Jackie Cooper
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).
Acting (104 movies)
Superman
1978
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
1987
Superman II
1980
Ziegfeld Girl
1941
Superman III
1983
The Champ
1931
The Return of Frank James
1940
Treasure Island
1934
The Our Gang Story
1994
Gangster's Boy
1938
Skippy
1931
Lone Cowboy
1933
Chosen Survivors
1974
Broadway to Hollywood
1933
Glamour Boy
1941
Syncopation
1942
Men of Texas
1942
The Navy Comes Through
1942
Surrender
1987
White Banners
1938
Boxing Gloves
1929
Pups Is Pups
1930
Divorce In The Family
1932
Everything's Ducky
1961
Peck's Bad Boy
1934
Fox Movietone Follies of 1929
1929
Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
1941
The Astronaut
1972
Journey into Fear
1975
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
Seventeen
1940
Tough Guy
1936
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
1932
Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring
1971
Gallant Sons
1940
Moan & Groan, Inc.
1929
O'Shaughnessy's Boy
1935
Where Are Your Children?
1943
Bear Facts
1938
Dinky
1935
Boy of the Streets
1938
When the Wind Blows
1930
Life with Henry
1941
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
1995
Newsboys' Home
1938
The Bowery
1933
Shivering Shakespeare
1930
Bear Shooters
1930
Bouncing Babies
1929
The First Seven Years
1930
Sports on the Silver Screen
1997
The Day the Earth Moved
1974
The Love Machine
1971
What a Life
1939
The Devil Is a Sissy
1936
When a Feller Needs a Friend
1932
The Christmas Party
1931
The Spirit of Culver
1939
Mobile Two
1975
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
1962
Sunny Side Up
1929
Hollywood Cavalcade
1939
School's Out
1930
Little Daddy
1931
A Tough Winter
1930
Helping Grandma
1931
Love Business
1931
Teacher's Pet
1930
The Making of 'Superman III'
1985
Rodeo Dough
1940
Stand Up and Be Counted
1972
Shadow on the Land
1968
French Leave
1948
That Certain Age
1938
The Little Rascals - The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 1
2021
Scouts to the Rescue
1939
Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood
2000
The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'
1982
The Making of 'Superman II'
1983
Judy Garland: By Myself
2004
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
Calhoun
1964
Young Donovan's Kid
1931
Kilroy Was Here
1947
Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman
2006
Sooky
1931
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
1934
Her First Beau
1941
Big John Morrison
1973
Bargain Day
1931
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
2006
Stork Bites Man
1947
Streets of New York
1939
Rascal Dazzle
1981
The Invisible Man
1975
Hollywood’s Children
1982
The Big Guy
1939
Two Bright Boys
1939
Inside the Dream Factory
1995
Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir
2001
Directing (15 movies)
The Night They Saved Christmas
1984
Rodeo Girl
1980
Moonlight
1982
White Mama
1980
Leave 'Em Laughing
1981
Rainbow
1978
Izzy & Moe
1985
The Ladies
1987
Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story
1982
Perfect Gentlemen
1978
Stand Up and Be Counted
1972
The Deacon Street Deer
1986
Marathon
1980
Having Babies III
1978
Sex and the Single Parent
1979
| Title | Year | Job |
|---|---|---|
| The Ladies | 1987 | Producer |