "Punk'd."

Cooper dated actress Renée Zellweger for two years until their split in March and has been linked to Jennifer Lopez in recent months, but says he's just a "single 36-year-old male." He takes the title from 2010 winner Ryan Reynolds.

Scoop's Courtney Hazlett wrote here in June that the revelation that Cooper was fluent in French made him even more attractive.

We've assembled a few video highlights below for those looking for more of a Cooper fix.

So what do you think? Did PEOPLE make the right choice? Share your thoughts in the comments if you agree ... or feel someone was robbed!

Related content:

• Fun with Photoshop: Kathie Lee and Hoda tweak the cover