Jackie Cooper profile
Actor profile

Jackie Cooper

15th September 1922 Los Angeles, California, USA 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).

111 Movies 58 TV Shows 169 Credits
Filmography

Movies & TV Shows

Calhoun poster
Calhoun 8th July 1964 as Everett Calhoun
Seventeen poster
Seventeen 1st March 1940 as William Sylvanus Baxter
Tough Guy poster
Tough Guy 24th January 1936 as Frederick Martindale Vincent III
Dinky poster
Dinky 11th May 1935 as Dinky Daniels
Sooky poster
Sooky 26th December 1931 as Skippy
Skippy poster
Skippy 25th April 1931 as Skippy Skinner
Kojak poster
Kojak 24th October 1973 as Frank Mulvaney
Columbo poster
Columbo 15th September 1971 as Nelson Hayward
Hennesey poster
Hennesey 28th September 1959 as Lt. Charles 'Chick' Hennesey, MD
MGM Parade poster
MGM Parade 14th September 1955 as Dink in 'The Champ' (archive footage)