Jackie Cooper made his screen debut when he was only 3 years old. Before he started on the set of the movie “Skippy”, he already had a dozen roles in various productions. However, it was the involvement in the film of a recognized director, and privately the actor’s uncle, Norman Taurog, that brought him the greatest recognition and recognition in Hollywood.
His role in Skippy earned him an Oscar nomination. Cooper is the youngest actor to be nominated for this award
Norman Taurog, thinking about the cast for the film “Skippy”, decided to hire his nephew for the title role. The then 9-year-old Jackie Cooper played the role of Skippy Skinner, and his acting performance brought him fame and critical acclaim. The production made Cooper nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role, making him the youngest actor ever to be nominated for an Academy Award.
Unfortunately, working on the set was not as easy as it might seem. Taurog was a demanding director and often resorted to threats and blackmail to force the desired emotions on his nephew’s face.
Working on the set of “Skippy” was traumatic for the young actor. The director used cruel methods
In the biography, Cooper recalls working on the set of “Skippy”. During the recording of one of the scenes, Taurog demanded that little Jackie shed tears. Unfortunately, the forced crying looked unnatural, and the child actor was unable to truly cry. At the time, the director said that if Cooper didn’t start sobbing, he would kill his beloved dog.
I visualized my dog, shot, covered in blood. I cried so much that it turned out to be too strong for this scene. I sobbed hysterically and Taurog hushed me, saying that if I hurry up and calm down and do what he wants, we’ll have time to go and see if my dog is still alive.
— the actor in his book.
Jackie Cooper never repeated his childhood success. He last appeared on screen in 1987
After participating in the production of Uncle, Cooper received many roles in films and series. Unfortunately, he never had the same success as Skippy. He regained recognition in the world of cinema only many years later, playing the role of Perry White in the cult film Richard Donner.
Jackie Cooper’s last screen appearance was in 1987 in the fourth adventure film. The actor died on May 3, 2011 in Santa Monica at the age of 89.
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Source: Gazeta
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
