Thursday, May 5, 2011

SUPERMAN Actor Jackie Cooper Passes Away at 88

Veteran actor Jackie Cooper has passed away in Beverly Hills, California yesterday at the age of 88. The cause of death is still unknown, although it is said he has "a sudden bout with illness."

A former child actor at a very young age, Jackie Cooper was born on September 15, 1922 in Los Angeles. He made a milestone by becoming the youngest actor to receive a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his portrayal of the title character in SKIPPY at just nine years of age in 1931.

As an adult, Jackie Cooper is of course best known for his role as Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White in SUPERMAN (1978), SUPERMAN II (1980), SUPERMAN III (1983), and SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST OF PEACE (1987). He also directed a number of TV movies and TV episodes, earning two Best Directing Emmy Awards for episodes of M*A*S*H and THE WHITE SHADOW.