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The Young and the Restless character Katherine Chancellor got a shoutout last week when Cane referred to the late, great grand dame of Genoa City. Now, on the anniversary of her birth, Kay's portrayer, Jeanne Cooper, is being fondly remembered by her Y&R pals.
The Young and the Restless, Katherine the Great
"Thinking about #jeannecooper❤️ #todayandeveryday❤️#happyheavenlybirthday ❤️ @youngandrestlesscbs #yr53 #alwaysmissedneverforgotten❤️," Kate Linder, who played Esther Valentine, Katherine's longtime companion, maid, and friend in Genoa City, posted on Instagram.
Castmates chimed in with their own well-wishes to the great lady on her 97th birthday. "Miss Jeanne so much 🎂❤️," Lauralee Bell (Christine) posted. "Such a perfect twosome you two were!"
"Miss Jeanne so much ❤️,,, Kate this picture is so beautiful ,,,, ❤️u," wrote Tamara Clatterbuck (ex-Alice). Tracey Bregman (Lauren) and Diana Barton (ex-Mari Jo) also commented on Linder's post with well-wishes for Cooper on her special day.
Happy heavenly birthday to Jeanne Cooper
Cooper joined the show in 1974, the year after its premiere. She played wealthy, alcoholic Katherine Chancellor, a woman desperately afraid of losing her husband, Phillip (Donnelly Rhodes). That fear came true when Phillip took up with Jill (then, Brenda Dickson; now, Jess Walton), who was Katherine's companion.
The two women's bitter feud was on, and it escalated when Katherine, while drunk, drove Phillip to his death. The two fought over other men, and their rivalry took on a new level after Jill's teen son, Phillip III (Thom Bierdz), returned to the canvas in 1986. Phillip III impregnated Nina (Tricia Cast) with their son, Phillip IV (Conner Floyd).
After Phillip III's presumed death (he faked his passing so he could live his life as a gay man in Australia), Jill and Kay became obsessed with Phillip IV, but they found a formidable opponent in Nina.
In the late 1990s, Katherine and Jill became embroiled in a bitter battle over who owned the Chancellor estate as Jill found papers bequeathing it to her. After a prolonged fight, the two women began sharing the house. Much to their surprise, Phillip III returned from the dead and explained why he'd faked his passing.
Katherine the great!
Katherine was believed dead when her doppelganger, Marge (also played by Cooper), dressed in Kay's clothes and driving her car, was killed in an accident. In time, the real Katherine returned.
Cooper's last scene was in 2013 when Kay went up the stairs of the mansion to retire for the evening. She turned to Jill and said, simply, "Goodnight."
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Soap Central remembers Jeanne Cooper on her 97th birthday and remembers fondly her contributions to The Young and the Restless.
Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus
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