The multifaceted career of this diminutive actor, who began his journey in the film industry during the mid-1930s, initially typecast in innocuous college-student roles alongside talented actresses such as the lovely Gloria Stuart and the young, pre-"Oz" Judy Garland. However, it wasn't long before casting directors discovered his remarkable ability to bring intense neurotics and spineless double-dealers to life on the big screen. This marked a significant transformation from his earlier, more innocent roles to those that were decidedly more noxious.
In Warner's 1937 film, "They Won't Forget", he portrayed a student whose social engagement with a young Lana Turner, making her film debut in a featured role, was abruptly terminated, allegedly due to her mysterious murder. Cook's character became increasingly enraged, his anger and venom palpable, leaving the audience to suspect him as the prime suspect in Lana's tragic demise.
In Universal's 1944 film, "Phantom Lady", he took on the role of a nightclub-orchestra drummer who, under the intoxicating influence of an unknown substance, encountered Ella Raines during an afternoon band practice. Enthralled by her sultry allure, he delivered a drum solo that was nothing short of a fantasy, his crescendo and innuendo-laden performance hinting at a personal, sexual journey from cymbal foreplay to bass-drum climax.
