[a][2] When John was born, his father, Bartholomew Joseph Cooke, was 35 and his mother, Mary Josephine, was 31.

At the time of his birth, the Irish family was settled in New York's Lower East Side of Manhattan.

[5] The obituary read: The funeral of Johnnie Cooke, a well-known film actor, was held at Our Lady of Loretto Church, Tuesday morning (Tues, October 4, 1921) .

John J. Cooke's filmography showcases his acting career, which began at the comparatively mature age of 38.

Like numerous actors transitioning from the stage, he initially ventured into the world of motion pictures as an atmosphere player.