Clyde Cook, the diminutive Australian-born silent comic, was the son of an engine driver. He earned the nickname "The Kangaroo Boy" due to his rubber-limbed elasticity, which he showcased from a young age.
Born into a family with a strong theatrical background, Cook began performing on stage at the tender age of six. He was trained as an acrobatic dancer and went on to perform on the Tivoli circuit in his native Australia and later with the Folies Bergere in Paris.
After returning to Australia with J.C. Williamson in 1916, Cook appeared in musical comedy and revues, honing his skills as a performer. Three years later, he made his American debut in the Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway and quickly became the star comic at the New York Hippodrome.
Cook's unique abilities as a contortionist earned him the nickname "The Australian 'Inja Rubber Idiot'." Within a year, he was spotted by Fox talent scouts and signed to appear in the 'Sunshine Comedy' series.
After moving to California, Cook developed his own screen image, which included a distinctive huge paintbrush moustache and a completely deadpan expression. Although he never quite reached the same level of stardom as Charles Chaplin or Buster Keaton, Cook remained immensely popular as a supporting player in two-reel comedies.
In 1925, Cook joined Hal Roach, where he did some of his best work, including the Stan Laurel-directed film "Wandering Papas" (1926). He played the cook for a railroad construction crew alongside Oliver Hardy as a tough foreman.
In the late 1920s, Cook appeared in Roach's 'Taxi Boys' series and, with Warner Brothers, as comic relief in several features, often opposite Louise Fazenda. His Australian accent proved to be a valuable asset, allowing him to transition smoothly to talking pictures.
Cook continued his career in dramatic feature films, including "The Docks of New York" (1928),"The Taming of the Shrew" (1929),and "The Dawn Patrol" (1930). He even got to play an Australian in "The Man from Down Under" (1943),but by then, his parts had become little more than walk-ons and bits.
Cook retired after his one-day effort in the John Wayne starrer "Donovan's Reef" (1963) and passed away twenty-one years later in 1984 due to arteriosclerosis.
