Jerry Tucker (actor)

Jerry Tucker (born Jerome Harold Schatz, November 1, 1925 – November 23, 2016) was an American child actor, most notable for having played the "rich kid" in the Our Gang short subjects series semi-regularly from 1931 to 1938.

Jerry Tucker
Jerry Tucker in Captain January (1936)
Born
Jerome Harold Schatz

(1925-11-01)November 1, 1925
Chicago, Illinois
DiedNovember 23, 2016(2016-11-23) (aged 91)
Stony Brook, New York
OccupationFilm actor
Years active1931–1942
Spouse(s)Myra

Life and career

Tucker was born Jerome Harold Schatz[1] in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Ruth (Keno) and Leonard Schatz.[2] His German Jewish surname was changed to "Tucker" for his acting career.[3] Tucker first appeared in the 1931 Our Gang short Shiver My Timbers. He appeared in many Our Gang episodes and left the series after the 1938 Our Gang short Three Men in a Tub.

In addition to his Our Gang appearances, Tucker appeared in the Marie Dressler film Prosperity, again as a spoiled rich kid. He also appeared as one of Mother Peep's children in the Laurel & Hardy feature film Babes in Toyland (1934). He also appeared with Shirley Temple in Captain January in 1936, playing the "know-it-all" boy who forgets his answers on the test. On radio, Tucker played "the juvenile lead" on Jones and I, which was broadcast on CBS in the early 1940s[4] and Roy Barry on the soap opera Hilltop House.[5]

Tucker went on to serve in the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean War. He served aboard the USS Sigsbee. During World War II, he sustained an injury that caused him to limp, when his ship was hit by a Japanese kamikaze. Afterwards he married Myra and had a long successful career as an electrical engineer with RCA before retiring. His wife died in August 2012. Tucker died on November 23, 2016, of natural causes at Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook, New York.[6] He was 91.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1931 Sidewalks of New York Little Boy Sitting on Curb Film debut, Uncredited
Shiver My Timbers Jerry Short
1932 The Miracle Man Boy Uncredited
Blonde Venus Otto Uncredited
The Phantom President Boy Uncredited
Prosperity Boy
If I Had a Million Crying Boy With Balloon Uncredited
No Man of Her Own Little Boy in the Library Uncredited
1933 Torch Singer Mickey Uncredited
Bedtime Worries Jerry Short
Wild Poses Jerry Short
1934 You Can't Buy Everything Jerry - Young Clinic Patient Uncredited
Hi'-Neighbor! Jerry - Rich Kid Short
Washee Ironee Jerry Short
Mama's Little Pirate Jerry Short
Babes in Toyland Schoolboy Uncredited
Shrimps for a Day Jerry Short
1935 Anniversary Trouble Jerry Short
Beginner's Luck Jerry Short
Teacher's Beau Jerry Short
Sprucin' Up Jerry Short
Little Sinner Jerry Short
Annie Oakley Boy at Shooting Gallery Uncredited
Ah, Wilderness! Boy with Fireworks Uncredited
Our Gang Follies of 1936 Jerry, Audience Member Short
1936 The Pinch Singer Jerry Short
Anything Goes Junior
Silly Billies Boy At Camp Uncredited
Captain January Cyril Morgan
San Francisco Choirboy Uncredited
Sing, Baby, Sing Wilson's 'Son' Uncredited
Two Too Young Student Short
General Spanky Kid Army Member Uncredited
1937 Glove Taps Kid Short
Love Is on the Air Youngster Rooting for Tiger Uncredited
Tovarich Urchin Stealing Groceries Uncredited
Wells Fargo Boy Uncredited
1938 Three Men in a Tub Spectator Short
The Devil's Party Child Uncredited
Dick Tracy Returns Junior Serial
1939 The Man Who Dared Boy Playing Football Uncredited
1941 Always Tomorrow: The Portrait of an American Business Young Coke Drinker Final film, Uncredited

Radio
Year Title Role Notes
1939-1940 Hilltop House Roy Barry
1940-1941 King Arthur, Jr.
1941-1942 Jones and I
1942 The Andersons

References
  1. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKMW-7SWJ
  2. https://archive.is/20130820211338/http://web.archive.org/web/19991005025511/http://www.lib.umd.edu/UMCP/LAB/COLLECTIONS/schatz.html
  3. http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/retirement/reflections-of-a-little-rascal-1.4687728
  4. Lesser, Jerry (January 3, 1942). "Radio Talent: New York" (PDF). Billboard. p. 9. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  5. "Thursday's Highlights" (PDF). Radio and Television Mirror. 14 (6): 48. October 1940. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  6. Jerry Schatz, child actor in ‘Our Gang’ comedies, dies at 91
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