Arguably, the most way-out member of the Addams family is the lovably bizarre Uncle Fester. A fixture of Charles Addams' cartoons, Fester was memorably brought to life by actor Jackie Coogan.
Born in Los Angeles in 1914, Coogan was one of the most famous child stars in Hollywood history. As chronicled in "Hollywood Kids," by Thomas G. Aylesworth, the legendary Charlie Chaplin launched Coogan into international fame when he cast the young actor in the 1921 comedy "The Kid." By 1923, Coogan was the No. 1 box office draw in America, ahead of both Rudolph Valentino and Douglas Fairbanks.
In 1935, 20-year-old Jackie Coogan was the sole survivor of a devastating car crash that killed his father, best friend — the actor Junior Durkin — and another man. Shortly after the accident, tragedy befell Coogan again when he contacted his mother to secure the $4 million he had earned in film. To his dismay, he learned that his parents had squandered most of his money. Consequently, Coogan filed suit against his parents and eventually won a settlement for $126,000. Coogan's plight resulted in the California legislature instituting the Coogan Law to protect the assets of child actors.
Just before World War II, Coogan enlisted as a medic. After transferring to the Army Air Corp, Coogan, already an experienced pilot in civilian life, flew gliders behind enemy lines with a crack commando unit. Following the war, Coogan returned to acting but never again achieved the notoriety he enjoyed in his youth.
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