Jackie Cooper
Acting
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).
Known for
Acting169
movieSuperman II: The Richard Donner Cut
2006
Perry White
movieJudy Garland: By Myself
2004
Self - Actor (voice)
movieSports on the Silver Screen
1997
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Our Gang Story
1994
Jackie (archive footage)
tvCapital News
1990
John C. Dodd
movieSurrender
1987
Ace Morgan
movieSuperman IV: The Quest for Peace
1987
Perry White
movieClassic Comedy Teams
1986
Our Gang(archive footage)
tvMurder, She Wrote
1984
Carl Schulman / Neil Fletcher
No Earthly Reason
1984
J. Nash Hawkins
movieSuperman III
1983
Perry White
movieHollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
tvSt. Elsewhere
1982
David Domedion
movieHollywood’s Children
1982
Self (archive footage)
movieRascal Dazzle
1981
Jackie (archive footage)
movieSuperman II
1980
Perry White
movieSuperman
1978
Perry White
movieHooray for Hollywood
1976
Self (archive footage)
tvMobile One
1975
Peter Campbell
movieMobile Two
1975
Peter Campbell
movieJourney into Fear
1975
Eric Hurst
movieBrother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Invisible Man
1975
Walter Carlson
movieThe Day the Earth Moved
1974
Steve Barker
tvThe Rockford Files
1974
Capt. Highland / Garth McGregor
movieChosen Survivors
1974
Raymond Couzins
tvKojak
1973
Frank Mulvaney
movieBig John Morrison
1973
John Morrison
tvGhost Story
1972
Dumpy Doyle
movieThe Astronaut
1972
Kurt Anderson
tvColumbo
1971
Nelson Hayward
movieThe Love Machine
1971
Danton Miller
movieShadow on the Land
1968
Lt. Col. Andy Davis
tvHawaii Five-O
1968
Dr. Alexander Southmore
tvThe F.B.I.
1965
Harlan Slade
movieCalhoun
1964
Everett Calhoun
tvThe Great Adventure
1963
Lt. Dickson
tvThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
Self / Self (archive footage)
movieEverything's Ducky
1961
Lt. J.S. Parmell - Psychiatrist
tvThe Dick Powell Show
1961
Judd Rogers / John Reardon / Self - Host
tvThe Twilight Zone
1959
Jonathan West / Caesar (voice)
tvHennesey
1959
Lt. Charles 'Chick' Hennesey, MD
tvThe Steve Allen Show
1956
Self - Guest / Self - Singer
tvThe People's Choice
1955
Socrates 'Sock' Miller
tvMGM Parade
1955
Dink in 'The Champ' (archive footage)
tvGeneral Electric Theater
1953
Jeremy Bates
tvSchlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
Bob Heywood / Bill Harlow / Joe Toyah
Lux Video Theatre
1950
Orrin Dudley / Dave Carter
tvRobert Montgomery Presents
1950
Peter Graves / Pvt. Oscar Purkey / Milton 'Mezz' Mezzrow / Maurice Gaines / Willy Benton
tvSuspense
1949
Williams / Murderer / Dan Crowley
tvStudio One
1948
Dave Tuttle / Blackie Scantling
movieFrench Leave
1948
Skitch Kilroy
movieKilroy Was Here
1947
John J. Kilroy
movieStork Bites Man
1947
Ernest (Ernie) C. Brown
movieWhere Are Your Children?
1943
Danny Cheston
movieThe Navy Comes Through
1942
Joe 'Babe' Duttson
movieMen of Texas
1942
Robert Houston Scott
movieSyncopation
1942
Johnny Schumacher
movieGlamour Boy
1941
Tiny Barlow
movieHer First Beau
1941
Chuck Harris
movieZiegfeld Girl
1941
Jerry Regan
movieLife with Henry
1941
Henry Aldrich
movieGallant Sons
1940
Byron Newbold
movieRodeo Dough
1940
Jackie Cooper
movieSeventeen
1940
William Sylvanus Baxter
movieThe Big Guy
1939
Jimmy Hutchins
movieHollywood Cavalcade
1939
Burglar
movieWhat a Life
1939
Henry Aldrich
movieTwo Bright Boys
1939
Rory O'Donnell
movieStreets of New York
1939
James Michael 'Jimmy' Keenan
movieThe Spirit of Culver
1939
Tom Allen
movieScouts to the Rescue
1939
Bruce Scott
movieNewsboys' Home
1938
Rifle Edwards
movieGangster's Boy
1938
Larry Kelly
movieThat Certain Age
1938
Kenneth Warren
movieWhite Banners
1938
Peter Trimble
movieBoy of the Streets
1938
Chuck Brennan
movieThe Devil Is a Sissy
1936
'Buck' Murphy
movieTough Guy
1936
Frederick Martindale Vincent III
movieO'Shaughnessy's Boy
1935
Joseph "Stubby" O'Shaughnessy
movieDinky
1935
Dinky Daniels
moviePeck's Bad Boy
1934
Bill Peck
movieTreasure Island
1934
Jim Hawkins
movieLone Cowboy
1933
Scooter O'Neal
movieThe Bowery
1933
Swipes McGurk
movieBroadway to Hollywood
1933
Ted Hackett Jr. as Child
movieDivorce In The Family
1932
Terry Parker
movieWhen a Feller Needs a Friend
1932
Edward Haverford 'Eddie' Randall
movieSooky
1931
Skippy
movieThe Christmas Party
1931
Himself
movieThe Champ
1931
Dink Purcell
movieYoung Donovan's Kid
1931
Midge Murray
movieBargain Day
1931
Jackie
movieSkippy
1931
Skippy Skinner
movieLittle Daddy
1931
Jackie
movieLove Business
1931
Jackie Cooper
movieHelping Grandma
1931
Jackie
movieSchool's Out
1930
Jackie Cooper
movieTeacher's Pet
1930
Jackie
moviePups Is Pups
1930
Jackie
movieA Tough Winter
1930
Jackie
movieBear Shooters
1930
Jackie
movieSunny Side Up
1929
Jerry McGinnis (uncredited)
movieBouncing Babies
1929
Kid listening to Farina (uncredited)
movieBoxing Gloves
1929
Jackie
movieFox Movietone Follies of 1929
1929
Little Boy in 'That's You, Baby' Number (uncredited)
Directing36
tvSuperboy
1988
Director
tvSupercarrier
1988
Director
tvThe Law & Harry McGraw
1987
Director
tvJake and the Fatman
1987
Director
movieThe Ladies
1987
Director
tvSpies
1987
Director
tvOhara
1987
Director
tvSledge Hammer!
1986
Director
movieThe Deacon Street Deer
1986
Director
movieIzzy & Moe
1985
Director
tvGlitter
1984
Director
movieMoonlight
1982
Director
tvCagney & Lacey
1982
Director
movieLeave 'Em Laughing
1981
Director
tvMagnum, P.I.
1980
Director
movieRodeo Girl
1980
Director
movieWhite Mama
1980
Director
movieMarathon
1980
Director
tvParis
1979
Director
tvTrapper John, M.D.
1979
Director
tvThe White Shadow
1978
Director
movieRainbow
1978
Director
moviePerfect Gentlemen
1978
Director
movieHaving Babies III
1978
Director
tvQuincy, M.E.
1976
Director
tvThe Rockford Files
1974
Director
tvM*A*S*H
1972
Director
movieStand Up and Be Counted
1972
Director
tvMcMillan & Wife
1971
Director
tvThe Mary Tyler Moore Show
1970
Director
tvEnsign O'Toole
1962
Director
tvHennesey
1959
Director
Creator1
tvHolmes & Yo-Yo
1976
Creator
Production1
movieThe Ladies
1987
Producer