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Jackie Cooper

Jackie Cooper

Actor · 1922 – 2011 · 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).

Movies24

  • Movie7.2

    Superman

    1978 · 4.4K votes

  • Movie6.8

    Superman II

    1980 · 2.6K votes

  • Movie4.6
  • Movie5.5

    Superman III

    1983 · 1.9K votes

  • Movie7.4
  • Movie7.6
  • Movie6.6

    Ziegfeld Girl

    1941 · 39 votes

  • Movie6.5

    Treasure Island

    1934 · 80 votes

  • Movie6.4

    The Return of Frank James

    1940 · 146 votes

  • Movie6.3
  • Movie8.0
  • Movie9.0
  • Movie5.1

    Surrender

    1987 · 30 votes

  • Movie7.0
  • Movie6.8
  • Movie5.0

    The Love Machine

    1971 · 9 votes

  • Movie6.0
  • Movie6.0

    Journey into Fear

    1975 · 12 votes

  • Movie7.0
  • Movie7.1

    The Champ

    1931 · 65 votes

  • Movie8.2
  • Movie6.0
  • Movie5.7

    Chosen Survivors

    1974 · 30 votes

  • Movie8.3

Series24

  • TV7.5
  • TV7.0

    What's My Line?

    1950 · 29 votes

  • TV5.8

    The Mike Douglas Show

    1961 · 11 votes

  • TV8.1

    Columbo

    1971 · 857 votes

  • TV7.5

    Murder, She Wrote

    1984 · 471 votes

  • TV6.8

    The Merv Griffin Show

    1962 · 12 votes

  • TV6.8

    Ironside

    1967 · 71 votes

  • TV7.6

    The Rockford Files

    1974 · 133 votes

  • TV5.7

    St. Elsewhere

    1982 · 93 votes

  • TV7.2

    Hawaii Five-O

    1969 · 164 votes

  • TV6.0
  • TV8.5

    The Twilight Zone

    1959 · 1.1K votes

  • TV5.4

    Studio One

    1948 · 13 votes

  • TV5.6

    The F.B.I.

    1965 · 25 votes

  • TV6.4
  • TV6.6
  • TV7.3

    Kojak

    1973 · 154 votes

  • TV6.9

    The Colgate Comedy Hour

    1950 · 13 votes

  • TV6.2

    The Steve Allen Show

    1956 · 6 votes

  • TV7.2

    McCloud

    1970 · 53 votes

  • TV7.3

    Your Show of Shows

    1950 · 4 votes

  • TV6.5

    Telephone Time

    1956 · 4 votes

  • TV5.1

    Suspense

    1949 · 12 votes

  • TV7.0

    Police Story

    1973 · 20 votes