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Oscar-nominated child star of Skippy, who went on to play Daily Planet editor in Superman, has died from an undisclosed illness

Jackie Cooper, the former child movie star who won a best actor Oscar nomination at the age of nine for Skippy and grew up to play the Daily Planet editor in Christopher Reeve's four Superman movies, has died. He was 88.

Cooper died from an undisclosed illness on Tuesday at a Los Angeles hospital, agent Ronnie Leif said.

A handsome kid with tousled blond hair and a winning smile, Cooper had a memorable bit in the 1929 musical Sunnyside Up and appeared in eight of the popular Our Gang comedies, including Pups Is Pups and Teacher's Pet. Those credits led to a test that won him the title role of Skippy.

His other credits included Sooky and The Love Machine.

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Los Angeles (AP) — Jackie Cooper, the former child movie star who won a best actor Oscar nomination at the age of 9 for "Skippy" and grew up to play The Daily Planet editor in Christopher Reeves' four "Superman" movies, has died. He was 88. Cooper died from an undisclosed illness Tuesday at a Los Angeles hospital, agent Ronnie Leif said. A handsome kid with tousled blond hair and a winning smile, Cooper had a memorable bit in the 1929 musical "Sunny Side Up" and appeared in eight of the popular "Our Gang" comedies, including "Pups Is Pups" and "Teacher's Pet." Those...

Most audiences might know Jackie Cooper as Perry White in four Superman movies. Or for his role in 1931′s The Champ. Or for his appearance in Skippy, which made him the first child actor to ever be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. But, to me, the actor — who passed away Tuesday at the age of 88 after a brief illness — will always be known as Our Gang’s Jackie.

Perhaps it was because I was an old soul, or both my parents enjoyed catching re-runs of the series when they were youths, but I grew up on Our Gang,...