Jackie Cooper ✝

John Cooper Jr. (September 15, 1922 – May 3, 2011) was an American actor and director. Known as Jackie Cooper, he began his career performing in film as a child, and successfully transitioned to adult roles and directing in both film and television. At age nine, he became the only child nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor – and remains one of the youngest performers ever nominated for any Oscar – for the 1931 film Skippy. He was a featured member of the Our Gang ensemble in 1929–1931, 1955-58 The People's Choice, the title character in the 1959–1962 TV series Hennesey, and Perry White in the 1978–1987 Superman films. John Cooper Jr. was born in Los Angeles, California. Cooper's father, John Cooper, left the family when Jackie was two years old. His mother, Mabel Leonard Bigelow (née Polito), was a stage pianist. Cooper's maternal uncle, Jack Leonard, was a screenwriter and his maternal aunt, Julie Leonard, was an actress married to director Norman Taurog. Cooper's stepfather was C.J. Bigelow, a studio production manager. His mother was Italian American (her family's surname was changed from "Polito" to "Leonard"); Cooper was told by his family that his father was Jewish. The two never reunited after he had left the family. Cooper first appeared in films as an extra with his grandmother, who took him to her auditions hoping it would help her get extra work. At age three, Jackie appeared in Lloyd Hamilton comedies under the name of "Leonard".