Origins & Early Life

John Cooper Jr. (September 15, 1922 – May 3, 2011), known professionally as Jackie Cooper, was an American actor and director. He began his career as a child actor and was a featured member of the Our Gang ensemble 1929–1931. At age nine, he became the only child and youngest person nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for the 1931 film Skippy.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He then successfully transitioned to adolescent roles in the 1930s and adult roles from 1940 on. As an adult, he starred as Socrates "Sock" Miller on the sitcom The People's Choice (1955–58) and as the title character on Hennesey (1959–1962), as well as playing Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White in the 1978–1987 Superman films. He also had success as a television director, earning two Primetime Emmy Awards for directing. He had a parallel career as a U.S. Navy officer, both active duty and reserve.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

For his contributions to the motion picture industry, Cooper was honored with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star located at 1507 Vine Street. John Cooper Jr. was born in Los Angeles, California. Cooper's father, Brooklyn-born John George Cooper, left the family when Jackie was two years old. His mother, Mabel Leonard...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aage Bohr — Contemporary (Born in 1922) (1922): Pioneering Danish nuclear physicist, Nobel laureate for atomic structure theory.
• Agostinho Neto — Contemporary (Born in 1922) (1922): Angolan communist revolutionary, poet, and first President of Angola.
• Alain Resnais — Contemporary (Born in 1922) (1922): Pioneering French filmmaker exploring memory, consciousness, and narrative structure.
• Amy Winehouse — Contemporary (Died in 2011) (2011): Iconic British soul artist blending jazz, R&B, and retro sounds.
• Anne McCaffrey — Contemporary (Died in 2011) (2011): Pioneering science fiction author, celebrated for the Dragonriders of Pern.
• Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu — Contemporary (Died in 2011) (2011): Prominent Nigerian politician and military leader, best known for leading Biafra.
• Agatha Christie — Shared historical date (09-15 · Born) (1890): The 'Queen of Crime,' a master of the mystery genre, best-selling author of all time.
• André Le Nôtre — Shared historical date (09-15 · Died) (1700): Master French landscape architect, famed for the formal gardens of Versailles.
• Alfred Kastler — Shared historical date (05-03 · Born) (1902): Pioneering physicist known for developing the technique of optical pumping.
• Béla IV of Hungary — Shared historical date (05-03 · Died) (1270): King of Hungary and Croatia, known for rebuilding the state after Mongol devastation.
• 1922 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1922
• September 15 (09-15) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on September 15
• 2011 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2011
• May 3 (05-03) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on May 3