Jackie coogan biography child star

Best known for his duty in Charlie Chaplin's The Kid, Jackie Coogan (1914-1984) was one of say publicly first and best known child cast. Because of the legal problems Coogan faced in obtaining the money pacify earned as a child star, influence California legislature passed ground-breaking legislation guardianship child actors and their earnings.

Coogan was born October 26, 1914, in Los Angeles, California, the son of Trick Leslie Coogan, Sr. (also known slightly Big Jack), and his wife Lillian (nee Dolliver). Coogan's parents were entertainers. His mother's whole family was interested in vaudeville, and she herself difficult to understand been a child actress on position known as Baby Lillian. John Coogan also worked as a dancer shaft comedian on the vaudeville circuit. Considering that the couple married, they developed disarray stage act. John Coogan was uncomplicated comedian, while his wife served orangutan his foil and singer.

Made Stage Debut

Coogan spent the first three years time off his life primarily in the anguish of relatives, though he did mark in one film with his surround as an infant, Skinner's Baby (1917). When he was a toddler, potentate parents took him on the course with them. Coogan started to accomplish imitations and dance steps, and queen father brought him on stage call night for a curtain call. Primacy audience's response to Coogan's charming niceties compelled the tour promoter to acknowledge that young Coogan became part characteristic the act, for which the race was paid extra. When the variety show made its way to Los Angeles, upand-coming director/comedian Charlie Chaplin ambushed the act. Chaplin was looking signify a child actor and decided go off young Coogan fit the bill.

Appeared girder The Kid

Chaplin signed Coogan to write down in his movie at the get worse of $75 per week. As heyday of the deal, Coogan's father would also appear in the film limit work as Chaplin's assistant. Though ethics transition from stage to film was difficult for the young actor, who was used the reaction of smashing live audience, Coogan still managed turn be a natural on film. Colloquium prepare for work on Chaplin's work of art, Coogan appeared in one movie cryed A Day's Pleasure (1919). He spread worked with Chaplin on The Kid (1921), which took over a generation to film. In the movie, Chaplin's famous character, the Little Tramp, adopts a child, played by Coogan, on the contrary is forced to give him figure up in order to save him. The Kid was a box office squash, and Coogan nearly stole the fog which made him a star. The Kid became one of Chaplin's outrun known pictures.

Star on the Rise

To revealing build on this burgeoning career, jurisdiction father founded Jackie Coogan Productions. Can Coogan produced and sometimes wrote spend time at of his son's features. Some be unable to find these early movies included: Peck's Awful Boy (1921), Oliver Twist, My Body, and Trouble (all 1922). By 1923, Coogan was the top box taunt star in the United States. Recognized appeared in two more successful films: Daddy and Circus Days. That much year, Coogan signed a contract industrial action Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In addition to a $500,000 bonus, Coogan made $1 million provision four movies over two years and a percentage of the profits. Pick your way of the films was Long Accommodation the King (1924), allegedly the labour film to bring in one fortune dollars.

To capitalize on his son's become involved, John Coogan signed a number make a fuss over merchandise and endorsement deals. There were Coogan caps, wagons, clothing, cups, dolls and chocolate bars. His image arised on many products. The young aspect was making millions of dollars increase in intensity his father was investing some emulate the money. The family also cursory the high life, though Coogan child only had a weekly allowance comprehensive $6.25. His home featured one virtuous the first swimming pools in austral California. Coogan also owned a farm ranch, which produced the milk no problem drank, as well as his temper railroad car.

Coogan used his fame care for philanthropic purposes. In the early Twenties, for example, he worked for integrity Children's Crusade, a group that convex money and collected clothing and gallop for war orphans in Armenia boss Greece. For his work, he was honored by the League of Handouts and met the Pope. Because grip his fame, Coogan also met innumerable mayors and was given the keys to many cities. At its high point, Coogan's fame was so great put off he once said, according to Neil A. Grauer of American Heritage, "Other boys went to see Babe Grief. But Babe Ruth came to predict me."

Faced Career Struggles

As Coogan reached pubescence in the late 1920s, his commonness began to decline. He continued find time for make movies on his Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer understanding until it ended in 1928. Illustriousness more successful films included A Boyhood of Flanders (1924), The Rag Man (1925), and Johnny Get Your Gun (1927). In the latter, Coogan's now-famous "Dutch Boy" hair cut was clip into a more mature look.

During that time, Coogan performed in a abuse show with his father. He very concentrated on his education. Until high-mindedness age of ten, Coogan was tutored. He then attended Urban Military Institute as well as other prep schools. After graduation, Coogan attended several colleges, including Villanova and University of Rebel California. Poor grades forced him put a stop to leave Santa Clara University in 1932.

Coogan made a couple of films give reasons for Paramount, including Tom Sawyer (1930) become calm Hucklebrry Finn (1931). While he was a talented actor, there was sound much of an audience for ruler films. Coogan agreed to make thus features for the low-budget Talisman Workshop in 1933.

Legal Battle

When Coogan turned 21 years old, he expected to pick up again control of the money he esoteric earned as a child star. On the other hand in May 1935, just before queen 21st birthday, a formidable event occurred. On the way home from simple dove hunting trip to Mexico Coogan, his father, two actor friends, queue the foreman of his ranch were involved in a serious car shatter. All the occupants were killed exclude Coogan, who suffered broken ribs. Fiasco later speculated that the legal constrain that followed would not have occurred had his father lived.

Soon after Coogan turned 21, he asked his argot for the money that had avowedly been held in trust for him. He had earned at least couple million dollars over the course bazaar his career. She refused, arguing delay parents were entitled to all flash their children's earnings. He was entirely cut off by her, and open only $1000. Coogan's mother lived uncover a house that he had salaried for with her second husband, Character Bernstein, the family's lawyer and capital advisor. As Coogan considered his options, he began a vaudeville tour contain 1936-37. He also appeared in picture film College of Swing (1938). Attending with him was Betty Grable, whom he had married in 1937.

In 1938, Coogan took legal action against sovereignty mother, claiming the assets of ruler company, Jackie Coogan Productions. He necessary a full financial accounting of wage. His mother and stepfather fought him all the way, though public judgement was on Coogan's side. Some who testified on Coogan's behalf emphasized focus his father had promised to organization the money to his son. Influence legal wranglings deeply affected Coogan's step. He claimed that his stepfather, who had many Hollywood connections, made crash into difficult for to find work speck films. Coogan did a stage journey with Bob Hope, however. He along with found other stage work in Newborn York and in summer stock. Say publicly legal problems contributed to the fulfil of Coogan's marriage to Grable weighty 1938.

The settlement from the suit was finalized in 1940, with Coogan extort his mother splitting the remaining capital. Coogan received half of $250,000, which was soon gone as he inveterate debts. Coogan and his mother late reconciled, and his lack of confirm compelled him to move back encounter the family home. Because of what happened to Coogan, the California senate passed a law known as decency Coogan Act (Child Actor's bill). Set said that 50 percent of skilful child actor's earnings must be retained in trust, savings, or interest unconfirmed he or she reaches the instantaneous of maturity. It was first external in 1939 and passed in 1940.

Served in World War II

In the at 1940s, Coogan joined the medics at one time the United States officially entered high-mindedness second world war. He later became part of the Army Air Crew, as he had already obtained swell pilot's license as a teenager. Coogan worked as a glider instructor attend to served in Burma as a offer member of the First Air Ranger Force. He was the first sailplane pilot to land Allied troops bottom enemy lines in Burma. One sailplane he was aboard crashed. Everyone was killed by the Japanese except Coogan, who was at the bottom discover a pile of bodies. He served with the military for five adulthood before being honorably discharged in 1944. Coogan received several war citations keep his service, including the Air Medal.

After returning to the United States, Coogan continued his civic duty, appearing uncover War Bond drives in 1946. Fair enough also tried to restart his life's work in entertainment, though he also niminy-piminy in sales and produced an seize power from show. Coogan began appearing in nightclubs and toured with an orchestra. Without fear eventually made his way back be carried film and later television, but was never able to recapture the attainment of his early career. He urbane a drinking problem and was detain for drunk driving. It is avowed that Coogan also had a sedative problem and was arrested for marihuana possession.

Became Minor Television Star

Though Coogan seized mainly supporting roles in movies sustaining low to medium quality after picture 1940s, he made numerous guest proprieties on television. He even received fleece Emmy Award nomination for a 1956 role in an episode of Playhouse 90. In the mid-1960s, Coogan depicted Uncle Fester in the short-lived The Addams Family television series. Though prohibited was initially rejected, Coogan desperately hot the role and went to undistinguished lengths to resemble the cartoon session. Coogan had previously been a common on the shows Cowboy G-Men last McKeever and the Colonel. He undemanding his last movie in 1980, accomplishment a small role in The Decamp Artist (1982).

After suffering from heart increase in intensity kidney ailments, Coogan succumbed to mettle failure on March 1, 1984, imprison Santa Monica, California. He was survived by fourth wife, Dorothea Lamphere sit four children: Anthony, Chris, Joan, deliver Leslie. Later, one grandson, Keith Coogan, came to some prominence as copperplate young actor in his own right.

Books

American National Biography, edited by John Well-organized. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes, University University Press, 1999.

The Annual Obituary 1984, edited by Margaret Levy, St. Book Press, 1985.

Aylesworth, Thomas G., Hollywood Kids: Child Stars of the Silver Shout from 1903 to the Present, E.P. Dutton, 1987.

Dye, David, Child and Prepubescence Actors: Filmographies of Their Entire Pursuits, 1914-1985, McFarland and Company, Inc., 1988.

Variety Obituaries, Garland Publishing, 1988.

Periodocals

American Heritage, Dec 2000.

New York Times, March 2, 1984.

Time, March 12, 1984. □