Jeanne Cooper
Jeanne Cooper | |
---|---|
Born | Wilma Jeanne Cooper October 25, 1928 Taft, California, U.S. |
Died | May 8, 2013 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 84)
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1953–2013 |
Spouse(s) |
Harry Bernsen, Jr.
(m. 1954; div. 1977) |
Children | 3, including Corbin Bernsen |
Wilma Jeanne Cooper (October 25, 1928 – May 8, 2013) was an American actress, best known for her role as Katherine Chancellor on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless (1973–2013). At the time of her death, she had played Katherine for over 40 years, and her name appears on the list of longest-serving soap opera actors in the United States.
Cooper also appeared on numerous episodic television series in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as several film roles. She was the mother of three children, the eldest being actor Corbin Bernsen.[1]
Early life
Jeanne Cooper was born in Taft, California, the youngest of three children of Albert Troy Cooper and his wife, the former Sildeth Evelyn Moore.[2][3] The family lived in Kern County for several years, first in Taft until 1942 and then in Bakersfield. Her mother died on August 21, 1944, the year before Jeanne graduated from Taft Union High School.[4] Her father lived for several more decades, dying on April 11, 1986.[5]
Career
This section needs additional citations for verification. (November 2022) |
Film and television work
Cooper began her acting career in the 1950s, performing initially as a supporting player in films with stars like Maureen O'Hara, Glenn Ford, Tony Curtis, and Henry Fonda.[2] Her first film role was as Myra in the 1953 western film, The Redhead from Wyoming. She later appeared in small roles in The Man from the Alamo, Over-Exposed, 5 Steps to Danger, Rock All Night, House of Women, 13 West Street, The Intruder, Black Zoo, The Glory Guys, Tony Rome, The Boston Strangler and Kansas City Bomber.
Cooper was a fixture on episodic television throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
Cooper played Ann Dix in the 1955 episode "I Am Joaquin" of the
In 1957, she starred in one of the early episodes of two different western series,
In 1960, she again played Belle Starr in the "Shadow of Jesse James" episode of the TV series , among numerous other series.
In 1965, she appeared in the ABC network's Western television series The Big Valley as Elaine Baxter Jason, a mercantile store owner and an old friend of series character Victoria Barkley (Barbara Stanwyck). In another episode she appears as the money-hungry aunt of Heath (Lee Majors). Her husband was portrayed in the episode by John Anderson, who years later became known as MacGyver's grandfather, Harry Jackson.
The Young and the Restless
Cooper is best known for her role as Katherine Chancellor on the daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless. Her character broke ground in the daytime medium; Katherine endured several bouts with alcoholism, ischemic stroke, and the loss of many men in her life (four late husbands, and a child surrendered for adoption).[6]
In 1984, Katherine (and Cooper) also had a
For many years, the story of Katherine's bitter rivalry with character
Cooper received ten
Cooper's character, Katherine, was thought to have died in a November 2008 episode. It was, however, her look-alike,
Cooper had to take a medical leave in October 2011 and her part on the soap was temporarily recast with veteran actress Michael Learned. However, the next month, Cooper confirmed she was returning to the set. She returned as part of the show on December 23, 2011. She taped her last scene on the show in March 2013 on the same day as the Young and the Restless 40th anniversary and this scene aired on May 3, 2013, five days before her death.
A tribute episode of The Young and the Restless in honor of Jeanne Cooper, made up of clips, cast memories and interviews, was shown on May 28, 2013, on CBS. Her character, Katherine, died offscreen a few months later after a trip around the world.
Personal life
Cooper married television producer Harry Bernsen, Jr., and they were together for 23 years before divorcing. In her book (released on July 31, 2012), Cooper makes it known that after their divorce, she and her ex-husband very rarely saw each other (only when family functions dictated) and they were not close or even friends before his death on May 31, 2008.
The Bernsens had three children, all of whom are actors: Corbin Bernsen of L.A. Law fame (born September 7, 1954), whose mother Cooper portrayed twice on that series; Collin Bernsen, born March 30, 1958; and Caren Bernsen,[9] born August 17, 1960.
Death
In 2013, shortly after a round of promotion for the Y&R 40th anniversary, Cooper became ill due to an infection. She died on May 8, 2013, in a Los Angeles hospital.[10][11][12] In addition to the infection, Cooper had been a heavy smoker most of her adult life and suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Her final Y&R scene was taped March 26, 2013 (the exact date of Y&R's 40th anniversary) and aired on May 3, 2013.[13] “Mom passed this morning”, her son, Corbin Bernsen, revealed on Twitter the day of her death. “She was in peace and without fear.”[14]
Awards and nominations
- Emmy Award
- 1962 — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series — Ben Casey (Nominated)[15]
- 1987 — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series — L.A. Law (Nominated)[15]
- 1989 — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - The Young and the Restless (Nominated)
- 1990 — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - The Young and the Restless (Nominated)
- 1991 — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - The Young and the Restless (Nominated)
- 1992 — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - The Young and the Restless (Nominated)
- 1999 — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - The Young and the Restless (Nominated)
- 2000 — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - The Young and the Restless (Nominated)
- 2004 — Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2005 — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - The Young and the Restless (Nominated)
- 2007 — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - The Young and the Restless (Nominated)
- 2008 — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - The Young and the Restless (Won)
- 2009 — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - The Young and the Restless (Nominated)
- Hollywood Walk of Fame
- 1993 — Star on the Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Blvd.
Filmography
Film
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1953 | The Redhead from Wyoming | Myra | |
The Man from the Alamo | Kate Lamar | ||
Shadows of Tombstone | Marge | ||
1955 | The Naked Street | Evelyn Shriner | Uncredited |
1956 | The Houston Story | Madge | |
Over-Exposed | Renee | ||
Calling Homicide | Darlene Adams | ||
Five Steps to Danger
|
Helen Bethke | ||
1957 | Rock All Night | Mabel | |
Plunder Road | Fran Werner | ||
1958 | Screaming Mimi | Lola Lake in Photo | Uncredited |
Unwed Mother | Mrs. Horton | ||
1960 | Let No Man Write My Epitaph | Fran | |
1962 | 13 West Street | Mrs. Quinn | |
House of Women | Helen Jennings | ||
The Intruder | Vi Griffin | ||
Red Nightmare | Helen Donavan | ||
1963 | Black Zoo | Edna Conrad | |
1965 | The Glory Guys | Mrs. Rachael McCabe | |
1967 | Tony Rome | Lorna Boyd | |
1968 | The Boston Strangler | Cloe | |
1970 | There Was a Crooked Man... | Prostitute | |
1972 | Kansas City Bomber | Trainer Vivien | |
1973 | The All-American Boy | Nola Bealer | |
1977 | The San Pedro Bums | Mrs. McClory | |
1991 | Lethal Justice | Clerk | |
1992 | Frozen Assets | Zach Shepard's Mother | |
1993 | Beyond Suspicion | Renata | |
2002 | The Tomorrow Man | Jeanine | |
2005 | Carpool Guy | Mrs. Lunsford | |
2009 | Donna on Demand | Virginia Hart | |
Dead Air | Paranoid Caller |
Selected television works
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1957-1962 | Cheyenne | Marie Conover / Mary "Molly" Spenser | Episodes: "Top Hand" and "The Quick and the Deadly" |
1958-1966 | Perry Mason | Laura Beaumont / Thelma Hill / Ethel Belan / Mary Browne / Miriam Fielding | |
1959 | Tales of Wells Fargo | Duchess | Episode: "Clay Allison" |
1959 | The Twilight Zone | Barmaid Miss Smith | Episode: "Mr. Denton on Doomsday" |
1959 | Wanted Dead or Alive | Myra | Season 2, Episode 14: "Man on Horseback" |
1961 | The Tall Man | Mrs. Elmira Webster | Episode: "The Reversed Blade" |
1961 | Rawhide | Mrs. Clara Wilson | S3:E16, "Incident on the Road Back" |
1962 | The Untouchables | Fran Cagle | Episode: 'The Case Against Eliot Ness' - Season 3, episode #83 |
Wagon Train | Donna Fuller | Episode: "The Donna Fuller Story" | |
Have Gun–Will Travel
|
Edna Hardin | Season 6, Episode 16: "The Treasure" | |
1962-1963 | Bonanza | Abigal Hinton / Emilia Miller | Episodes: "The Good Samaritan" and "She Walks in Beauty" |
1963 | Stoney Burke | Loren Schuyler | Episode: "Webb of Fear" |
Gunsmoke | Lilly Pitts | Episode: "The Ex-Con" | |
Mr. Novak | Louise Sargent | Episode: "The Boy Without a Country" | |
1965 | The Big Valley | Martha Simmons | Season 1 Episode 3 / "Boots with My Father's Name" |
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | Mother Fear a.k.a. Yvonne | Episode: "The Children's Day Affair" - Season 2, episode #41 | |
1966 | The Big Valley | Elaine Jason | Season 1 Episode 29 / "Tunnel of Gold" |
1966-1967 | Daniel Boone | Amy Barr / Addie Ogilvie | |
1969 | Death Valley Days | Rachel Barrett | Season 17, Episode 14: "A Gift" with Valentin de Vargas and Harry Lauter |
1973-2013 | The Young and the Restless | Katherine Chancellor | 1973-2013 |
Marge Cotrooke
|
1989-1990, 2008-2009 | ||
1973 | Hawkins | Mrs. Hamilton | Season 1, Episode 3: "A Life for a Life" |
1974 | Kolchak: The Night Stalker | Dr. Kline | 1 episode (Season 1, Episode 7) |
1975 | Emergency! | Evelyn Fenady | 1 episode (Season 5, Episode 5) |
1997 | The Nanny | Herself | |
2005 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Katherine Chancellor | Guest (October 31, 2005 - November 1, 2005) |
2009 | Guiding Light | Wedding Guest | Guest star |
References
- ^ "Caren Bernsen: Jeanne Cooper's Daughter". dailyentertainmentnews.com. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Jeanne Cooper: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
- ^ "United States Census, 1930," Wilma J. Cooper in household of Albert T. Cooper, Kern, California; digital image of original enumeration page, ED 6, sheet 5B, line 87; United States Census Bureau, Department of Commerce, Washington. D.C.; National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved via FamilySearch, January 29, 2022.
- ^ "Taft Union High School Hall of Fame". Taft Union High School Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on July 30, 2022.
- ^ "Albert Troy Cooper (1897-1986)". Ancestry.com. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Jeanne Cooper- Biography". Yahoo!. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
- ^ Jeanne Cooper of 'The Young And The Restless' Talks Controversial On-Air Facelift (VIDEO)
- ^ The Reliable Source (May 9, 2013). "R.I.P. Jeanne Cooper, the soap star who was a facelift pioneer". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
- ^ a b "Raising Cane". Soap Opera Weekly. February 27, 2007. p. 20.
- ^ Rice, Lynette (May 8, 2013). "Longtime 'Young & the Restless' star Jeanne Cooper dies at 84". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "'Young and Restless' star Jeanne Cooper dies at 84 - A&E". Boston.com. June 27, 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ Dzurilla, Christie (May 8, 2013). "Jeanne Cooper of 'Young and the Restless' Dies at 84". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Jeanne Cooper". May 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
- ^ June, Daniel (May 9, 2013). "'The Young and the Restless' Star Jeanne Cooper Dies".
- ^ a b Jeanne Cooper at emmys.com