| Jeanne Cooper | |
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| Birth name | Wilma Jeanne Cooper |
| Born | October 25 1928  Taft, California, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) | Harry Bernsen (1954-1977) |
Wilma Jeanne Cooper (born October 25, 1928 in Taft, California) is an Emmy Award-nominated American actress of Cherokee descent, best known for her role as Katherine Chancellor on The Young and the Restless. She was not on the series when the show debuted, but was cast later in 1973, making her onscreen debut in November 1973. She is currently the longest-tenured actor on The Young and the Restless.
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Early career
Cooper began her career in the 1950s. Her first starring role was as Myra in 1953's western The Redhead from Wyoming. She also appeared as a player in films with stars like Maureen O'Hara, Glenn Ford, Tony Curtis, and Henry Fonda. Cooper was a fixture on episodic TV throughout the 1960s and '70s.
Katherine Chancellor
Cooper's character has broken ground in the daytime medium; Katherine has been involved in what was strongly insinuated to be a lesbian relationship, endured several bouts with alcoholism, and the loss of many men in her life (two husbands, a child, and a grandchild). Katherine (and Cooper) also had a facelift on national television (Cooper had pitched the idea of having a live facelift to CBS executives, who agreed to write the facelift into the show for Katherine Chancellor). For many years, the story of Katherine's bitter rivalry with character Jill Foster Abbott has been a mainstay of the show; in real life, Cooper and Jess Walton are close friends. It was revealed in 2003 that Jill is Katherine's daughter born out of wedlock.[1] She has received seven Daytime Emmy nominations and two Primetime Emmy nominations. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Daytime Emmys in 2004. For her contributions to television, Cooper received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which is located at 1777 Vine Street.
Personal life
Jeanne Cooper was born to Albert Troy Cooper and his wife Sildeth Evelyn Moore. She was the youngest of their three children. Jeanne's family lived in Kern County for several years, first in Taft until 1942 and then moving to Bakersfield. Her mother died August 21, 1945 and her father died April 11, 1986. She married television producer Harry Bernsen and they were together 23 years before divorcing. Interviews and reports state they remain the best of friends. They are the parents to three children, actor Corbin Bernsen, of L.A. Law fame (she guest-starred twice as his character's mother on the series) born September 7, 1954 who is married to British actress Amanda Pays. She also has a daughter, Caren.[1] born August 17, 1960 who is an actress as well as another son who is an actor, Collin Bernsen born March 30, 1958.
Partial filmography
- The Young and the Restless - Katherine Chancellor (1973 - present)
- The Bold and the Beautiful - Katherine Chancellor (2 episodes, 2005)
- Carpool Guy - Mrs. Lunsford (2004)
- Sweet Hostage - Mrs. Withers (1975)
- Kansas City Bomber - Trainer Vivien (1972)
- Shadows of Tombstone - Marge (1953)
- The Redhead From Wyoming - Myra (1953)
References
External links
- Jeanne Cooper at the Internet Movie Database
- Jeanne Cooper at TV.com
- Jeanne Cooper bio on The Young and the Restless CBS website
