Goodbye “Katherine Chancellor” – Jeanne Cooper Dies at 84

It seemed to me that Jeanne Cooper was just always there. She’s always been around – at least for as long as I’ve lived in North America. So when I heard today that she had died, it was almost as if someone I knew had passed away.

I first saw Jeanne Cooper as “Katherine Chancellor” on The Young and The Restless when I was eleven years old. I had not been in Canada long and didn’t speak the language particularly well. Home from school, I would count on our TV as a way of passively listening to the English language while trying to absorb all the new sounds I was hearing all around me.

Naturally, at that time of day, soaps were running on most of the channels and along with General Hospital, Y&R was my go-to “educational program”.

That is when I was introduced to Jeanne Cooper playing a wealthy matriarch, a “Duchess of Genoa City”. With her piercing blue eyes and strong deep voice, she was fierce! I was fascinated. It was amazing to see such a strong and commanding woman daily on TV. I’ve never seen a soap opera before, but boy, was I hooked.

I wasn’t alone. In the 40 years she’s been on that show, Cooper has amassed a huge fan base. She was first brought on by Bill Bell – the creator of the show – to improve flagging ratings and provide a quick fix and add controversy to a storyline. Cooper only signed on for three years. She stayed much longer than that.

“I was going to give it my all for three years but all of a sudden, when you are creating another person who grows with you, Katherine grew with me. I grew with her.” Cooper told EW.

“It was fascinating. Then, of course, I got a divorce and couldn’t afford to be too terribly hard ass about what I was and wasn’t going to do. You have to admit, to have a paycheck coming in weekly for 40 years is pretty great. I did not join this show when I was 21. I was 45. Everybody was shocked I would do this and stay with it. Bill Bell gave me carte blanche to do what I wanted.”

And did she ever! I’ll never forget watching – though half-closed hands – as Cooper (aka Katherine)  got a real facelift on the show. I didn’t even know such a procedure existed! She gained millions of fans after that. Same when Katherine battled alcoholism. Nothing seemed to be out of bounds, but that’s what we came to expect from this colourful actress.

Eventually I got older and I stopped watching the show. But I never forgot Cooper. Every once in a while, I’d catch a glimpse of her on TV while on the treadmill at the gym. Or as I lay in the dentist chair waiting to be seen. It would always amaze me that she was still there. Still being Katherine. Still giving ’em hell in Genoa City.

Of her passing, her son – actor Corbin Bernsen – had this to say on his Facebook page:

“My mother passed away this morning just a short time ago, peaceful with my sister by her side, in her sleep. I was going to visit this afternoon, thought I had time. Reminder to self – time is a precious thing. I too am at peace however. I said my goodbyes several times over during the last few weeks.

“I’ll go one last time now for a gentle kiss a final farewell for this lifetime,” he continued. “She has been a blaze her entire life, that beacon, that boxer I spoke of earlier. She went the full twelve rounds and by unanimous decision… won! And while her light finally gave into the wind that gives flight to all our journeys, there will always be a glimmer left behind by what she stood for. I will speak about that more in coming days, months I suppose. I will certainly dedicate what remains of my life to continue her purpose of honesty, equality, humility, empathy and love.”

While no cause of death was listed, it doesn’t really matter. Jeanne Cooper is gone and most of us will probably never see the likes of her in daytime TV again.

Goodbye Katherine Chancellor. You were the bomb!