Jackie Cooper
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).
169 acting credits · 36 directing credits
Acting · 169
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
Columbo
1971
Murder, She Wrote
1984
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
Ironside
1967
Hawaii Five-O
1968
St. Elsewhere
1982
The Twilight Zone
1959
The Rockford Files
1974
The Philco Television Playhouse
1948
Robert Montgomery Presents
1950
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
The F.B.I.
1965
Studio One
1948
What's My Line?
1950
Kojak
1973
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
McCloud
1970
The Steve Allen Show
1956
Police Story
1973
Ghost Story
1972
Suspense
1949
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
Telephone Time
1956
Tales of Tomorrow
1951
Your Show of Shows
1950
MGM Parade
1955
Lux Video Theatre
1950
The Great Adventure
1963
The United States Steel Hour
1953
The Dick Powell Show
1961
Superman
1978
Danger
1950
The Danny Kaye Show
1963
Producers' Showcase
1954
Superman II
1980
Capital News
1990
The George Gobel Show
1954
Justice
1954
Hennesey
1959
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
1987
Cowboy G-Men
1952
Superman III
1983
Hec Ramsey
1972
General Electric Theater
1953
The People's Choice
1955
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
2006
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
Mobile One
1975
Medallion Theatre
1953
Revlon Mirror Theatre
1953
Pursuit
1958
Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman
2006
The Elgin Hour
1954
The Motorola Television Hour
1953
Texaco Star Theater
1948
The Return of Frank James
1940
Treasure Island
1934
The Gertrude Berg Show
1961
You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman
2006
Journey into Fear
1975
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood
2000
Chosen Survivors
1974
Hollywood’s Children
1982
Ziegfeld Girl
1941
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
Surrender
1987
To Tell the Truth
1956
The Clock
1949
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
1962
The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre
1948
Starlight Theatre
1950
The Day the Earth Moved
1974
The Navy Comes Through
1942
The Bowery
1933
That Certain Age
1938
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
1995
Sports on the Silver Screen
1997
The Champ
1931
Glamour Boy
1941
The Love Machine
1971
The Making of 'Superman III'
1985
Skippy
1931
Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring
1971
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
1934
Sunny Side Up
1929
Two Bright Boys
1939
Streets of New York
1939
Hollywood Cavalcade
1939
The Devil Is a Sissy
1936
Lone Cowboy
1933
Broadway to Hollywood
1933
Judy Garland: By Myself
2004
The Christmas Party
1931
The Dean Martin Comedy World
1974
The Astronaut
1972
Dinky
1935
Sooky
1931
The Making of 'Superman II'
1983
Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
1941
The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'
1982
Stork Bites Man
1947
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
1932
Tough Guy
1936
When We Were Young: Growing Up on the Silver Screen
1989
Seventeen
1940
Gangster's Boy
1938
Shivering Shakespeare
1930
It Was a Very Good Year
1971
French Leave
1948
Peck's Bad Boy
1934
Shadow on the Land
1968
Mobile Two
1975
Soaring Stars
1942
Where Are Your Children?
1943
Hooray for Hollywood
1976
Bear Shooters
1930
Stand Up and Be Counted
1972
Classic Comedy Teams
1986
Young Donovan's Kid
1931
The Big Guy
1939
When the Wind Blows
1930
O'Shaughnessy's Boy
1935
Rodeo Dough
1940
Moan & Groan, Inc.
1929
Everything's Ducky
1961
What a Life
1939
Gallant Sons
1940
Men of Texas
1942
Calhoun
1964
Big John Morrison
1973
Inside the Dream Factory
1995
Kilroy Was Here
1947
Newsboys' Home
1938
Life with Henry
1941
Boxing Gloves
1929
Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir
2001
Syncopation
1942
The Our Gang Story
1994
Boy of the Streets
1938
School's Out
1930
The Ghosts
1930
Fox Movietone Follies of 1929
1929
Rascal Dazzle
1981
Mantrap
1971
Helping Grandma
1931
The Invisible Man
1975
Scouts to the Rescue
1939
White Banners
1938
The First Seven Years
1930
No Earthly Reason
1984
When a Feller Needs a Friend
1932
Divorce In The Family
1932
The Little Rascals - The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 1
2021
Her First Beau
1941
The Spirit of Culver
1939
Bouncing Babies
1929
Bear Facts
1938
Love Business
1931
Los cazadores de osos
1930
Bargain Day
1931
A Tough Winter
1930
Teacher's Pet
1930
Ticket to Hollywood
1984
Little Daddy
1931
Pups Is Pups
1930
Of Men and Women
1972
Temps d'Hiver
1930
Directing · 36
M*A*S*H
1972
Magnum, P.I.
1980
Quincy, M.E.
1976
The Rockford Files
1974
Cagney & Lacey
1982
Jake and the Fatman
1987
Trapper John, M.D.
1979
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
1970
Sledge Hammer!
1986
McMillan & Wife
1971
The White Shadow
1978
Superboy
1988
Ohara
1987
Paris
1979
Hennesey
1959
Ensign O'Toole
1962
Glitter
1984
Supercarrier
1988
The Law & Harry McGraw
1987
The Feather And Father Gang
1977
Spies
1987
The Night They Saved Christmas
1984
Rainbow
1978
Perfect Gentlemen
1978
Moonlight
1982
Marathon
1980
White Mama
1980
Having Babies III
1978
Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story
1982
Stand Up and Be Counted
1972
Rodeo Girl
1980
The Deacon Street Deer
1986
Leave 'Em Laughing
1981
Izzy & Moe
1985
Sex and the Single Parent
1979
The Ladies
1987