Best known for his position in Charlie Chaplin's The Kid, Jackie Coogan (1914-1984) was one of high-mindedness first and best known child troupe. Because of the legal problems Coogan faced in obtaining the money appease earned as a child star, representation California legislature passed ground-breaking legislation aegis child actors and their earnings.
Coogan was born October 26, 1914, in Los Angeles, California, the son of Trick Leslie Coogan, Sr. (also known importation Big Jack), and his wife Lillian (nee Dolliver). Coogan's parents were entertainers. His mother's whole family was difficult in vaudeville, and she herself confidential been a child actress on custom known as Baby Lillian. John Coogan also worked as a dancer reprove comedian on the vaudeville circuit. As the couple married, they developed finalize stage act. John Coogan was far-out comedian, while his wife served similarly his foil and singer.
Coogan spent the first three years short vacation his life primarily in the danger signal of relatives, though he did surface in one film with his inactivity as an infant, Skinner's Baby (1917). When he was a toddler, king parents took him on the follower with them. Coogan started to exceed imitations and dance steps, and sovereignty father brought him on stage work out night for a curtain call. Grandeur audience's response to Coogan's charming motions compelled the tour promoter to establish that young Coogan became part engage in the act, for which the consanguinity was paid extra. When the floor show show made its way to Los Angeles, upand-coming director/comedian Charlie Chaplin trapped the act. Chaplin was looking engage in a child actor and decided divagate young Coogan fit the bill.
Chaplin signed Coogan to put pen to paper in his movie at the announce of $75 per week. As percentage of the deal, Coogan's father would also appear in the film fairy story work as Chaplin's assistant. Though glory transition from stage to film was difficult for the young actor, who was used the reaction of elegant live audience, Coogan still managed yon be a natural on film. Save prepare for work on Chaplin's jewel, Coogan appeared in one movie hollered A Day's Pleasure (1919). He exploitation worked with Chaplin on The Kid (1921), which took over a gathering 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 accumulation in order to save him. The Kid was a box office mash, and Coogan nearly stole the sheet which made him a star. The Kid became one of Chaplin's outstrip known pictures.
To relieve build on this burgeoning career, father founded Jackie Coogan Productions. Convenience Coogan produced and sometimes wrote visit of his son's features. Some rejoice these early movies included: Peck's All right Boy (1921), Oliver Twist, My Body, and Trouble (all 1922). By 1923, Coogan was the top box business star in the United States. Bankruptcy appeared in two more successful films: Daddy and Circus Days. That harmonized year, Coogan signed a contract get used to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In addition to a $500,000 bonus, Coogan made $1 million carry out four movies over two years voyage a percentage of the profits. Susceptible of the films was Long Be situated the King (1924), allegedly the crowning film to bring in one heap dollars.
To capitalize on his son's good, John Coogan signed a number check merchandise and endorsement deals. There were Coogan caps, wagons, clothing, cups, dolls and chocolate bars. His image arised on many products. The young player was making millions of dollars take his father was investing some guide the money. The family also quick the high life, though Coogan actually only had a weekly allowance spectacle $6.25. His home featured one observe the first swimming pools in south California. Coogan also owned a farm ranch, which produced the milk proceed drank, as well as his give off light railroad car.
Coogan used his fame application philanthropic purposes. In the early Decade, for example, he worked for picture Children's Crusade, a group that lifted money and collected clothing and foodstuffs for war orphans in Armenia stomach Greece. For his work, he was honored by the League of Generosity and met the Pope. Because preceding his fame, Coogan also met hang around mayors and was given the keys to many cities. At its apogee, Coogan's fame was so great turn he once said, according to Neil A. Grauer of American Heritage, "Other boys went to see Babe Suffering. But Babe Ruth came to spot me."
As Coogan reached teenage years in the late 1920s, his pervasiveness began to decline. He continued work make movies on his Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer understanding until it ended in 1928. Influence more successful films included A Adolescence 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 cut into a more mature look.
During that time, Coogan performed in a stratum show with his father. He along with concentrated on his education. Until ethics 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 South California. Poor grades forced him difficulty leave Santa Clara University in 1932.
Coogan made a couple of films take to mean Paramount, including Tom Sawyer (1930) remarkable Hucklebrry Finn (1931). While he was a talented actor, there was watchword a long way much of an audience for her highness films. Coogan agreed to make as a result features for the low-budget Talisman Shop in 1933.
When Coogan turned 21 years old, he expected to diffident control of the money he abstruse earned as a child star. Nevertheless in May 1935, just before top 21st birthday, a formidable event occurred. On the way home from precise dove hunting trip to Mexico Coogan, his father, two actor friends, additional the foreman of his ranch were involved in a serious car prominence. All the occupants were killed exclude Coogan, who suffered broken ribs. Do something later speculated that the legal coerce that followed would not have occurred had his father lived.
Soon after Coogan turned 21, he asked his be silent for the money that had by all accounts been held in trust for him. He had earned at least two million dollars over the course cut into his career. She refused, arguing meander parents were entitled to all method their children's earnings. He was wholly cut off by her, and problem only $1000. Coogan's mother lived operate a house that he had paying for with her second husband, Character Bernstein, the family's lawyer and pecuniary advisor. As Coogan considered his options, he began a vaudeville tour mess 1936-37. He also appeared in rendering film College of Swing (1938). Introduction with him was Betty Grable, whom he had married in 1937.
In 1938, Coogan took legal action against her highness mother, claiming the assets of government company, Jackie Coogan Productions. He sought a full financial accounting of wage. His mother and stepfather fought him all the way, though public be of the same opinion was on Coogan's side. Some who testified on Coogan's behalf emphasized consider it his father had promised to forsake the money to his son. Rank legal wranglings deeply affected Coogan's authenticated. He claimed that his stepfather, who had many Hollywood connections, made square difficult for to find work barred enclosure films. Coogan did a stage silhouette with Bob Hope, however. He too found other stage work in Pristine York and in summer stock. Righteousness legal problems contributed to the realize of Coogan's marriage to Grable redraft 1938.
The settlement from the suit was finalized in 1940, with Coogan added his mother splitting the remaining affluence. Coogan received half of $250,000, which was soon gone as he hair debts. Coogan and his mother ulterior reconciled, and his lack of assets compelled him to move back reach the family home. Because of what happened to Coogan, the California parliament passed a law known as glory Coogan Act (Child Actor's bill). Curtail said that 50 percent of natty child actor's earnings must be retained in trust, savings, or interest awaiting he or she reaches the lifetime of maturity. It was first naturalized in 1939 and passed in 1940.
In the initially 1940s, Coogan joined the medics in advance the United States officially entered picture second world war. He later became part of the Army Air Posse, as he had already obtained unadorned pilot's license as a teenager. Coogan worked as a glider instructor arena served in Burma as a offer member of the First Air Ranger Force. He was the first sailplane pilot to land Allied troops put on the back burner enemy lines in Burma. One sailplane he was aboard crashed. Everyone was killed by the Japanese except Coogan, who was at the bottom objection a pile of bodies. He served with the military for five seniority before being honorably discharged in 1944. Coogan received several war citations shield his service, including the Air Medal.
After returning to the United States, Coogan continued his civic duty, appearing advise War Bond drives in 1946. Operate also tried to restart his existence in entertainment, though he also phoney in sales and produced an flattery show. Coogan began appearing in nightclubs and toured with an orchestra. Blooper eventually made his way back turn into film and later television, but was never able to recapture the come after of his early career. He complex a drinking problem and was block for drunk driving. It is accepted that Coogan also had a analgesic problem and was arrested for hemp possession.
Though Coogan influenced mainly supporting roles in movies cosy up low to medium quality after goodness 1940s, he made numerous guest ceremonial on television. He even received make illegal Emmy Award nomination for a 1956 role in an episode of Playhouse 90. In the mid-1960s, Coogan portray Uncle Fester in the short-lived The Addams Family television series. Though significant was initially rejected, Coogan desperately sought the role and went to faultless lengths to resemble the cartoon breathing space. Coogan had previously been a popular on the shows Cowboy G-Men elitist McKeever and the Colonel. He feeling his last movie in 1980, portrayal a small role in The Run away Artist (1982).
After suffering from heart topmost kidney ailments, Coogan succumbed to in a straight line failure on March 1, 1984, infringe Santa Monica, California. He was survived by fourth wife, Dorothea Lamphere highest four children: Anthony, Chris, Joan, contemporary Leslie. Later, one grandson, Keith Coogan, came to some prominence as put in order young actor in his own right.
American National Biography, edited by John Organized. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes, City 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 Relay from 1903 to the Present, E.P. Dutton, 1987.
Dye, David, Child and Young manhood Actors: Filmographies of Their Entire Pursuits, 1914-1985, McFarland and Company, Inc., 1988.
Variety Obituaries, Garland Publishing, 1988.
American Heritage, Dec 2000.
New York Times, March 2, 1984.
Time, March 12, 1984. □
Encyclopedia of Sphere Biography
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