John Michael Condon (March 25, 1918 – October 13, 1977) credited as Jackie Condon was an American

child actor The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting on stage or in movies or television. An adult who began their acting career as a child may also be called a child actor, or a "former child actor". Closely associated t ...

who was a regular in the '' Our Gang'' short series as an original cast member from 1922 until 1929, during the

Hal Roach Harry Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr. Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director, and screenwriter, ...

produced Pathé silent era.

Biography

Condon was born in March 1918 in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

. In 1919, he began his acting career by appearing in the film ''

Jinx A jinx (also jynx), in popular superstition and folklore, is a curse or the attribute of attracting bad or negative luck. The word ''"jynx"'' meaning the bird wryneck and sometimes a charm or spell has been in use in English since the seventeen ...

''. By 1922, he had appeared in many

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...

s and later starred in the '' Our Gang'' comedies as "Jackie". When he joined the original Our Gang ensemble in 1921, Condon was a little, tag-along toddler who, although often put off by the older children, was anxious to participate in the gang's adventures. As he grew older, Condon's character developed into a more All American type. Condon left the series in 1928, after appearing in all 66 Pathé silent comedies and 12 of the

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 ...

silent comedies. After he left Our Gang, Condon attended public school and in 1936 graduated from Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, California. In a 1953 episode of the television program ''

You Asked for It ''You Asked for It'' is a human interest television show created and hosted by Art Baker. Initially titled ''The Art Baker Show'', the program originally aired on American television between 1950 and 1959. Later versions of the series were see ...

,'' Condon stated he was studying dramatics with Florence Enright and hoped to return to acting, although there is no evidence he did so. Condon worked at

Rockwell International Rockwell International was a major American manufacturing conglomerate involved in aircraft, the space industry, defense and commercial electronics, components in the automotive industry, printing presses, avionics and industrial products. R ...

with fellow Our Gang alumni and co-star

Joe Cobb Joe Frank Cobb (November 7, 1916 – May 21, 2002) was an American child actor, most notable for appearing as the original "fat boy" in the ''Our Gang'' comedies from 1922 to 1929. Early life and career Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, on Novemb ...

. In 1977, Condon died at age 59 from colon cancer.

Selected filmography

* ''Jinx'' (1919) - uncredited * ''Little Lord Fauntleroy'' (1921) - boy at opening scene with hat * ''

Dr. Jack ''Dr. Jack'' is a 1922 American silent comedy film starring Harold Lloyd. It was produced by Hal Roach and directed by Fred Newmeyer. The story was by Jean Havez, Hal Roach, and Sam Taylor (director), Sam Taylor. The film was released on Novemb ...

'' (1922) - neighborhood kid * ''

One Terrible Day ''One Terrible Day'' is a 1922 American silent short film, the first entry in Hal Roach's ''Our Gang'' (''Little Rascals'') series to be released. Directed by Robert F. McGowan and Tom McNamara, the two-reel short was released to theaters on S ...

'' (1922) - Jackie * ''

The Champeen ''The Champeen'' is the seventh '' Our Gang'' short subject comedy released. The ''Our Gang'' series (later known as "The Little Rascals") was created by Hal Roach in 1922, and continued production until 1944. Plot After getting caught for st ...

'' (1923) - Jackie * '' Tire Trouble'' (1924) - Jackie * '' The Big Town'' (1925) - Jackie * ''

Good Cheer ''Good Cheer'' is a 1926 American short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 46th '' Our Gang'' short subject released. Plot As described in a film magazine review, the Gang is assembled in front of a big store window ...

'' (1926) - Jackie * '' Bring Home the Turkey'' (1927) - Jackie * '' Barnum & Ringling, Inc.'' (1928) - Jackie * ''

Election Day Election day or polling day is the day on which general elections are held. In many countries, general elections are always held on a Saturday or Sunday, to enable as many voters as possible to participate; while in other countries elections a ...

'' (1929) - Jackie

Bibliography

* Holmstrom, John. ''The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995'', Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p. 86. * Dye, David. ''Child and Youth Actors: Filmography of Their Entire Careers, 1914-1985''. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1988, pp. 35–36.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Condon, Jackie American male child actors Male actors from California Deaths from cancer in California People from Greater Los Angeles 1918 births 1977 deaths American male silent film actors 20th-century American male actors American male comedy actors Hal Roach Studios actors Our Gang Deaths from colorectal cancer