(Jackie Coogan, 1914-1984) His experiences with greedy parents led to California establishing legal protections for children in the entertainment business.
I learned a lot more about the man I mostly only knew as uncle Fester, thanks to your post. I never knew he was a pilot in the Army during World War 1, was once married to Betty Grable, or was treated so shabbily by his parents in that way. Reportedly, Hollywood took a dim view of his lawsuit against his mother and blacklisted him for many years, also.
How sad, that the man who was once "the nations No.1 box attraction" had to sue his own mother and her husband...just to get fraction of what should have been his.
I've said a few times here that I am a big fan of old black and white movies. But now that I think about it, I am not sure if I have ever seen a Jackie Coogan movie!
Thanks for the reminder that he grew up to be Uncle Fester. I knew that at one time, but like a lot of things, I had forgotten about it! 😄
I remember one Disney actor being interviewed and they talked about the law that was made/named after him, though it sounded like the law didn't work, as this child actor basically was robbed by her mom, of all her money that she made as a minor.
But she also seemed okay with losing all that money, as long as the mother would now always stay out of her life.
Sounded like the mother was pretty horrible, and the actress at least seemed level headed (then again, she is an actress) but the actress had continued acting and sounded like they were doing well for themselves moneywise as a very young adult.
@Ynotisay Yes ! His first wife, I believe, and he was married four times. Coogan was also involved in a lynching in San Jose. A close friend of his was kidnapped and murdered in 1933. The two men confessed to the crime (the victim was wealthy) and while they were in jail a mob broke in, dragged them out and hanged them. The governor at the time announced that he would pardon anyone involved if charges were brought.
@bijouxbroussard Yeah. I got curious after your post and read a little more about him. Apparently he was holding the lynching rope. Crazy. Also was in a car accident that killed his biological father, his best friend and two others. He was the only survivor. Wild life.
@bijouxbroussard I read some years ago about Jackie Coogan's involvement with that lynch mob back in 1933 - the incident in San Jose was described as the second-last lynching ever to occur in California,apparently. Otherwise, - I mainly knew Jackie Coogan as Uncle Fester!
SW-User
you can tell it's him by the eyes. terrible that his parents were like that. seemed to go on successfully, though
@SW-User I don’t think so. His name was often confused with Jackie Cooper, who was an Our Gang regular player. Coogan was in several films, but none that I saw were part of the our gang series; he would’ve been older than the other kids.
