Volume III: Biographies

COOPER, Claude *

Actor, director (1914-1917)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: Claude Hamilton Cooper appeared in Thanhouser films circa 1914-1917.

Biographical Notes: Claude Hamilton Cooper was born in London, England in 1881 and was educated there. His first stage appearance was at the age of 18 months, when he appeared in Castle Grim at the Royal Theatre in Dublin, a production starring his mother, Mary Stafford Cooper (who years later worked briefly for Thanhouser). At the age of eight his family moved to the United States. His first Broadway role was as the old general in Checkers. He was on the stage for 21 years in stock and repertory companies, including three seasons with Russ Whytal, three years with F.F. Proctor, and four seasons with Charles Dillingham.

He began his screen career with Gaumont as a director, where he made talking pictures. He then went to Solax, in Fort Lee, New Jersey, where he directed Solax's first 12 pictures, according to an early report. From there he went to Famous Players, All Star, Kinemacolor, Reliance, and Universal (Her Friend the Burglar). At one time or another he was on the screen with Ethel Barrymore (in The Nightingale), Jane Cowl, and Mary Pickford.

By 1914 he was playing in pictures for Thanhouser in New Rochelle. During the last week of May 1915 his status was elevated to that of a Thanhouser stock company member. Earlier, he had worked on a project basis as needed. In 1915 and 1916 he was seen in numerous Falstaff comedies. At one time he and fellow Thanhouser comedian Frank E. McNish were designated by Lloyd F. Lonergan, Thanhouser scriptwriter, as the team of "Oscar and Conrad." Under this name, the duo appeared in Falstaff films in 1916. Although he was known as an actor, he did direct at least one film, a Falstaff subject, Making the Major a Mayor.

A 1916 directory noted that he was 5'6" tall and had dark hair and blue eyes. He remained in films and on stage through the early 1930s. Claude Hamilton Cooper died of a heart attack on July 20, 1932 in Laurelton, New York. At the time he lived at 222-22 141st Road. His widow Antoinette survived him.

Thanhouser Filmography:

1914: A Debut in the Secret Service (4-7-1914), The Strike (4-21-1914)

1915: The Stolen Jewels (3-21-1915), A Freight Car Honeymoon (6-6-1915), The Country Girl (6-15-1915), The Silent Co-Ed (Falstaff 7-2-1915), The Picture of Dorian Gray (7-20-1915), P. Henry Jenkins and Mars (7-23-1915), Pansy's Prison Pies (Falstaff 8-6-1915), Weighed in the Balance (8-13-1915), When Hungry Hamlet Fled (8-17-1915), Bessie's Bachelor Boobs (Falstaff 9-16-1915), Gustav Gebhardt's Gutter Band (Falstaff 9-27-1915), A Perplexing Pickle Puzzle (Falstaff 9-30-1915), Busted But Benevolent (Falstaff 10-18-1915), Hattie, the Hair Heiress (Falstaff 10-21-1915), "Clarissa's" Charming Calf (Falstaff 11-4-1915), Lulu's Lost Lotharios (Falstaff 11-8-1915), A Cunning Canal-Boat Cupid (Falstaff 11-18-1915), Minnie, the Mean Manicurist (Falstaff 12-6-1915), Bill Bunks the Bandits (Falstaff 12-16-1915)

1916: Hilda's Husky Helper (Falstaff 1-6-1915), Grace's Gorgeous Gowns (Falstaff 1-18-1916), Pete's Persian Princess (1-20-1916), Booming the Boxing Business (Falstaff 2-8-1916), Rustie Reggie's Record (Falstaff 2-29-1916), Oscar, the Oyster Opener (Falstaff 3-7-1916), Sapville's Stalwart Son (Falstaff 4-10-1916), The Overworked Oversea Overseer (Falstaff 4-15-1916), Simple Simon's Schooling (Falstaff 4-22-1916), Deteckters (Falstaff 5-15-1916), Politickers (Falstaff 5-22-1916), Disguisers (Falstaff 5-29-1916), Advertisementers (Falstaff 6-5-1916), Real Estaters (Falstaff 6-12-1916), Romeoers (Falstaff 6-15-1916; ready for release but not issued), Making the Major a Mayor (Falstaff 6-15-1916; ready for release but not issued), Guiders (Falstaff 8-15-1916), Musickers (9-5-1916)

1917: The Woman in White (7-1-1917)

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