Cast & creator
Jackie Cooper
Best known for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Mike Douglas Show, Columbo
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).
Also known as: John Cooper Jr., Джеки Купер, Джекки Купер
128
film credits
97
television credits
187
1929–2021 · acting roles
6.9
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (225)
Showing 225 of 225 credits
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Columbo
Nelson Hayward
1971
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
What's My Line?
Self
1950
Murder, She Wrote
Carl Schulman / Neil Fletcher
1984
Hawaii Five-O
Dr. Alexander Southmore
1969
M*A*S*H
Director
1972
Magnum, P.I.
Director
1980
Ironside
1967
Quincy, M.E.
Director
1976
The Rockford Files
Capt. Highland
1974The Rockford Files
Garth McGregor
1974The Rockford Files
Director
1974
St. Elsewhere
David Domedion
1982
Robert Montgomery Presents
1950Robert Montgomery Presents
Peter Graves
1950Robert Montgomery Presents
Pvt. Oscar Purkey
1950Robert Montgomery Presents
Milton 'Mezz' Mezzrow
1950Robert Montgomery Presents
Maurice Gaines
1950Robert Montgomery Presents
Willy Benton
1950
The Twilight Zone
Jonathan West / Caesar (voice)
1959
Studio One
1948Studio One
Dave Tuttle
1948Studio One
Blackie Scantling
1948
Jake and the Fatman
Director
1987
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Director
1970
Cagney & Lacey
Director
1982
The Philco Television Playhouse
Bubbo
1948
The F.B.I.
Harlan Slade
1965
Trapper John, M.D.
Director
1979
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self
1950
The Steve Allen Show
Self - Guest
1956The Steve Allen Show
Self - Singer
1956
McCloud
1970McCloud
Winn Hollis
1970
Kojak
Frank Mulvaney
1973
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Self
1956
Police Story
1973
The Danny Kaye Show
Self
1963
Suspense
Williams
1949Suspense
Murderer
1949Suspense
Dan Crowley
1949
Sledge Hammer!
Director
1986
Your Show of Shows
1950
Telephone Time
1956
McMillan & Wife
Director
1971
The United States Steel Hour
1953Danger
1950
MGM Parade
Dink in 'The Champ' (archive footage)
1955Lux Video Theatre
Orrin Dudley
1950Lux Video Theatre
Dave Carter
1950
Ghost Story
Dumpy Doyle
1972
Tales of Tomorrow
1951The George Gobel Show
Self
1954
The White Shadow
Director
1978
The Great Adventure
Lt. Dickson
1963
The Dick Powell Show
Judd Rogers
1961The Dick Powell Show
John Reardon
1961The Dick Powell Show
Self - Host
1961The Clock
1949
Superman
Perry White
1978
Superman II
Perry White
1980
Superboy
Director
1988Justice
1954
Ensign O'Toole
Director
1962
Hennesey
Lt. Charles 'Chick' Hennesey, MD
1959Hennesey
Director
1959
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Perry White
1987
Capital News
John C. Dodd
1990Producers' Showcase
1954
Superman III
Perry White
1983
The People's Choice
Socrates 'Sock' Miller
1955
Ohara
Director
1987
Paris
Director
1979
The Gertrude Berg Show
1961
Supercarrier
Director
1988
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
Perry White
2006
Glitter
Director
1984
General Electric Theater
Jeremy Bates
1953
Revlon Mirror Theatre
1953
The Feather And Father Gang
Director
1977
The Law & Harry McGraw
Director
1987
Cowboy G-Men
1952
The Motorola Television Hour
1953
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Bob Heywood
1951Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Bill Harlow / Joe Toyah
1951
Hec Ramsey
1972
Medallion Theatre
1953
The Little Rascals
Jackie
1929The Elgin Hour
1954
Ziegfeld Girl
Jerry Regan
1941
To Tell the Truth
1956
Treasure Island
Jim Hawkins
1934Pursuit
1958
Mobile One
Peter Campbell
1975The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre
1948
Spies
Director
1987
The Return of Frank James
Clem
1940Texaco Star Theater
1948
Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman
Self
2006
Sports on the Silver Screen
Self (archive footage)
1997
Holmes & Yo-Yo
Creator
1976
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
1975
The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'
Self
1982
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
Self
1995
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
1934
The Night They Saved Christmas
Director
1984
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
Self
1932
Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood
Self
2000
You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman
Self
2006
Rodeo Girl
Director
1980
Surrender
Ace Morgan
1987
The Navy Comes Through
Joe 'Babe' Duttson
1942
The Champ
Dink Purcell
1931The Dean Martin Comedy World
Host
1974
Judy Garland: By Myself
Self - Actor (voice)
2004
The Devil Is a Sissy
'Buck' Murphy
1936
The Day the Earth Moved
Steve Barker
1974
The Making of 'Superman III'
Self
1985
Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
Self
1993
The Making of 'Superman II'
Self
1983
The Our Gang Story
Jackie (archive footage)
1994
Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story
Director
1982
The Love Machine
Danton Miller
1971
Inside the Dream Factory
1995
Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring
Ed Miller
1971
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
Self
1962
Stand Up and Be Counted
Doctor
1972Stand Up and Be Counted
Director
1972
When We Were Young: Growing Up on the Silver Screen
Self
1989
Journey into Fear
Eric Hurst
1975
Of Men and Women
1972
Gallant Sons
Byron Newbold
1940
Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
Self
1941
The Astronaut
Kurt Anderson
1972
Shadow on the Land
Lt. Col. Andy Davis
1968
The Deacon Street Deer
Director
1986
Peck's Bad Boy
Bill Peck
1934It Was a Very Good Year
1971
Scouts to the Rescue
Bruce Scott
1939
Izzy & Moe
Director
1985
Syncopation
Johnny Schumacher
1942
O'Shaughnessy's Boy
Joseph "Stubby" O'Shaughnessy
1935
Hollywood Cavalcade
Burglar
1939Starlight Theatre
1950
Divorce In The Family
Terry Parker
1932
Where Are Your Children?
Danny Cheston
1943
Boy of the Streets
Chuck Brennan
1938
Sex and the Single Parent
Director
1979Soaring Stars
Pilot
1942
Her First Beau
Chuck Harris
1941
Moonlight
Director
1982
Rainbow
Director
1978
Streets of New York
James Michael 'Jimmy' Keenan
1939
The Little Rascals - The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 1
2021
Young Donovan's Kid
Midge Murray
1931
Hooray for Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
1976
Broadway to Hollywood
Ted Hackett Jr. as Child
1933
When a Feller Needs a Friend
Edward Haverford 'Eddie' Randall
1932
Chosen Survivors
Raymond Couzins
1974
The Bowery
Swipes McGurk
1933
The Invisible Man
Walter Carlson
1975
Fox Movietone Follies of 1929
Little Boy in 'That's You, Baby' Number (uncredited)
1929
The First Seven Years
Jackie
1930
Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir
Self
2001
That Certain Age
Kenneth Warren
1938
Life with Henry
Henry Aldrich
1941
Leave 'Em Laughing
Director
1981
When the Wind Blows
Jackie
1930
The Spirit of Culver
Tom Allen
1939
Big John Morrison
John Morrison
1973
Newsboys' Home
Rifle Edwards
1938
Dinky
Dinky Daniels
1935
Hollywood’s Children
Self (archive footage)
1982Los cazadores de osos
Juanito
1930
Sooky
Skippy
1931
What a Life
Henry Aldrich
1939
Kilroy Was Here
John J. Kilroy
1947
Classic Comedy Teams
Our Gang(archive footage)
1986
Glamour Boy
Tiny Barlow
1941
Gangster's Boy
Larry Kelly
1938
Two Bright Boys
Rory O'Donnell
1939
Everything's Ducky
Lt. J.S. Parmell - Psychiatrist
1961
White Mama
Director
1980
Moan & Groan, Inc.
Jackie
1929
Marathon
Director
1980
Boxing Gloves
Jackie
1929
Calhoun
Everett Calhoun
1964
Teacher's Pet
Jackie
1930
Men of Texas
Robert Houston Scott
1942
French Leave
Skitch Kilroy
1948
Skippy
Skippy Skinner
1931
The Big Guy
Jimmy Hutchins
1939
Having Babies III
Director
1978
Bear Shooters
Jackie
1930
Stork Bites Man
Ernest (Ernie) C. Brown
1947
School's Out
Jackie Cooper
1930
Helping Grandma
Jackie
1931
Lone Cowboy
Scooter O'Neal
1933
Seventeen
William Sylvanus Baxter
1940
Rascal Dazzle
Jackie (archive footage)
1981No Earthly Reason
J. Nash Hawkins
1984
Love Business
Jackie Cooper
1931
White Banners
Peter Trimble
1938
Tough Guy
Frederick Martindale Vincent III
1936
Rodeo Dough
Jackie Cooper
1940
The Christmas Party
Himself
1931
Perfect Gentlemen
Director
1978
Sunny Side Up
Jerry McGinnis (uncredited)
1929
Mobile Two
Peter Campbell
1975
Shivering Shakespeare
Jackie
1930
Bear Facts
Bear
1938Mantrap
1971
Bouncing Babies
Kid listening to Farina (uncredited)
1929
Little Daddy
Jackie
1931The Ghosts
Juanito
1930
The Ladies
Producer
1987The Ladies
Director
1987
Bargain Day
Jackie
1931
A Tough Winter
Jackie
1930Temps d'Hiver
Jackie
1930Ticket to Hollywood
Narrator
1984
Pups Is Pups
Jackie
1930