Background
Cooper, Merian C. was born on October 24, 1894 in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Son of John C. and Mary (Coldwell) Cooper.
producer author motion picture director
Cooper, Merian C. was born on October 24, 1894 in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Son of John C. and Mary (Coldwell) Cooper.
Educated Lawrenceville School, United States Naval Academy, 1911-1914.
Advanced to captain United States Army, World War I, pilot aviation France, later lieutenant colonel Kosciusko Squadron, Poland, traveled widely in Orient, Africa making moving pictures, as newspaper, magazine correspondent. Exploration in Arabia, Iran. Company-director, co-author, co-producer motion pictures, Grass, Chang, Four Feathers.
Sole creator, co-producer, co-author King Kong.
Producer Flying Down to Rio, Last Days Pompeii, Little Women, Lost Patrol, and others Producer (with John Ford).
Three Godfathers, Fort Apache, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Wagonmaster, Rio Grande, Quiet Manitoba Company-director, co-producer (with Lowell Thomas) This Is Cinerama.
Executive producer The Searchers.
Director, co-producer The Best of Cinerama, 1962. Executive producer with Radio-Keith-Orpheum Studios, Hollywood, 2 years. President Argosy Pictures Corporation, 1946-1956, Merian C. Cooper Enterprises, Incorporated., 1958-1973.
Vice president Cinerama Production Corporation Was early supporter civilian aviation, former director Pan American World Airways, Western Airlines, General Aviation, others
Served as colonel United States Army Air Force, 1942-1945, staff China Air Task Force, 1942, 5th Air Force, New Guinea, 1943-1945. Clubs: Explorers, Brook, Boone and Crockett (New York City), Daedalians (San Antonio).
Married Dorothy Jordan. Children: Mary Caroline, Elizabeth T., Richard.