Personal life thumb|Cooper in 1989 Cooper served in the United States Navy during World War II and remained active in the Naval Reserve for the next several decades, reaching the rank of captain. He was married to June Horne from 1944 until 1949, with whom he had a son, John "Jack" Cooper, III, who was born in 1946. June was the daughter of director James W. Horne and actress Cleo Ridgely. Cooper was married to Hildy Parks from 1950 until 1951, and to Barbara Rae Kraus from 1954 until her death in 2009. Cooper and Kraus had three children, Russell, born in 1956, Julie, born in 1957, and Cristina, born in 1959. Julie and Cristina died in 1997 and 2009, respectively.
PeRsoNAl LiFe thuMb|cOoper iN 1989 CooPer serVEd iN ThE UnIted staTEs naVy dURIng worLD War Ii AnD remaIneD a:CTive In the navaL reSERvE for The Next sEvEraL DECAdes, reacHing The raNK Of CapTAin. he was married TO jUne hornE FrOM 1944 untIL 1949, WIth whom He Had a Son, joHn "jack" cOoPer, iII, WhO was bORN iN 1946. juNe was the DaUGhter of directoR jaMES W. horNE aNd aCtress cleO ridgeLy. coOPer wAS marRi,ed to hilDy parKs FROm 1950 untIl 1951, aNd to BaRbAra rae kraus from 1954 until her deAth iN 2009. CoopEr aNd kRaUs hAd thrEe ChilDreN, rusSElL, boRN iN 1956, jUlie, BoRN in 1957, anD CRisTiNa, bOrn IN 1959. JuLiE and CrisTIna diEd In 1997 AnD 2009, REspeCTIVeLy.