Jackie Cooper

Known for ActingBorn 1922-09-15Died 2011-05-03Los 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).Read more

Movies & web series

Sex and the Single Parent

Rainbow

The Great Adventure

The Motorola Television Hour

Stork Bites Man

What a Life

The Spirit of Culver

Scouts to the Rescue

Two Bright Boys

Hollywood on Parade No. A-3

Young Donovan's Kid

Sports on the Silver Screen

The Ladies

Hollywood’s Children

The Dean Martin Comedy World

The Gertrude Berg Show

MGM Parade

Justice

Men of Texas

Seventeen

Judy Garland: By Myself

Rodeo Girl

The Twilight Zone

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

Inside the Dream Factory

The Deacon Street Deer

Rascal Dazzle

Leave 'Em Laughing

White Mama

Columbo

Sledge Hammer!

Hooray for Hollywood

The Invisible Man

Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman

M*A*S*H

Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood

Pursuit

Starlight Theatre

The Making of 'Superman II'

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

The Big Guy

Newsboys' Home

Murder, She Wrote

The Rockford Files

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Shadow on the Land

Moonlight

Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir

MAS*H