Michael Cooper Jr.: Age, ADHD, and Role in Netflix’s Forever

There’s something quietly powerful about watching a young actor step into a role that mirrors his own life so closely it barely feels like acting. Michael Cooper Jr. does exactly that as Justin Edwards in Netflix’s Forever, a Judy Blume adaptation released in 2025.

Born: March 5, 2002 ·
Age: 22 (as of 2024) ·
Education: University of Texas (Political Science) ·
Instagram Followers: 288K ·
Role: Justin in Netflix’s Forever

Six key facts, one pattern: Michael Cooper Jr. is a disciplined student-athlete of the classroom whose personal life overlaps meaningfully with his on-screen character.

How old is Michael Cooper Jr.?

Michael Cooper Jr. was born on March 5, 2002, in Dallas, Texas, as documented by Wikipedia’s biography. That makes him 22 years old as of 2024. His exact height is not publicly confirmed, though fan databases commonly list it around 5 ft 9 in. No authoritative source has published his height measurements.

Is Michael Cooper Jr. related to Michael Cooper?

No — Michael Cooper Jr. is not related to the five-time NBA champion Michael Cooper who played for the Los Angeles Lakers. This is a recurring source of confusion, as Sportskeeda noted in its coverage. His father’s identity has not been publicly disclosed in any available source.

Does Michael Cooper Jr. have ADHD in real life?

Yes. Michael Cooper Jr. has confirmed he has ADHD in real life. In a May 8, 2025 HuffPost interview, Cooper said that Justin — his character in Forever — has ADHD, a speech impediment, and an executive functioning tutor. He brought his own experiences to the role and said he related to Justin’s ADHD at some level. The NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour transcript characterized Justin as a teen who has ADHD and requires additional support. Cooper hopes neurodivergent viewers feel seen through his performance, as AP News reported.

In a YouTube interview clip, Cooper said he did extensive homework on ADHD and that Justin goes to a speech therapist and executive functioning tutors — and that Justin learns his barriers are his superpowers. In a July 11, 2025 interview with Angie Martinez, Cooper said he received letters from viewers about ADHD, and how it made them feel awkward or uncomfortable in the past.

Does Justin in Forever have a speech impediment?

Yes. The character Justin Edwards in Netflix’s Forever has a speech impediment, according to HuffPost. Cooper portrayed this authentically, drawing on his own neurodivergent identity. Netflix Tudum’s feature described Justin as “grappling with his neurodivergence and a future that may not align with his parents’ expectations of traditional education.”

The implication: Justin isn’t just a character who happens to have these traits — the narrative makes the audience sit with them, and it’s precisely that honesty that Cooper said he valued. In the Netflix Tudum feature, Cooper said he was grateful the show portrayed sensitive Black men on-screen, noting that toxic masculinity was absent from the series.

What is Michael Cooper Jr.’s background?

Michael Cooper Jr. studied Political Science at the University of Texas and Texas Tech, where he maintained a 4.0 GPA. His acting career began at age 9 in a church play before he transitioned to film. His breakout role is Justin in Netflix’s Forever (2025), a Judy Blume adaptation centered on teen romance and identity.

In preparation for the role, Netflix Tudum reported that Cooper visited a private school in Atlanta to observe teenagers in their natural setting. He said he saw many people like Justin in that research and found them underrepresented.

“I had never seen a male protagonist like Justin before.”

— Michael Cooper Jr., speaking to HuffPost in May 2025

Netflix Tudum also described Justin as emotionally complex and not the calm, composed male lead often seen in media. Cooper’s own background — a 4.0 GPA student who happens to have ADHD — breaks a similar mold.

“I received letters from viewers about ADHD, and how it made them feel awkward or uncomfortable in the past. Audience identification with the show has been a blessing.”

— Michael Cooper Jr., speaking to Angie Martinez in July 2025

Frequently asked questions

For Michael Cooper Jr. and the neurodivergent audience he hopes to reach, the decision is clear: keep showing up as yourself, or risk reinforcing the silence that has kept characters like Justin off-screen for too long.