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Former child star Jackie Cooper died Tuesday at 88 in Santa Monica. His career spanned decades, and saw him working as an actor, director and TV executive.
1. He was one of the top child stars of the 1930s after starring in films like Skippy (which earned him an Oscar nomination) and The Champ. He got his start as an extra in a silent film. He also starred in the Our Gang comedies.
2. At 14, he dated Judy Garland. At 17, he had a six-month fling with Joan Crawford.
3. He went on to become a successful TV star in the 1950s, appearing in comedy The People’s Choice (which ran for three years on NBC) and Hennesey, a comedy-drama that aired on CBS from 1959 until 1962.
4. In the 1960s, he worked as a VP at Screen Gems, selling shows like Gidget, I Dream of Jeannie and soap Days Of Our Lives. That same decade, he was commissioned as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve.
5. In the 70s, he won two Emmys for directing. The first was for an episode of MASH, and the second was for The White Shadow, starring Ken Howard.
6. He went back to acting, playing Daily Planet editor Perry White in the four Superman films starring Christopher Reeve from 1978-87.
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