LEGENDARY JACKIE COOPER GONE

Cooper_story

Oscar nominated child star and People’s Choice JACKIE COOPER who played Daily Planet editor Perry White in four Superman films has departed this world at age 88.

Cooper died Tuesday at a Santa Monica hospital after a brief illness.

Jackie reigned with Shirley Temple as one of the most popular child stars of the 1930s. Starting in shorts, he hit the big time in 1931, at age 9, with “Skippy," based on a popular comic strip.

He became the first child actor to ever be nominated for an Academy Award with his turn in Skippy.

Jackie’s uncle Norman Taurog, the film’s director pushed the child star to the limit. When during a crucial scene called for Jackie to cry the tears wouldn't come.

Taurog became livid — calling the boy's beloved dog a nuisance and said he would send it to the pound. Jackie promptly 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, the scene was filmed, and Taurog went on his Best Director Oscar.

Fifty years later, Cooper titled his autobiography, "Please Don't Shoot My Dog."

Jackie followed Skippy with "The Champ," "The Bowery," "Treasure Island" and "O'Shaughnessy's Boy," all co-starring perennial mug king Wallace Beery.

With his thesp career interrupted by World War 2, Cooper left Hollywood for the New York theater.

He returned to LA and starred in two successful situation comedies, "The People's Choice" (1955-58) with a talking basset hound named Cleo as his costar and "Hennessey" (1959-62). About a Navy doctor which he also produced and directed.

Tired 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.

In the 1978 he defined the hardboiled city room editor Perry White in the first of 4 Superman films starring Christopher Reeve.  He also appeared in the spin-off "Superboy" TV series for producer Ilya Salkind.

Salkind broke the news on Facebook to fans: “I am deeply affected by the recent loss of Jackie Cooper who I had the honor and privilege to work with on Superman 1, 2, and 3 as well as in the Superboy TV Series.

“I wish his family and friends my heartfelt condolences.”

As do we all. Adios, amigo.