Jeanne Cooper

Actress
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In her three-hour interview, Jeanne Cooper (1928-2013) talks about her early TV career making guest appearances on The Twilight Zone, M Squad, The Man From U.N.C.L.E, 77 Sunset Strip, and Perry Mason, and appearing as a regular on Bracken's World. She details her over 30-year tenure as The Young and the Restless' "Katherine 'Kay' Chancellor," speaking candidly about the impact the show has had both on herself, and on its loyal audience. She discusses several of her character's storylines over the years, outlines production on the show, and illustrates how The Young and the Restless has tackled sticky subjects like alcoholism and plastic surgery. Cooper also describes her experience working with her son, Corbin Bernsen, on L.A. Law, and recalls her Daytime Emmy win. Nancy Wiard conducted the interview on December 2, 2009 in North Hollywood, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Nothing is more difficult than this medium [daytime drama] and making it work, whether you're a technician or whether you're an actor. You'd better be ready to move, learn, develop, and perform.  It doesn't need anything less. And the ones who prosper in this media are the ones who have done exactly that."

People Talking About ...
Jeanne Cooper
Highlights
Jeanne Cooper on the development and evolution of her character "Katherine Chancellor" on The Young and the Restless
16:00
Jeanne Cooper on Bill Bell's and Lee Philip Bell's inspirations for The Young and the Restless
08:35
Jeanne Cooper on advice received about working on a daytime drama
01:45
Jeanne Cooper on the subject of plastic surgery on The Young and the Restless
06:03
Jeanne Cooper on the impact of daytime television
00:24
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On her childhood and early influences
On her first professional role as an actress; on her name change to Jeanne Cooper
On her first acting appearance on television; on working on live television
On her acquaintance with Howard Hughes
On working on Western series and the evolution of working in television
On working on suspense and detective series: 77 Sunset Strip, Perry Mason, M Squad
On special memories from The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
On her experience working on The Twilight Zone

Chapter 2
On Bracken's World and Ben Casey; on her first Emmy nomination
On type casting; on the casting process; on managing a busy work schedule
On The Young and the Restless and her character "Katherine Chancellor"

Chapter 3
On working with the cast and crew of The Young and the Restless
On the production process and a normal day working on the set of The Young and the Restless
On learning dialogue; on the rehearsal process and shooting schedule for The Young and the Restless
On advice she received about working on daytime drama
On major story points over the years on The Young and the Restless: lesbianism, plastic surgery, "Katherine Chancellor's" relationship with "Rex Sterling," and playing the dual roles of "Katherine" and "Marge"
On storylines she would like to see for "Katherine Chancellor" on The Young and the Restless
On her role on L.A. Law; on working with her son, Corbin Bernsen, and on their Emmy nominations
On receiving her Daytime Emmy Award and the highlights of her career
On advice she would give someone starting out in acting on a daytime drama today
On how she would like to be remembered
Shows

Ben Casey

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Jeanne Cooper on working on Ben Casey
06:48

Bonanza

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Jeanne Cooper on working on Bonanza, Maverick and The Adventures of Kit Carson
03:33

Bracken's World

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Jeanne Cooper on working on Bracken's World
10:44

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Jeanne Cooper on her first Emmy-nominated role on Ben Casey for "But Linda Only Smiled"
04:50

L.A. Law

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Jeanne Cooper on her role on L.A Law and working with her son, Corbin Bernsen
02:22

Perry Mason

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Jeanne Cooper on working on detective series, Perry Mason
03:33

Playhouse 90

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Jeanne Cooper on working on Playhouse 90
02:13

Twilight Zone, The

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Jeanne Cooper on working on The Twilight Zone

Young and the Restless, The

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Jeanne Cooper on working on The Young and the Restless
33:40
Jeanne Cooper on her work with The Young and the Restless spanning 36 years
49:22
Topics

Characters & Catchphrases

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Jeanne Cooper on the development and evolution of her character "Katherine Chancellor" on The Young and the Restless
16:00
Jeanne Cooper on the subject of "Katherine Chancellor's" plastic surgery on The Young and the Restless
06:03

Emmy Awards

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Jeanne Cooper on her first Emmy-nominated role on Ben Casey for "But Linda Only Smiled"
04:50
Jeanne Cooper on her and son Corbin Bernsen's Emmy nominations for their work on L.A. Law and on her Daytime Emmy
02:28

Memorable Moments on Television

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Jeanne Cooper on fond memories of working with Morey Amsterdam
02:23

Television Industry

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Jeanne Cooper on receiving her Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy; on highlights of her career working in television
01:47
Professions

Actress

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Jeanne Cooper on type casting
01:56
Jeanne Cooper on managing a busy work schedule
02:02
Jeanne Cooper on the development and evolution of her character "Katherine Chancellor" on The Young and the Restless
16:00
Genres

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

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Jeanne Cooper on working on suspense and detective series
05:01
Jeanne Cooper on working on L.A. Law with her son Corbin Bernsen
02:22

Daytime/Primetime Serials

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Jeanne Cooper on working on The Young and the Restless
33:39
Jeanne Cooper on the cast and crew of The Young and the Restless
12:33
Jeanne Cooper on the production process for The Young and the Restless
03:21
Jeanne Cooper on learning dialogue; on the rehearsal process and shooting schedule for The Young and the Restless
09:21
Jeanne Cooper on the subject of plastic surgery on The Young and the Restless
06:03
Jeanne Cooper on the challenges of playing dual roles on The Young and the Restless
01:41

Drama Series

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Jeanne Cooper on the show Bracken's World
10:44

Medical Dramas

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Jeanne Cooper on the medical show, Ben Casey
06:48

Western Series

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Jeanne Cooper on working on Western series television
17:20
People

Eddie Cantor

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Jeanne Cooper on working with Eddie Cantor on Playhouse 90
02:13

Eleanor Parker

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Jeanne Cooper on working with Eleanor Parker
07:41

Eric Braeden

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Jeanne Cooper on working with actor Eric Braeden on The Young and the Restless
00:27

Howard Hughes

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Jeanne Cooper on her acquaintance with Howard Hughes
03:55

John Conboy

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Jeanne Cooper on working with producer John Conboy and her introduction to daytime television
02:57
Jeanne Cooper on advice received from John Conboy about working on a daytime drama
01:22

Julianna McCarthy

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Jeanne Cooper on working with actress Julianna McCarthy on The Young and the Restless
00:33

Kay Alden

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Jeanne Cooper on Kay Alden's contribution to The Young and the Restless
02:39

Lauralee Bell

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Jeanne Cooper on working with actress Lauralee Bell on The Young and the Restless
01:31

Lee Phillip Bell

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Jeanne Cooper On Bill Bell's and Lee Philip Bell's inspirations and influences for The Young and the Restless
08:35

Leslie Nielsen

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Jeanne Cooper on working with Leslie Nielsen
02:13

Maureen O'Hara

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Jeanne Cooper on working with Maureen O'Hara in The Redhead from Wyoming
02:37

Melody Thomas Scott

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Jeanne Cooper on working with actress Melody Thomas Scott on The Young and the Restless
00:30

Morey Amsterdam

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Jeanne Cooper on fond memories of working with Morey Amsterdam
02:23

Paul Rauch

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Jeanne Cooper on working with producer Paul Rauch on The Young and the Restless
00:30

Rod Serling

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Jeanne Cooper on her friendship with Rod Serling
03:46

William Bell

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Jeanne Cooper On Bill Bell's and Lee Philip Bell's inspirations and influences for The Young and the Restless
08:35

All Interviews

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