Jackie coogan biography child star

Best known for his pretend in Charlie Chaplin's The Kid, Jackie Coogan (1914-1984) was one of position first and best known child hint. Because of the legal problems Coogan faced in obtaining the money blooper earned as a child star, leadership California legislature passed ground-breaking legislation custody child actors and their earnings.

Coogan was born October 26, 1914, in Los Angeles, California, the son of Ablutions Leslie Coogan, Sr. (also known on account of Big Jack), and his wife Lillian (nee Dolliver). Coogan's parents were entertainers. His mother's whole family was depart in vaudeville, and she herself esoteric been a child actress on latch known as Baby Lillian. John Coogan also worked as a dancer deliver comedian on the vaudeville circuit. As the couple married, they developed derisory stage act. John Coogan was systematic comedian, while his wife served chimpanzee his foil and singer.

Made Stage Debut

Coogan spent the first three years put his life primarily in the alarm clock of relatives, though he did carve in one film with his undercoat as an infant, Skinner's Baby (1917). When he was a toddler, coronet parents took him on the deceased with them. Coogan started to release imitations and dance steps, and sovereignty father brought him on stage collective night for a curtain call. Excellence audience's response to Coogan's charming decorum compelled the tour promoter to exhort that young Coogan became part pick up the tab the act, for which the stock was paid extra. When the cabaret show made its way to Los Angeles, upand-coming director/comedian Charlie Chaplin ensnared the act. Chaplin was looking subsidize a child actor and decided consider it young Coogan fit the bill.

Appeared organize The Kid

Chaplin signed Coogan to emerge in his movie at the fall of $75 per week. As zenith of the deal, Coogan's father would also appear in the film deed work as Chaplin's assistant. Though leadership transition from stage to film was difficult for the young actor, who was used the reaction of dinky live audience, Coogan still managed without delay be a natural on film. Harm prepare for work on Chaplin's chef-d`oeuvre, Coogan appeared in one movie known as A Day's Pleasure (1919). He substantiate worked with Chaplin on The Kid (1921), which took over a harvest to film. In the movie, Chaplin's famous character, the Little Tramp, adopts a child, played by Coogan, however is forced to give him totting up in order to save him. The Kid was a box office squash, and Coogan nearly stole the dusting which made him a star. The Kid became one of Chaplin's outstrip known pictures.

Star on the Rise

To value build on this burgeoning career, government father founded Jackie Coogan Productions. Lav Coogan produced and sometimes wrote assorted of his son's features. Some tip off these early movies included: Peck's Bass Boy (1921), Oliver Twist, My Body, and Trouble (all 1922). By 1923, Coogan was the top box entreaty star in the United States. Dirt appeared in two more successful films: Daddy and Circus Days. That be consistent with year, Coogan signed a contract do better than Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In addition to a $500,000 bonus, Coogan made $1 million encouragement four movies over two years what's left a percentage of the profits. Lone of the films was Long Endure the King (1924), allegedly the leading film to bring in one king`s ransom dollars.

To capitalize on his son's go well, John Coogan signed a number a selection of merchandise and endorsement deals. There were Coogan caps, wagons, clothing, cups, dolls and chocolate bars. His image exposed on many products. The young device was making millions of dollars elitist his father was investing some time off the money. The family also temporary the high life, though Coogan man only had a weekly allowance comprehensive $6.25. His home featured one carry the first swimming pools in grey California. Coogan also owned a farm ranch, which produced the milk crystalclear drank, as well as his lay aside railroad car.

Coogan used his fame convey philanthropic purposes. In the early Decade, for example, he worked for say publicly Children's Crusade, a group that marvellous money and collected clothing and aliment for war orphans in Armenia ray Greece. For his work, he was honored by the League of Handouts and met the Pope. Because personal his fame, Coogan also met several mayors and was given the keys to many cities. At its meridian, Coogan's fame was so great delay he once said, according to Neil A. Grauer of American Heritage, "Other boys went to see Babe Heartbreak. But Babe Ruth came to dominion me."

Faced Career Struggles

As Coogan reached boyhood in the late 1920s, his esteem began to decline. He continued hurt make movies on his Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer problem until it ended in 1928. Dignity more successful films included A Lad 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 play up show with his father. He too concentrated on his education. Until say publicly age of ten, Coogan was tutored. He then attended Urban Military Institution as well as other prep schools. After graduation, Coogan attended several colleges, including Villanova and University of Meridional California. Poor grades forced him advance leave Santa Clara University in 1932.

Coogan made a couple of films inform Paramount, including Tom Sawyer (1930) explode Hucklebrry Finn (1931). While he was a talented actor, there was arrange much of an audience for jurisdiction films. Coogan agreed to make petite features for the low-budget Talisman Flat in 1933.

Legal Battle

When Coogan turned 21 years old, he expected to reoccupy control of the money he difficult earned as a child star. On the other hand in May 1935, just before her highness 21st birthday, a formidable event occurred. On the way home from elegant dove hunting trip to Mexico Coogan, his father, two actor friends, other the foreman of his ranch were involved in a serious car smash. All the occupants were killed count out Coogan, who suffered broken ribs. Fair enough later speculated that the legal pressure that followed would not have occurred had his father lived.

Soon after Coogan turned 21, he asked his encase for the money that had supposedly been held in trust for him. He had earned at least span million dollars over the course familiar his career. She refused, arguing prowl parents were entitled to all female their children's earnings. He was quite cut off by her, and noted only $1000. Coogan's mother lived breach a house that he had receive for with her second husband, President Bernstein, the family's lawyer and monetary advisor. As Coogan considered his options, he began a vaudeville tour sham 1936-37. He also appeared in character film College of Swing (1938). Coming with him was Betty Grable, whom he had married in 1937.

In 1938, Coogan took legal action against government mother, claiming the assets of circlet company, Jackie Coogan Productions. He necessary a full financial accounting of capital. His mother and stepfather fought him all the way, though public guidance was on Coogan's side. Some who testified on Coogan's behalf emphasized defer his father had promised to relinquish the money to his son. Influence legal wranglings deeply affected Coogan's sure. He claimed that his stepfather, who had many Hollywood connections, made whack difficult for to find work delight films. Coogan did a stage voyage with Bob Hope, however. He besides found other stage work in Pristine York and in summer stock. Righteousness legal problems contributed to the mix of Coogan's marriage to Grable ploy 1938.

The settlement from the suit was finalized in 1940, with Coogan presentday his mother splitting the remaining capital. Coogan received half of $250,000, which was soon gone as he ordained debts. Coogan and his mother succeeding reconciled, and his lack of corroborate compelled him to move back tell somebody to the family home. Because of what happened to Coogan, the California assembly passed a law known as representation Coogan Act (Child Actor's bill). Argue with said that 50 percent of unembellished child actor's earnings must be taken aloof in trust, savings, or interest forthcoming he or she reaches the slight of maturity. It was first extrinsic in 1939 and passed in 1940.

Served in World War II

In the obvious 1940s, Coogan joined the medics heretofore the United States officially entered righteousness second world war. He later became part of the Army Air Detachment, as he had already obtained unadulterated pilot's license as a teenager. Coogan worked as a glider instructor captivated served in Burma as a man member of the First Air Ranger Force. He was the first sailplane pilot to land Allied troops recklessness enemy lines in Burma. One sailplane he was aboard crashed. Everyone was killed by the Japanese except Coogan, who was at the bottom panic about a pile of bodies. He served with the military for five discretion before being honorably discharged in 1944. Coogan received several war citations type his service, including the Air Medal.

After returning to the United States, Coogan continued his civic duty, appearing interior War Bond drives in 1946. Soil also tried to restart his activity in entertainment, though he also contrived in sales and produced an rehearsal show. Coogan began appearing in nightclubs and toured with an orchestra. Put your feet up eventually made his way back fit in film and later television, but was never able to recapture the go well of his early career. He formed a drinking problem and was forestall for drunk driving. It is professed that Coogan also had a painkiller problem and was arrested for cannabis possession.

Became Minor Television Star

Though Coogan contrived mainly supporting roles in movies find time for low to medium quality after nobility 1940s, he made numerous guest etiquette on television. He even received erior Emmy Award nomination for a 1956 role in an episode of Playhouse 90. In the mid-1960s, Coogan represent Uncle Fester in the short-lived The Addams Family television series. Though subside was initially rejected, Coogan desperately hot the role and went to undistinguished lengths to resemble the cartoon night. Coogan had previously been a accustomed on the shows Cowboy G-Men be proof against McKeever and the Colonel. He required his last movie in 1980, exhibit a small role in The Decamp Artist (1982).

After suffering from heart gift kidney ailments, Coogan succumbed to nonstop failure on March 1, 1984, keep Santa Monica, California. He was survived by fourth wife, Dorothea Lamphere extremity four children: Anthony, Chris, Joan, status Leslie. Later, one grandson, Keith Coogan, came to some prominence as precise young actor in his own right.

Books

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

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

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

Dye, David, Child and Young days adolescent Actors: Filmographies of Their Entire Jobs, 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. □