Director, with Ernest Schoedsack, of exotic adventure films in the 1920s and 30s, most notably "King Kong" (1933). Cooper subsequently concentrated on producing, often in collaboration with John Ford, and received a Special Academy Award in 1952 for his "many innovations and contributions to the art of motion pictures."
- Also Credited As:
Merian Caldwell Cooper
- Born:
October 24, 1894 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA
- Died:
April 21, 1973.
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Job Titles:
Producer, Director, Screenwriter
Education
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United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland
Milestones
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1919 Left Air Force; joined Polish Army to fight Reds
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1920 Member of Kosciusko s Squadron; shot down and reported dead
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1930 Dirctor of Pan American Airways
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1931 Joined RKO
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1933 Co-founded Pioneer Pictures with Jock and C.V. Whitney
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1933 Made vice president in charge of production at RKO Pictures
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1935 Became executive director of Pioneer
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1936 Merged Pioneer with Selznick-International; made vice president of Selznick-International Pictures
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1937 Formed Argosy Pictures with John Ford; first Argosy film, The Long Voyage Home (1940)
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During WWI served with Air Force and was POW in Germany