Merian C. Cooper
![Merian C. Cooper](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/MerianCCooper.jpg)
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
Director, with Ernest Schoedsack, of exotic adventure films in the 1920s and 30s, most notably "King Kong" (1933). Cooper subsequently concentrated on producing, often in collaboration with John Ford, and received a Special Academy Award in 1952 for his "many innovations and contributions to the art of motion pictures."
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Cinematography (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Editing (Feature Film)
Film Production - Main (Feature Film)
Production Companies (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Life Events
1919
Left Air Force; joined Polish Army to fight Reds
1920
Member of Kosciusko's Squadron; shot down and reported dead
1930
Dirctor of Pan American Airways
1931
Joined RKO
1933
Made vice president in charge of production at RKO Pictures
1933
Co-founded Pioneer Pictures with Jock and C.V. Whitney
1935
Became executive director of Pioneer
1936
Merged Pioneer with Selznick-International; made vice president of Selznick-International Pictures
1937
Formed Argosy Pictures with John Ford; first Argosy film, "The Long Voyage Home" (1940)
Photo Collections
Videos
Movie Clip
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i523/searchers56_letsgohome_fc_470x264_051420200251.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i523/searchers56_weveseenscalpsbefore_fc_470x264_051420200250.jpg?w=400)
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![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i518/lastdaysofpompeii35_justaboutwhatthejobisworth_fc_470x264_011420200619.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i401/3godfathers48_openingdedication_FC_470x264_042120160711.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i486/3godfathers_bythewayofnewjerusalem_FC_470x264_121920180537.jpg?w=400)
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![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i514/hipshipshooray_meetthatmanandmerge_fc_470x264_102220190616.jpg?w=400)
Trailer
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i184/phantomofcrestwood_tr_223x104_120320120204.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i305/flyingdowntorio_tr_223x104_11182013084027.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i281/searchers_tr_223x104_11052013071422.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i361/sonofkong_tr_223x104_04232015063136.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i347/kingkong1933_tr_223x104_11112014113533.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i325/fortapache_tr_223x104_04162014053549.jpg?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i7/meanestgirl_TR_188x141_012920031020.gif?w=400)
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i305/3godfathers1948_tr_223x104_11182013084123.jpg?w=400)
Companions
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com//img/global/logo-AFI.png)