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.
Life and career Tucker was born Jerome Harold Schatz in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Ruth (Keno) and Leonard Schatz. His German Jewish surname was changed to "Tucker" for his acting career. Tucker first appeared in the 1931 Our Gang short Shiver My Timbers. He appeared in seventeen Our Gang comedies through 1938's 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 and Roy Barry on the soap opera Hilltop House.
Tucker went on to serve in the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean War. He served aboard the . 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 K. Heino and had a 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. He was 91.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1931 Sidewalks of New York Little Boy Sitting on Curb Film debut, Uncredited Shiver My Timbers Jerry Short1932 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 Uncredited1933 Torch Singer Mickey Uncredited Bedtime Worries Jerry ShortWild Poses Jerry Short1934 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 Short1935 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 Short1936 The Pinch Singer Jerry ShortAnything 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 Uncredited1937 Glove Taps Kid ShortLove Is on the Air Youngster Rooting for Tiger Uncredited Tovarich Urchin Stealing Groceries Uncredited Wells Fargo Boy Uncredited1938 Three Men in a Tub Spectator ShortThe 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
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External links
Prosperity (1932) Jerry played the part of Buster.