Jeanne Cooper joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in 1973 as Katherine Chancellor, the grande dame of Genoa City.
Jeanne has had a wide ranging television career including appearances in the series The Twilight Zone, Perry Mason, Maverick, and Ben Casey, a performance for which she received an Emmy nomination. She appeared with her son, actor Corbin Bernsen, in the television series LA Law (a role for which she received an additional Emmy nomination), Touched by an Angel and the television movie Beyond Suspicion.
Jeanne was also seen in the motion pictures The Man from the Alamo, The Boston Strangler and Tony Rome. Her theatrical productions include On the Town, The Miracle Worker, Plain and Fancy and a successful touring production of Plaza Suite. She also starred in Love Letters at the Canon Theater in Beverly Hills, California.
Jeanne attended the College of the Pacific and performed in the Civic Light Opera Company and Revue Theater in Stockton. She graduated from the famed Pasadena Playhouse School.
Jeanne founded a national volunteer support network called the Katherine Chancellor Society. She donated her time to several charities, hospitals and organizations, including the Humane Society of Hawaii, Greenpeace, the National Wildlife Association, and the Children's Hospital of Toronto. Additionally, her other charity work included Children's Cancer Research (London), House of Hope (San Diego, California) and Drive By Agony (Lynwood, California).
Cooper was married to television producer Harry Bernsen in 1954. Before divorcing in 1977, the couple had three children, Corbin, Collin, and Caren. All three became actors themselves.
Cooper was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2004 Daytime Emmys. Four years later, the underdog Cooper won the Outstanding Lead Actress trophy.
In addition to her Emmy wins, Cooper also has nine other Daytime Emmy nominations.
Cooper also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1993.
Jeanne Cooper passed away on May 8, 2013 at the age of 84. To read more about her life, please click here.
Black Zoo
Edna Conrad
1963
The Commies Are Coming, the Commies Are Coming
Helen Donovan
1962
House of Women
Helen Jennings
1962
13 West Street
Mrs. Quinn
1962
The Intruder
Vi Griffin
1961
Let No Man Write My Epitaph
Fran
1960
Unwed Mother
Mrs. Horton
1958
Plunder Road
Fran Werner
1957
5 Steps to Danger
Helen Bethke, RN
1957
The Houston Story
Madge
1956
Over-Exposed
Renee
1956
Calling Homicide
Darlene Adams
1956
The Naked Street
Evelyn Shriner
1955
The Man from the Alamo
Kate Lamar
1953
Shadows of Tombstone
Marge
1953
The Redhead From Wyoming
Myra
1953
PLACE OF BIRTH: Taft, California
DATE OF BIRTH: October 25, 1928
HEIGHT: 5' 3 1/2"
HAIR: Blonde
EYES: Blue
MARITAL STATUS: Single/Divorced; Harry Bernsen (1954-1977)
CHILDREN: Three; Corbin Bernsen, Collin Bernsen and Caren Bernsen.
