Jeanne Cooper

Infobox actor
name = Jeanne Cooper


imagesize = 225px
caption =
birthdate = Birth date and age|1928|10|25
birthname = Wilma Jeanne Cooper
location = Taft, California, U.S.
notable role =Katherine Chancellor on
"The Young and the Restless"
academyawards =
spouse = Harry Bernsen (1954-1977)
emmyawards = Won: Outstanding Lead Actress - Daytime
2008 "The Young and the Restless"
Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actress - Daytime
1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2007 "The Young and the Restless"
Nominated: Outstanding Supporting Actress - Daytime
2005 "The Young and the Restless"Lifetime Achievement Award
2004
Nominated: Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actress - Primetime
1962 "Ben Casey"
Nominated: Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series - Primetime
1987 "L.A. Law"

Wilma Jeanne Cooper (born October 25, 1928 in Taft, California) is an Emmy Award-winning American actress of Cherokee descent, best known for her role as Katherine Chancellor on "The Young and the Restless". Though she was not on the series when the show debuted in March 1973, she made her onscreen debut in November of that year, and remains the longest-tenured actor on "The Young and the Restless".

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 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 Jill's portrayer, Jess Walton are close friends.) It was revealed in 2003 that Jill is Katherine's daughter born out of wedlock.cite news | title=Raising Cane | date=2007-02-27 | publisher= "Soap Opera Weekly"| page = 20 ]

She has received nine Daytime Emmy nominations, eight for Outstanding Lead Actress and one for Outstanding Supporting Actress, 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. She won the 2008 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Out of her eight nominations for lead actress, this was her first win in the category.

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, Jr. and they were together 23 years before divorcing. Interviews and reports state they remained the best of friends until his death in June 2008.

The Bernsens had three children, actor Corbin Bernsen, of "L.A. Law" fame (Ms. Cooper guest-starred twice as his character's mother on the series) born September 7, 1954 who is married to British actress Amanda Pays. Another son who is an actor, Collin Bernsen, born March 30, 1958. She also has a daughter, Caren. born August 17, 1960 who is an actress.

Corbin Bernsen and Amanda Pays have four sons: Oliver Miller (born 1989), twins Henry and Angus (born 1992), and Finley (born 1998)

Partial filmography

References

External links

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* [http://www.cbs.com/daytime/yr/about/bios/jcooper.shtml Jeanne Cooper bio] on "The Young and the Restless" CBS website