Today the show, the Young and The Restless, memorialized Jeanne Cooper's Katherine Chancellor and will continue tomorrow.
I first saw the character of Katherine in the mid-80's playing opposite the dashing Thom Bierdz as her step son, Phillip, and she used him to tick off Phillip's mother, Jill.
In 1990, I got to see Jeanne Cooper in person as a guest on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, as I sat in the audience, Cooper was accepting the Soap Opera Update MVP award as Best Actress of Y & R. I was actually living with a Man in New York who was a family friend of Jeanne's.
By the summer of 1991, I was back in my hometown of Portland, OR and pursuing Extra work on Feature Films. After losing a part in the Disney film, 'Homeward Bound", I was immediately needed for a multi-day shoot on a film that I knew nothing about. I later learned the stars of the film were Corbin Bernson (Cooper's Real son) and Shelly Long. The film was called 'Frozen Assets', yes, really!
I was all dressed up in a suit and tie, waiting in line, with a flyer reading 'stud of the year' contest and whoever had the highest sperm count, wins! OMG!
Then it happened, I set my sights on Jeanne Cooper, who was making a cameo, Playing the mother of Corbin's character. Playing her husband was Portland based actor, Charles Bernard. Charles and I once shared a scene in a TV Movie a few years prior. It was Charles who introduced me to Jeanne.
I remember telling her I was in the audience for LIVE and about our Mutual friend in New York. Jeanne was so warm and down to earth.
Later, Jeanne was a trouper as she filmed her scene over and over. I was in her scene as she was running across the street with Charles in tow, in 80 plus degree heat. In the scene, she came up to each guy in the line outside the sperm bank, buttering and flirting with each guy in line. It was a pleasure to see her in action.
The Film actually deleted the scene, but she still got screen credit. The film was a Box office and critical bomb, as Siskel and Ebert, said it was the worst film ever. The set was fun and meeting Jeanne and Corbin was the overall highlight, as both were down to earth. Shelly Long was a Diva and Dody Goodman (Grease) was Paranoid.
My only regret was I never had the chance to interview the Great, Jeanne Cooper.
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