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Jackie Cooper

Acting 88 (deceased) years old Los Angeles, California, USA ★ 1.1
Born: September 15, 1922
Died: May 3, 2011

Biography

Jackie Cooper (September 15, 1922 –May 3, 2011) was an American actor. He is best known for his role of Perry White in the Christopher Reeves Superman films (1978–1987).

He with the Navy in the South Pacific toward the end of World War II and then, quietly and without publicity or fanfare, compiled one of the most distinguished peacetime military careers of anyone in his profession. In 1961, as his weekly TV series Hennesey (1959) was enhancing naval recruiting efforts, accepted a commission as a line officer in the Naval Reserve with duties in recruitment, training films, and public relations. Holder of a multi-engine pilot license, he later co-piloted jet planes for the Navy, which made him an Honorary Aviator authorized to wear wings of gold-at the time only the third so honored in naval aviation history. By 1976 he had attained the rank of captain, and was in uniform aboard the carrier USS Constellation for the Bicentennial celebration on July 4. In 1980, the Navy proposed a period of active duty at the Pentagon that would have resulted in a promotion to rear admiral, bringing him even with Air Force Reserve Brigadier General James Stewart. Fresh on the heels of a second directing Emmy, he felt his absence would impact achieving a long-held goal of directing motion pictures, and reluctantly declined. (The opportunity in films never materialized.) Holds Letters of Commendation from six secretaries of the Navy. Was honorary chairman of the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation and a charter member of VIVA, the effort to return POW-MIAs from Vietnam. Upon retirement in 1982, he was decorated with the Legion of Merit by Navy Secretary John F. Lehman Jr.. Other than Stewart, no performer in his industry has achieved a higher uniformed rank in the U.S. military. (Glenn Ford was also a Naval Reserve captain, and director and Captain John Ford was awarded honorary flag rank upon his 1951 retirement from the Naval Reserve).

External Links

🎬 IMDb

Known For

Columbo
Columbo Nelson Hayward 1971
Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote Carl Schulman / Neil Fletcher 1984
Ironside
Ironside 1967
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O Dr. Alexander Southmore 1968
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone Jonathan West / Caesar (voice) 1959

Filmography

Acting Credits (185)

The Little Rascals - The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 1
The Little Rascals - The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 1 2021
You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman
You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman Self 2006
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut Perry White 2006
Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman
Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman Self 2006
Judy Garland: By Myself
Judy Garland: By Myself Self - Actor (voice) 2004
Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir
Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir Self 2001
Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood
Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood Self 2000
Sports on the Silver Screen
Sports on the Silver Screen Self (archive footage) 1997
Inside the Dream Factory
Inside the Dream Factory 1995
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies Self 1995
The Our Gang Story
The Our Gang Story Jackie (archive footage) 1994
Capital News
Capital News John C. Dodd 1990
When We Were Young: Growing Up on the Silver Screen
When We Were Young: Growing Up on the Silver Screen Self 1989
Surrender
Surrender Ace Morgan 1987
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace Perry White 1987
Classic Comedy Teams
Classic Comedy Teams Our Gang(archive footage) 1986
The Making of 'Superman III'
The Making of 'Superman III' Self 1985
Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote Carl Schulman / Neil Fletcher 1984
Ticket to Hollywood
Ticket to Hollywood Narrator 1984
No Earthly Reason
No Earthly Reason J. Nash Hawkins 1984
The Making of 'Superman II'
The Making of 'Superman II' Self 1983
Superman III
Superman III Perry White 1983
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage Self (archive footage) (uncredited) 1983
St. Elsewhere
St. Elsewhere David Domedion 1982
Hollywood’s Children
Hollywood’s Children Self (archive footage) 1982
The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'
The Making of 'Superman: The Movie' Self 1982
Rascal Dazzle
Rascal Dazzle Jackie (archive footage) 1981
Superman II
Superman II Perry White 1980
Superman
Superman Perry White 1978
Hooray for Hollywood
Hooray for Hollywood Self (archive footage) 1976
Mobile One
Mobile One Peter Campbell 1975
Mobile Two
Mobile Two Peter Campbell 1975
Journey into Fear
Journey into Fear Eric Hurst 1975
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? Self (archive footage) 1975
The Invisible Man
The Invisible Man Walter Carlson 1975
The Day the Earth Moved
The Day the Earth Moved Steve Barker 1974
The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files Capt. Highland 1974
The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files Garth McGregor 1974
The Dean Martin Comedy World
The Dean Martin Comedy World Host 1974
Chosen Survivors
Chosen Survivors Raymond Couzins 1974
Kojak
Kojak Frank Mulvaney 1973
Big John Morrison
Big John Morrison John Morrison 1973
Police Story
Police Story 1973
Of Men and Women
Of Men and Women 1972
Ghost Story
Ghost Story Dumpy Doyle 1972
Hec Ramsey
Hec Ramsey 1972
Stand Up and Be Counted
Stand Up and Be Counted Doctor 1972
The Astronaut
The Astronaut Kurt Anderson 1972
Columbo
Columbo Nelson Hayward 1971
Mantrap
Mantrap 1971
The Love Machine
The Love Machine Danton Miller 1971
It Was a Very Good Year
It Was a Very Good Year 1971
Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring
Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring Ed Miller 1971
McCloud
McCloud 1970
Shadow on the Land
Shadow on the Land Lt. Col. Andy Davis 1968
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O Dr. Alexander Southmore 1968
Ironside
Ironside 1967
The F.B.I.
The F.B.I. Harlan Slade 1965
Calhoun
Calhoun Everett Calhoun 1964
The Great Adventure
The Great Adventure Lt. Dickson 1963
The Danny Kaye Show
The Danny Kaye Show Self 1963
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Self 1962
The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show Self 1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Self (archive footage) 1962
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers Self 1962
Everything's Ducky
Everything's Ducky Lt. J.S. Parmell - Psychiatrist 1961
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show Self 1961
The Gertrude Berg Show
The Gertrude Berg Show 1961
The Dick Powell Show
The Dick Powell Show Judd Rogers 1961
The Dick Powell Show
The Dick Powell Show John Reardon 1961
The Dick Powell Show
The Dick Powell Show Self - Host 1961
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone Jonathan West / Caesar (voice) 1959
Hennesey
Hennesey Lt. Charles 'Chick' Hennesey, MD 1959
Pursuit
Pursuit 1958
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth 1956
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show Self 1956
The Steve Allen Show
The Steve Allen Show Self - Guest 1956
The Steve Allen Show
The Steve Allen Show Self - Singer 1956
Telephone Time
Telephone Time 1956
The People's Choice
The People's Choice Socrates 'Sock' Miller 1955
MGM Parade
MGM Parade Dink in 'The Champ' (archive footage) 1955
Producers' Showcase
Producers' Showcase 1954
The Elgin Hour
The Elgin Hour 1954
The George Gobel Show
The George Gobel Show Self 1954
Justice
Justice 1954
The Motorola Television Hour
The Motorola Television Hour 1953
The United States Steel Hour
The United States Steel Hour 1953
Medallion Theatre
Medallion Theatre 1953
Revlon Mirror Theatre
Revlon Mirror Theatre 1953
General Electric Theater
General Electric Theater Jeremy Bates 1953
Cowboy G-Men
Cowboy G-Men 1952
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Bob Heywood 1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Bill Harlow / Joe Toyah 1951
Tales of Tomorrow
Tales of Tomorrow 1951
Lux Video Theatre
Lux Video Theatre Orrin Dudley 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Lux Video Theatre Dave Carter 1950
Danger
Danger 1950
The Colgate Comedy Hour
The Colgate Comedy Hour Self 1950
Starlight Theatre
Starlight Theatre 1950
Your Show of Shows
Your Show of Shows 1950
What's My Line?
What's My Line? Self - Mystery Guest 1950
Robert Montgomery Presents
Robert Montgomery Presents 1950
Robert Montgomery Presents
Robert Montgomery Presents Peter Graves 1950
Robert Montgomery Presents
Robert Montgomery Presents Pvt. Oscar Purkey 1950
Robert Montgomery Presents
Robert Montgomery Presents Milton 'Mezz' Mezzrow 1950
Robert Montgomery Presents
Robert Montgomery Presents Maurice Gaines 1950
Robert Montgomery Presents
Robert Montgomery Presents Willy Benton 1950
The Clock
The Clock 1949
Suspense
Suspense Williams 1949
Suspense
Suspense Murderer 1949
Suspense
Suspense Dan Crowley 1949
Studio One
Studio One 1948
Studio One
Studio One Dave Tuttle 1948
Studio One
Studio One Blackie Scantling 1948
The Philco Television Playhouse
The Philco Television Playhouse Bubbo 1948
The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre
The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre 1948
Texaco Star Theater
Texaco Star Theater 1948
French Leave
French Leave Skitch Kilroy 1948
Kilroy Was Here
Kilroy Was Here John J. Kilroy 1947
Stork Bites Man
Stork Bites Man Ernest (Ernie) C. Brown 1947
Where Are Your Children?
Where Are Your Children? Danny Cheston 1943
The Navy Comes Through
The Navy Comes Through Joe 'Babe' Duttson 1942
Men of Texas
Men of Texas Robert Houston Scott 1942
Syncopation
Syncopation Johnny Schumacher 1942
Soaring Stars
Soaring Stars Pilot 1942
Glamour Boy
Glamour Boy Tiny Barlow 1941
Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1 Self 1941
Her First Beau
Her First Beau Chuck Harris 1941
Ziegfeld Girl
Ziegfeld Girl Jerry Regan 1941
Life with Henry
Life with Henry Henry Aldrich 1941
Gallant Sons
Gallant Sons Byron Newbold 1940
Rodeo Dough
Rodeo Dough Jackie Cooper 1940
The Return of Frank James
The Return of Frank James Clem 1940
Seventeen
Seventeen William Sylvanus Baxter 1940
The Big Guy
The Big Guy Jimmy Hutchins 1939
Hollywood Cavalcade
Hollywood Cavalcade Burglar 1939
What a Life
What a Life Henry Aldrich 1939
Two Bright Boys
Two Bright Boys Rory O'Donnell 1939
Streets of New York
Streets of New York James Michael 'Jimmy' Keenan 1939
The Spirit of Culver
The Spirit of Culver Tom Allen 1939
Scouts to the Rescue
Scouts to the Rescue Bruce Scott 1939
Newsboys' Home
Newsboys' Home Rifle Edwards 1938
Gangster's Boy
Gangster's Boy Larry Kelly 1938
That Certain Age
That Certain Age Kenneth Warren 1938
White Banners
White Banners Peter Trimble 1938
Bear Facts
Bear Facts Bear 1938
Boy of the Streets
Boy of the Streets Chuck Brennan 1938
The Devil Is a Sissy
The Devil Is a Sissy 'Buck' Murphy 1936
Tough Guy
Tough Guy Frederick Martindale Vincent III 1936
O'Shaughnessy's Boy
O'Shaughnessy's Boy Joseph "Stubby" O'Shaughnessy 1935
Dinky
Dinky Dinky Daniels 1935
Peck's Bad Boy
Peck's Bad Boy Bill Peck 1934
Treasure Island
Treasure Island Jim Hawkins 1934
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1 1934
Lone Cowboy
Lone Cowboy Scooter O'Neal 1933
The Bowery
The Bowery Swipes McGurk 1933
Broadway to Hollywood
Broadway to Hollywood Ted Hackett Jr. as Child 1933
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3 Self 1932
Divorce In The Family
Divorce In The Family Terry Parker 1932
When a Feller Needs a Friend
When a Feller Needs a Friend Edward Haverford 'Eddie' Randall 1932
Sooky
Sooky Skippy 1931
The Christmas Party
The Christmas Party Himself 1931
The Champ
The Champ Dink Purcell 1931
Young Donovan's Kid
Young Donovan's Kid Midge Murray 1931
Bargain Day
Bargain Day Jackie 1931
Skippy
Skippy Skippy Skinner 1931
Little Daddy
Little Daddy Jackie 1931
Love Business
Love Business Jackie Cooper 1931
Helping Grandma
Helping Grandma Jackie 1931
Temps d'Hiver
Temps d'Hiver Jackie 1930
School's Out
School's Out Jackie Cooper 1930
Los cazadores de osos
Los cazadores de osos Juanito 1930
Teacher's Pet
Teacher's Pet Jackie 1930
Pups Is Pups
Pups Is Pups Jackie 1930
A Tough Winter
A Tough Winter Jackie 1930
Bear Shooters
Bear Shooters Jackie 1930
The Ghosts
The Ghosts Juanito 1930
When the Wind Blows
When the Wind Blows Jackie 1930
The First Seven Years
The First Seven Years Jackie 1930
Shivering Shakespeare
Shivering Shakespeare Jackie 1930
Sunny Side Up
Sunny Side Up Jerry McGinnis (uncredited) 1929
Moan & Groan, Inc.
Moan & Groan, Inc. Jackie 1929
Bouncing Babies
Bouncing Babies Kid listening to Farina (uncredited) 1929
Boxing Gloves
Boxing Gloves Jackie 1929
Fox Movietone Follies of 1929
Fox Movietone Follies of 1929 Little Boy in 'That's You, Baby' Number (uncredited) 1929

Directing Credits (36)

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