Child star who charmed audiences in Charlie Chaplin's 1921 classic "The Kid". By the mid-1930s, his career had slowed considerably and in 1938 he attempted to win back his $4 million childhood earnings from his mother and stepfather. By the time the case was settled the amount had dropped to approximately $250,000, of which Coogan received only a portion. The case resulted in the Coogan Act, or Child Actors Bill, set up to protect the assets of child stars. Coogan became, in many ways, the patron saint -- of sorts -- of child actors because of the law, although the legislation only covers
Feature acting debut at 18 months in "Skinner's Baby"
1921
Became superstar at age 7 in Chaplin's silent "The Kid"
1928
Had "hair-cutting" ceremony; publicity stunt turned into film "Johnny Get Your Hair Cut"
1938
Filed suit against parents for assets from Jackie Coogan Productions Inc; led to passage of the California's Child Actors Bill (the "Coogan Act") protecting child actors
1938
Returned to films in teen-age roles, "College Swing"
