Wilma Jeanne Cooper

At A Glance

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.

Acting Portfolio: TELEVISION

Beyond Suspicion Renata 1993 The Young and the Restless Marge Catrooke 1989-1990; October 14, 2008 to November 14, 2008 ; March 26, 2009 The San Pedro Bums Mrs. McClory 1977 Sweet Hostage Mrs. Withers 1975 The Young and the Restless Katherine Chancellor November 1973 to May 3, 2013 The All-American Boy Nola Bealer 1973 Bracken's World Grace Douglas 1970 The Ford Television Theatre Lois Powell 1956 Playhouse 90 Receptionist 1956 Crusader Helen 1956 Crossroads Mrs. Hinton 1956 Front Row Center Leslie 1956 Highway Patrol Laura Douglas 1956 The Man Behind the Badge 1955 Death Valley Days 1954-1955 The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse Martha 1954 The Adventures of Kit Carson Joyce Hadley 1953

Acting Portfolio: FILM

Carpool Guy Mrs. Lunsford 2005 The Tomorrow Man Jeanine (Present Day) 2001 Zach Shepard's Mother 1992 Kansas City Bomber Trainer Vivien 1972 There Was a Crooked Man Prostitute 1970 The Boston Strangler Cloe 1966 Tony Rome 1967 Lorna Boyd The Glory Guys Mrs. Rachael McCabe 1965

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

Awards & Acclaim

Daytime Emmys Winner, Lifetime Achievement Award (2005) Daytime Emmys Winner Outstanding Lead Actress (2008) Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actress (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012) Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actress (2005) Daytime Emmys Pre-Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actress (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011) Daytime Emmys Pre-Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actress (2005) Soap Opera Digest Awards Winner, Outstanding Lead Actress (1989) Soap Opera Digest Awards Winner, Editor's Award (1989) Soap Opera Update Winner, MVP Award (1990) Pasadena Playhouse Alumni & Associates Winner, Woman of the Year Award (1989)

Vital Statistics

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.