See Bradley Cooper in the flesh at local American Sniper benefit screening

Bradley Cooper, who plays Chris Kyle in American Sniper, is coming to town for a benefit screening of the film at Cinemark West Plano on January 14. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Plano gets a shot of Hollywood glamour when the Cinemark theater at Parker Road and the Tollway hosts a benefit screening of American Sniper on Wednesday, January 14, featuring an appearance by the film's star, Bradley Cooper.

Cooper, who plays Iraq war veteran Chris Kyle, will be joined by Kyle's widow, Taya, and military veteran Jacob Schick. The harrowing film details the exploits of Kyle, who earned the nickname "The Legend" after becoming the most prolific sniper in military history through four tours of duty in Iraq.

This is the rare celebrity event where the public is welcome, as tickets are available to anyone willing to pay $250 — or more — for a seat in the theater. Cooper, Kyle and Schick will walk a red carpet and meet with the press at 6:30 pm; the film starts at 7.

Of course, you're not just paying for a ticket to the movie and a chance to see Cooper in person. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation, which aims to enrich the family relationships for military personnel and first responders, who often find their bonds tested by war and other atrocities.

The film opened in limited release on Christmas Day, playing in New York, Los Angeles and at the AMC NorthPark in Dallas — a nod to the Texas-born Kyle. This screening is being held in advance of the film's wide release on Friday, January 16. Tickets for the screening can be reserved online.

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undefined Photos by Dana Driensky and John Strange

Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Dallas news of the week, starting with 27 Dallasites who are among the richest people in the world. Plus, a legit cheesesteak restaurant debuts in Dallas and a celebrity chef's restaurant closes. Read on for our most popular stories of the week, and then plan your weekend via this handy guide.

1. 27 Dallas billionaires land on new Forbes list of world's richest people. The world’s richest people are wealthier now than they've ever been, and more billionaires have made it onto the 2025 World's Billionaires List than ever before, according to Forbes. This year, 27 Dallas billionaires are among the richest people in the world.

2. N.Y. cheesesteak restaurant opens in Dallas in former Sal's Pizza spot. A legit cheesesteak concept from New York is now open in Dallas: Called G’s Cheesesteaks, it's part of a small chain from Staten Island, and occupies a space with foodie legacy: the former Sal’s Pizza at 2525 Wycliff Ave. #116, where it opened in early March.

3. East Dallas mixed-use off US-75 unveils 4 year-round parks. The Central, a 27-acre mixed-use development at the intersection of North Central Expressway and North Haskell Avenue, has unveiled renderings of its outdoor space. Called The Pavilions at The Central, it's a series of pavilions designed to add a big dose of nature to the Dallas development which is scheduled to open in summer 2025.

The Pavilions at The Central The Pavilions will feature masonry, wood, and airy artistic elements.Rendering courtesy of De La Vega

4. Knife steakhouse by chef John Tesar to close location at Dallas hotel. A Dallas celebrity chef steakhouse is closing: Knife, the steakhouse at The Highland Dallas hotel at 5300 E. Mockingbird Ln. from John Tesar, is closing after more than a decade.

5. SPCA arrests 21 people during illegal cockfight in Hunt County. Authorities raided a cockfight in Hunt County northeast of Dallas, and caught individuals in the act. On March 30, the SPCA of Texas and the Hunt County Sheriff's Office seized 65 live and 10 deceased roosters from a rural property near Celeste in Hunt County, where a cockfight was in progress.

Celebrity Sighting

See Bradley Cooper in the flesh at local American Sniper benefit screening

Celebrity Sighting

See Bradley Cooper in the flesh at local American Sniper benefit screening

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