Jackie Cooper
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- September 15, 1922
- Died
- May 3, 2011
- Birthplace
- Los Angeles, California, USA
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).
Filmography
The Little Rascals - The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 1 2021
Actor
You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman 2006
as Self
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut 2006
as Perry White
Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman 2006
as Self
Judy Garland: By Myself 2004
as Self - Actor (voice)
Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir 2001
as Self
Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood 2000
as Self
Sports on the Silver Screen 1997
as Self (archive footage)
Inside the Dream Factory 1995
Actor
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies 1995
as Self
The Our Gang Story 1994
as Jackie (archive footage)
Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie 1993
as Self
When We Were Young: Growing Up on the Silver Screen 1989
as Self
Surrender 1987
as Ace Morgan
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace 1987
as Perry White
The Ladies 1987
Director, Producer
The Deacon Street Deer 1986
Director
Classic Comedy Teams 1986
as Our Gang(archive footage)
Izzy & Moe 1985
Director
The Making of 'Superman III' 1985
as Self
The Night They Saved Christmas 1984
Director
- Ticket to Hollywood
Ticket to Hollywood 1984
as Narrator
- No Earthly Reason
No Earthly Reason 1984
as J. Nash Hawkins
The Making of 'Superman II' 1983
as Self
Superman III 1983
as Perry White
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage 1983
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story 1982
Director
Moonlight 1982
Director
Hollywood’s Children 1982
as Self (archive footage)
The Making of 'Superman: The Movie' 1982
as Self
Leave 'Em Laughing 1981
Director
Rascal Dazzle 1981
as Jackie (archive footage)
Superman II 1980
as Perry White
Rodeo Girl 1980
Director
White Mama 1980
Director
Marathon 1980
Director
Sex and the Single Parent 1979
Director
Superman 1978
as Perry White
Rainbow 1978
Director
Perfect Gentlemen 1978
Director
Having Babies III 1978
Director
Hooray for Hollywood 1976
as Self (archive footage)
Mobile Two 1975
as Peter Campbell
Journey into Fear 1975
as Eric Hurst
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? 1975
as Self (archive footage)
The Invisible Man 1975
as Walter Carlson
The Day the Earth Moved 1974
as Steve Barker
Chosen Survivors 1974
as Raymond Couzins
Big John Morrison 1973
as John Morrison
Of Men and Women 1972
Actor
Stand Up and Be Counted 1972
as Doctor, Director
The Astronaut 1972
as Kurt Anderson
The Love Machine 1971
as Danton Miller
Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring 1971
as Ed Miller
Shadow on the Land 1968
as Lt. Col. Andy Davis
Calhoun 1964
as Everett Calhoun
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers 1962
as Self
Everything's Ducky 1961
as Lt. J.S. Parmell - Psychiatrist
French Leave 1948
as Skitch Kilroy
Kilroy Was Here 1947
as John J. Kilroy
Stork Bites Man 1947
as Ernest (Ernie) C. Brown
Where Are Your Children? 1943
as Danny Cheston
The Navy Comes Through 1942
as Joe 'Babe' Duttson
Men of Texas 1942
as Robert Houston Scott
Syncopation 1942
as Johnny Schumacher
- Soaring Stars
Soaring Stars 1942
as Pilot
Glamour Boy 1941
as Tiny Barlow
Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1 1941
as Self
Her First Beau 1941
as Chuck Harris
Ziegfeld Girl 1941
as Jerry Regan
Life with Henry 1941
as Henry Aldrich
Gallant Sons 1940
as Byron Newbold
Rodeo Dough 1940
as Jackie Cooper
The Return of Frank James 1940
as Clem
Seventeen 1940
as William Sylvanus Baxter
The Big Guy 1939
as Jimmy Hutchins
Hollywood Cavalcade 1939
as Burglar
What a Life 1939
as Henry Aldrich
Two Bright Boys 1939
as Rory O'Donnell
Streets of New York 1939
as James Michael 'Jimmy' Keenan
The Spirit of Culver 1939
as Tom Allen
Scouts to the Rescue 1939
as Bruce Scott
Newsboys' Home 1938
as Rifle Edwards
Gangster's Boy 1938
as Larry Kelly
That Certain Age 1938
as Kenneth Warren
White Banners 1938
as Peter Trimble
Bear Facts 1938
as Bear
Boy of the Streets 1938
as Chuck Brennan
The Devil Is a Sissy 1936
as 'Buck' Murphy
Tough Guy 1936
as Frederick Martindale Vincent III
O'Shaughnessy's Boy 1935
as Joseph "Stubby" O'Shaughnessy
Dinky 1935
as Dinky Daniels
Peck's Bad Boy 1934
as Bill Peck
Treasure Island 1934
as Jim Hawkins
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1 1934
Actor
Lone Cowboy 1933
as Scooter O'Neal
The Bowery 1933
as Swipes McGurk
Broadway to Hollywood 1933
as Ted Hackett Jr. as Child
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3 1932
as Self
Divorce In The Family 1932
as Terry Parker
When a Feller Needs a Friend 1932
as Edward Haverford 'Eddie' Randall
Sooky 1931
as Skippy
The Christmas Party 1931
as Himself
The Champ 1931
as Dink Purcell
Young Donovan's Kid 1931
as Midge Murray
Bargain Day 1931
as Jackie
Skippy 1931
as Skippy Skinner
Little Daddy 1931
as Jackie
Love Business 1931
as Jackie Cooper
Helping Grandma 1931
as Jackie
- Temps d'Hiver
Temps d'Hiver 1930
as Jackie
School's Out 1930
as Jackie Cooper
- Los cazadores de osos
Los cazadores de osos 1930
as Juanito
Teacher's Pet 1930
as Jackie
Pups Is Pups 1930
as Jackie
A Tough Winter 1930
as Jackie
Bear Shooters 1930
as Jackie
When the Wind Blows 1930
as Jackie
- The Ghosts
The Ghosts 1930
as Juanito
The First Seven Years 1930
as Jackie
Shivering Shakespeare 1930
as Jackie
Sunny Side Up 1929
as Jerry McGinnis (uncredited)
Moan & Groan, Inc. 1929
as Jackie
Bouncing Babies 1929
as Kid listening to Farina (uncredited)
Boxing Gloves 1929
as Jackie
Fox Movietone Follies of 1929 1929
as Little Boy in 'That's You, Baby' Number (uncredited)
Credits from TMDB.