The Katherine Chancellor depicter passed away while being treated for an undisclosed illness at a Los Angeles hospital.
- May 9, 2013
AceShowbiz - "The Young and the Restless" actress Jeanne Cooper passed away at a Los Angeles hospital Wednesday, May 8. Her actor son Corbin Bernsen confirmed her death on Facebook, "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," he continued solemnly. "I'll go one last time now for a gentle kiss a final farewell for this lifetime."
"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."
He concluded, "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."
Cooper had been in and out of hospital recently for an unspecified illness. She was 84. Besides son Corbin and daughter Caren, she's survived by another son, Collin, who's also an actor and eight grandchildren. She was only married once to producer Harry Bernsen, and it ended in divorce.
Over the past weekend, Corbin already alerted fans that his mother was in the "final stages" of her life. "Please know that I'm not saying my mother's life has ended, it hasn't, but no matter how you slice it, she is in the final stages, whether it lasts an hour, day, month or years," he said back then.
"I have prayed for her recovery -- some sort of recovery -- and earlier this week got a hint of it. But then I saw her tonight, connected once again to so many tubes and machines 'healing her.' And there is a difference -- yes they are keeping her alive just as antibiotics would do for an infection -- but they are more or less there to help in her short term recovery."
In an earlier post, he pleaded with fans to pray for the ailing actress, "Please let her know in your prayers that if she wants to let go, she does so with an abundance of love giving her the wings to soar. And if she wants to remain, she does with an abundance of love giving her the support she needs to accomplish what she feels needs to be finished here, on this earth."
It's unclear how Cooper's passing will be addressed on CBS' series "The Young and the Restless". Her storyline recently involved her character, Katherine Chancellor, surviving a surgery for a brain tumor.
"Jeanne Cooper will be remembered as a daytime television legend and as a friend who will truly be missed by all of us here at the Network," said Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment, in a statement. "She was the longest-running cast member on daytime's No. 1 show, bringing indelible charm, class and talent to every episode."
"On behalf of everyone at CBS, we send our condolences to Jeanne's family, as well as the legions of fans she has amassed during her record 39 years on The Young and The Restless, and throughout her career."
During her years-long career, Cooper had received numerous Emmy nominations. She won two, one for a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004, and another for a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2008. She was inducted into Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1993.
