Former child star Jackie Cooper dies at 88

Actor Jackie Cooper (center L) is shown with other stars of the "Our Gang" serial films in this undated publicity photo released to Reuters May 4, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Actor Jackie Cooper is shown in a publicity photo from the 1978 film "Superman" released to Reuters May 4, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

"He managed to change with the business," said his son, John. "Early in his life, he experienced the kind of success that many people do not have, if they have that kind of success at all, until much later."

A handsome kid with tousled blond hair and a winning smile, Jackie had a memorable bit in the 1929 musical "Sunny Side Up" and appeared in eight of the popular "Our Gang" comedies, including "Pups Is Pups" and "Teacher's Pet." Those credits led to a test that won him the title role of "Skippy."

The director of the 1931 film was his uncle, Norman Taurog. A crucial scene called for Jackie to cry. The tears wouldn't come, and Taurog became angry. He called the boy's beloved dog a nuisance and said he would send it to the pound. Jackie threw a tantrum, infuriating the director.

"If you don't do what I say, I'll have the policeman shoot the dog," Taurog threatened, pointing to the armed security guard.

The tears flowed, and the scene was filmed, and Taurog went on to win the Oscar for best director. Fifty years later, Cooper titled his autobiography "Please Don't Shoot My Dog."

Cooper remained by far the youngest player to be nominated for an Academy Award as best actor. (There were no supporting actor-actress categories — where most child performers have been nominated — at that time.) At the ceremony, the boy fell asleep in the lap of another nominee, Marie Dressler.

He was born John Cooper Jr. on Sept. 15, 1922, in Los Angeles. His Jewish father, who ran a music store, had married an Italian musician, Mabel Leonard, but deserted her when their son was 2. Destitute, Mrs. Cooper found work at Fox studio as a secretary. Through her brother-in-law, Taurog, she was able to arrange extra work in movies for young Jackie.

MGM signed Cooper to a contract after "Skippy," and he attended the studio school with Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland and Freddie Bartholomew. Cooper proved an ideal combination with Beery, the rough, tough character whose heart is melted by the winsome kid.

Unlike some child actors, Cooper was able to sustain his stardom through adolescence. Among Cooper's other 1930s films: "Sooky" (a sequel to "Skippy"), "Broadway to Hollywood," "Lone Cowboy," "Dinky," "The Devil Is a Sissy" (with Rooney and Bartholomew), "Peck's Bad Boy," "White Banners," "Gangster's Boy," "That Certain Age" (opposite Deanna Durbin), "What a Life" (as Henry Aldrich), "Seventeen" and "The Return of Frank James."

After four years in the Navy, he returned to find his career had slumped.

"I managed to find work, but it was in low-budget pictures," he recalled in 1971. "I couldn't see myself continuing like that.

"About that time, I had become acquainted with some New York actors, like Keenan Wynn and John Garfield. Garfield kept telling me to 'get back to New York where you can learn your craft.' "

Cooper followed the advice and appeared as Ensign Pulver in Broadway and road companies of "Mister Roberts." He starred in two hit comedies: "Remains to Be Seen" and "King of Hearts." During the early 1950s, television was exploding in New York, and he acted in many live dramas. That led to his return to Hollywood and success with "The People's Choice" and "Hennessey."

Tiring of the weekly series grind, Cooper in 1964 accepted a five-year contract as production head of Screen Gems, the TV arm of Columbia Pictures.

"Like so many of those jobs, the honeymoon was over after the first two years," he remarked. "Then you find yourself spending all your time trying to sell your bosses on what you want to do. My last selling job was 'The Flying Nun.' They kept telling me that people wouldn't watch a show about Catholics." He persisted, and the series starring Sally Field became a hit.

After almost 50 years in the business, Cooper thought of retiring in the early 1970s. Then producer Mike Frankovich offered him a role in "The Love Machine," and a film to direct, "Stand Up and Be Counted." He continued with occasional acting roles and a heavy schedule of directing for television.

Cooper remained boyish-looking and slender, with a thick head of hair. He was married three times: to June Horne (with whom he had a son, John) and Hildy Parks, then to Barbara Kraus (with whom he had a son, Russell, and two daughters, Julie and Christina).

"There's not a child actor in the lot," he once remarked happily.