Wherever Jack looked, reminders of his best days haunted him. He saw the faded fame and lost wealth of his youth, along with the long hair and boyish good looks that once defined him. Everywhere he went, pictures of his ex-wife looked back at him mockingly, a reminder that she — like everyone else — had left him behind.

Who was Jack, and how did he ever recover from losing his fame, fortune, and good looks? Join us as we explore the rags-to-riches life of Jack, the world’s first child superstar.

The First Child Superstar

Jack first caught the public’s attention as a pint-sized performer. His cherubic appearance and adorable personality captured hearts everywhere. Jack started in show business before he could even walk. His parents, showbiz enthusiasts themselves, had him on the stages of Vaudeville theaters as an infant. By age three, Jack made his film debut as the title character in the 1917 film Skinner’s Baby. Quite an accomplishment for such a young performer, but he was just getting warmed up.

When Jack was five years old, magic happened. The legendary Charlie Chaplin discovered him. That moment transformed Jack’s life into that of a superstar.

At just seven years old, Jack co-starred with Chaplin in the 1921 classic The Kid. His portrayal of the adorable and mischievous “kid” endeared him to audiences everywhere. The following year, Jack took on the title role in Oliver Twist. It seemed there was nothing this young star couldn’t do.

Jack earned $75 per week during the filming of The Kid. Once the film was completed, he received a $5,000 bonus. Later, he signed on for Peck’s Bad Boy at a rate of $1,000 per week and then secured a lucrative $500,000 contract with MGM, which included a clause ensuring him 60 percent of the profits from movies like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

Before long, Jack became the biggest child star in history. His face appeared everywhere, from peanut butter containers to candy, stationery to whistles, figurines, coins, and countless other products. Jack’s image was a merchandising phenomenon. He earned between $2 million and $4 million, all before reaching the age of 10. By the time he was 13, he had visited New York 18 times, often traveling in his private railroad car.

“Normal boy?” he remarked in a 1972 interview, “How would I know what a normal boy would do? When I was 7, we bought a big house at the corner of Wilshire and Western and installed one of the earliest swimming pools in Southern California. Being who I was, I had the best swimming instructor—Duke Kahanamoku—the year after he won the Olympics. I surfed from Baja California to San Francisco when there were only 9 or 10 surfers on the entire Pacific Coast. I drank milk from my own ranch. Other boys went to see Babe Ruth. Babe Ruth came to see me.”

For several years in the 1920s, he was the most famous boy in America. In one popularity poll, he topped Rudolph Valentino and Douglas Fairbanks. Jack said, ”I had the flu in New York, and it pushed the President of the United States off the front pages.”

Personal Tragedies

Abysmal Academics

As the years went by, the sparkle that once surrounded Jack began to dim. Like many child stars, he faced the challenges of growing up in the spotlight. Jack’s education took a dark turn when he experienced a string of academic failures. Forced to withdraw from Santa Clara University due to abysmal grades in 1932, a shadow of uncertainty loomed over his future. Although he had tasted immense success, an ominous sense of impending turmoil threatened his once-promising life.

Tragic Loss of Friend and Descent Into Mob Violence

In November 1933, a shocking event shook Jack’s world. Brooke Hart, a 22-year-old friend from Santa Clara University and heir to a successful department store in San Jose, was abducted. The kidnappers demanded $40,000 ransom. The community was on edge, and Jack was deeply affected.

The ransom negotiations were tense and stressful for the Hart family. They had to quickly gather the demanded money while praying for Brooke’s safety. Ultimately, the ransom was paid, but the hoped-for safe return of Brooke did not happen.

On November 26, two duck hunters from Redwood City discovered a severely decayed and crab-eaten body. Later that day, the coroner, along with Brooke’s friends and employees, identified the body, confirming it through several personal effects known to belong to Brooke. The autopsy revealed that Brooke had died from drowning, with no bullet wounds present.

This case sent shockwaves throughout the country and led to increased efforts to combat organized crime. The kidnappers, Thomas Thurmond and Jack Holmes, were apprehended and questioned. The public was outraged, and many called for the public to take the law into their own hands.

Due to lynching threats, the sheriff transferred Thurmond and Holmes to the Potrero Hill police station in San Francisco for their safety soon after their arrest. A San Jose newspaper published a front-page editorial labeling Holmes and Thurmond as “human devils” and advocating for “mob violence.” When they returned to the San Francisco jail after questioning, the crowd outside shouted, “Lynch them!”

Those horrified by the thought of mob rule appealed to Governor James “Sunny Jim” Rolph to send the National Guard to maintain the peace. Rolph was unmoved. He said, “Let the sheriff handle the matter. He can appoint as many deputies as he wants; he has the power. I am not going to call the guard to protect the kidnappers. Let the law take its course.”

A mob, rather than the law, took over. Angry protesters, numbering as many as 10,000, stormed the jail and seized Holmes and Thurmond. They carried the men across the street to the park and hanged them.

Among those in the mob who prepared and held the rope for lynching was the one-time child superstar, Jack.

More Tragedy

As if that wasn’t enough turmoil for one young man, tragedy struck again in May 1935. At the age of 20, Jack survived a devastating car accident in eastern San Diego County. While returning from a day of dove hunting just across the Mexican border, the car was forced off the mountain highway by an oncoming vehicle and rolled down an embankment. The accident claimed the lives of Jack’s father, his 19-year-old actor best friend Junior Durkin, their ranch foreman Charles Jones, and writer Robert J. Horner.

From Riches to Rags

During his time as a child superstar, Jack had amassed an estimated fortune of $3 to $4 million (which would be about $44 to $59 million in today’s dollars). When he reached the age of 21 in October 1935, he assumed his fortune was still intact and would be his.

His father’s death in the automobile accident had tragic consequences for Jackl beyond those experienced by any child who suffered the loss of a parent. Jack’s father had been the custodian and manager of Jack’s wealth. His death, five months before Jack reached his 21st birthday, fell under the control of his mother.

Of the millions he had earned as a child star, his only compensation had amounted to a weekly allowance of $6.25. However, upon reaching 21, his mother Lillian and Arthur Bernstein, the family lawyer whom she later married, declared that they would not release any of the funds to him. “The law is on our side,” announced Bernstein at a press conference. He declared Jack “will not receive a single penny from his previous earnings.”

Jack was stunned by this turn of events. “It was the most difficult time of my life,” he recalled in 1972. “My stepfather had influential connections, and I was shunned by the studios.”

The real shock came when Jack discovered his mother and stepfather had done worse than withhold his money from him. They had squandered almost the entire sum on extravagant purchases such as luxurious fur coats, diamonds, flashy cars, and lavish jewelry. Bernstein, who had been managing the family’s finances, later married Jack’s mother towards the end of 1936.

Unwilling to accept this, Jack filed a lawsuit against his mother and stepfather in 1938. However, the legal battle resulted in a bitter outcome. After legal expenses were deducted, Jack was left with a meager $126,000 from the remaining $250,000 of his earnings. Struggling financially during the litigation, he sought help from his old friend Charlie Chaplin, who generously provided him with $1,000 in cash.

Failed Marriages

One bright spot in Jack’s increasingly dark life was his marriage to one of the most famous and beautiful women in the world. Jack became engaged to Betty Grable in 1935 and married her on November 20, 1937. Their happiness was short-lived, however, and they divorced less than two years later.

Jack thought he found true love when he married Flower Parry on August 10, 1941. That marriage, too, lasted less than two years, but not before producing a son, John, Jr.

Jack’s third attempt at marriage faired slightly better. He married Ann McCormack on December 26, 1946. Their marriage lasted a little less than five years and produced a daughter, Joann.

World War II

A major factor in the failure of his second marriage was the outbreak of World War II. With his Hollywood prospects dried up, Jack enlisted in the Army on March 4, 1941. Nine months later, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, thrusting the United States into war. Jack requested a transfer to the Army Air Force on December 9, 1941, and served as a glider pilot.

Jack graduated from Victorville Air Field, California, and was promoted to Flight Officer, class 43-2, on January 18, 1943. He immediately volunteered for hazardous duty with the 1st Air Commando Group. In December 1943, the unit was sent to India. Using Waco CG-4A gliders, they airlifted British troops during the night aerial invasion of Burma on March 5, 1944.

Jack landed the first glider plane of the raid in a small jungle clearing 100 miles behind Japanese lines. He distinguished himself for his heroism and was awarded the Air Medal. He returned to the United States in May 1944 and was discharged in December 1945 with the rank of Second Lieutenant.

Although his military service was a high point in his otherwise rocky life, he could not escape reminders of his past failures. Perhaps the biggest reminder was the pictures of his ex-wife that seemed to show up everywhere he looked. Betty Grable was the biggest pin-up model of her day, and practically every Army barracks around the world sported at least one of her sexy photos. One can only imagine Jack’s thoughts as he saw how much all the guys longed for someone as gorgeous as the woman he let slip away.

A New Beginning

Despite the ups and downs, Jack’s story didn’t end in despair. In fact, he found a second wave of fame that would introduce him to a whole new generation of fans. It was through television that Jack would again become a household name. During the 1950s, he appeared on many programs, primarily as a character actor. In 1964, he got the second big break of his career, giving him one more chance to reclaim the fame of his glory days.

He was hardly recognizable as the same baby-faced child who captivated millions of fans. Gone was his long hair and youthful appearance. He no longer could play a kid. Instead, he played an uncle — a bald, strange-looking one at that. Instead of co-starring with Charlie Chaplain, he appeared on television screens as part of a family — a spooky, ooky family.

If you haven’t guessed it by now, Jack is none other than Jackie Coogan. He played Uncle Fester in the classic TV show The Addams Family. With his bald head, mischievous grin, and zany antics, Uncle Fester became an iconic character, loved by audiences young and old. Jackie’s portrayal brought joy and laughter, without giving a clue about the hardships and tragedies he was forced to overcome.

We should also note that Jackie finally found success in marriage. He wed Dorothea Odetta Hanson in April 1952. The fourth time was the charm, and this marriage lasted for over thirty years, ending with Jackie’s death in 1984.

The Legacy of Jackie Coogan

Jackie’s journey from a beloved child star to a celebrated TV icon is a testament to his resilience and talent. His life was filled with incredible highs and heartbreaking lows, but through it all, Jackie remained a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.

The “Coogan Law” continues to protect child actors today, ensuring that they are fairly compensated for their work. Jackie’s legacy is not just in the films and shows he starred in but also in the protections that help young performers navigate the often challenging world of show business.

The next time you watch an episode of The Addams Family and see the fun-loving Uncle Fester bring a smile to your face, remember the incredible journey of Jackie Coogan. From the silent screen to television, from riches to rags and back to riches, Jackie’s story is one that shines bright — almost as bright as a lightbulb in Uncle Fester’s mouth.

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