Jackie Cooper

Jackie Cooper

  • Birthday: 1922-09-15
  • Deathday: 2011-05-03
  • Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, USA
  • Also know as: John Cooper Jr.

Biography

Served with the Navy in the South Pacific toward the end of World War II. 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).

Filmography

Gangster's Boy

1938

As Larry Kelly

Skippy

1931

As Skippy Skinner

Chosen Survivors

1974

As Raymond Couzins

Pups Is Pups

1930

As Jackie

Divorce In The Family

1932

As Terry Parker

Peck's Bad Boy

1934

As Bill Peck

The Astronaut

1972

As Kurt Anderson

Seventeen

1940

As William Sylvanus Baxter

Tough Guy

1936

As Frederick Martindale Vincent III

Where Are Your Children?

1943

As Danny Cheston

Gallant Sons

1940

As Byron Newbold

Boy of the Streets

1938

As Chuck Brennan

Dinky

1935

As Dinky Daniels

Life with Henry

1941

As Henry Aldrich

Newsboys' Home

1938

As Rifle Edwards

The Day the Earth Moved

1974

As Steve Barker

What a Life

1939

As Henry Aldrich

The Christmas Party

1931

As Himself

The Spirit of Culver

1939

As Tom Allen

When a Feller Needs a Friend

1932

As Edward Haverford 'Eddie' Randall

Glamour Boy

1941

As Tiny Barlow

French Leave

1948

As Skitch Kilroy

Scouts to the Rescue

1939

As Bruce Scott

Calhoun

1964

As Everett Calhoun

Kilroy Was Here

1947

As John J. Kilroy

Sooky

1931

As Skippy

Stork Bites Man

1947

As Ernest (Ernie) C. Brown

Streets of New York

1939

As James Michael 'Jimmy' Keenan

Two Bright Boys

1939

As Rory O'Donnell

Ticket to Hollywood

1984

As Narrator

Lone Cowboy

1933

As Scooter O'Neal

Mobile Two

1975

As Peter Campbell

The Champ

1931

As Dink Purcell

Treasure Island

1934

As Jim Hawkins

Syncopation

1942

As Johnny Schumacher

O'Shaughnessy's Boy

1935

As Joseph "Stubby" O'Shaughnessy

When the Wind Blows

1930

As Jackie

The First Seven Years

1930

As Jackie

The Devil Is a Sissy

1936

As 'Buck' Murphy

A Tough Winter

1930

As Jackie

Shadow on the Land

1968

As Lt. Col. Andy Davis

Her First Beau

1941

As Chuck Harris

No Earthly Reason

1984

As J. Nash Hawkins

The Big Guy

1939

As Jimmy Hutchins

Superman III

1983

As Perry White

Broadway to Hollywood

1933

As Ted Hackett Jr. as Child

Men of Texas

1942

As Robert Houston Scott

White Banners

1938

As Peter Trimble

Moan & Groan, Inc.

1929

As Jackie

The Bowery

1933

As Swipes McGurk

Shivering Shakespeare

1930

As Jackie

Love Business

1931

As Jackie Cooper

Helping Grandma

1931

As Jackie

Teacher's Pet

1930

As Jackie

School's Out

1930

As Jackie Cooper

Little Daddy

1931

As Jackie

That Certain Age

1938

As Kenneth Warren

Young Donovan's Kid

1931

As Midge Murray

Big John Morrison

1973

As John Morrison

The Invisible Man

1975

As Walter Carlson

Superman II

1980

As Perry White

The Navy Comes Through

1942

As Joe 'Babe' Duttson

Boxing Gloves

1929

As Jackie

Everything's Ducky

1961

As Lt. J.S. Parmell - Psychiatrist

Bear Shooters

1930

As Jackie

The Love Machine

1971

As Danton Miller

The Ghosts

1930

As Juanito

Superman

1978

As Perry White

Ziegfeld Girl

1941

As Jerry Regan

Surrender

1987

As Ace Morgan

Rodeo Dough

1940

As Jackie Cooper

Bargain Day

1931

As Jackie

Sunny Side Up

1929

As Jerry McGinnis (uncredited)

Rascal Dazzle

1981

As Jackie

Bear Facts

1938

As Bear

Hollywood’s Children

1982

As Self (archive footage)

The Our Gang Story

1994

As Jackie (archive footage)

Sports on the Silver Screen

1997

As Self (archive footage)

Journey into Fear

1975

As Eric Hurst

Bouncing Babies

1929

As Kid listening to Farina (uncredited)

Judy Garland: By Myself

2004

As Self - Actor (voice)

Fox Movietone Follies of 1929

1929

As Little Boy in 'That's You, Baby' Number (uncredited)

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

1975

As Self (archive footage)

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

1983

As Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Hollywood Cavalcade

1939

As Burglar

Production

Rodeo Girl

1980

As Director

Moonlight

1982

As Director

White Mama

1980

As Director

Leave 'Em Laughing

1981

As Director

Rainbow

1978

As Director

Izzy & Moe

1985

As Director

The Ladies

1987

As Director

Perfect Gentlemen

1978

As Director

Stand Up and Be Counted

1972

As Director

Marathon

1980

As Director

Having Babies III

1978

As Director

Sex and the Single Parent

1979

As Director

The Deacon Street Deer

1986

As Director

The Ladies

1987

As Producer

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