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Joe Marinelli, the veteran character actor who amused and attracted admirers as the cross-dressing mobster Bunny Tagliatti on the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara, has died. He was 68.

Marinelli died Sunday in Burbank after a battle with stomach cancer, his wife of nearly 34 years, musician Jean Marinelli, told The Hollywood Reporter. She said they never had a fight.

After playing Bernardo “Bunny” Tagliatti from 1988-90, Marinelli portrayed bank robber Pauly Hardman on the CBS daytime drama Guiding Light in 1993 and another crook, Joseph Sorel, on the ABC soap General Hospital from 1999-2001.

More recently, he recurred as Uba director Donny Spagnoli on the first three seasons of the Apple TV+ drama The Morning Show.

“I really loved him and what he stood for,” Mark Duplass, who plays Tms executive producer Chip Black on the show, said in a statement. “We didn’t spend 10,000 hours together, but we were spiritually aligned in many ways.

The Young and the Restless (Y&r) spoilers note that Peter Bergman recently celebrated 35 years of playing Jack Abbott in Genoa City, this past month.

Believe it or not, Bergman was recast in the role in November 1989 after Og Jack Abbott, actor Terry Lester, left the show.

Bergman recently spoke with Soap Opera Digest (Sod) about entering the role of Jack Abbott and how he thought he wouldn’t last more than a few months on the Y&r.

Young And The Restless Spoilers – Star Peter Bergman – “Recasts … Just Didn’t Work”

Before jumping into the Jack Abbott role, Bergman played Dr. Cliff Warner on All My Children (AMC) from 1979 to 1989. He was let go from the soap, and as such, lost a bit of confidence in the process.

Plus, during his time on AMC Bergman saw recasts come and go, so while he was grateful for his new job at the Y&r,...

Peter Bergman is celebrating his 35th anniversary with The Young and the Restless. The actor took over the role of Jack Abbott in November 1989 after Terry Lester’s departure. As a recast, Bergman had big shoes to fill, which is why he expected his job to be short-term.

Lack Of Confidence

Before being cast as Jack on Y&r, Bergman began his soap opera career on All My Children. From 1979 to 1989, he played Dr. Cliff Warner, whose romance with Nina was a famous storyline. Despite his popularity, Bergman was fired, shocking him and fans. But he wasn’t unemployed long when he landed his job at Y&r.

Although he was grateful for the role, Bergman had his fears. In an interview with Soap Opera Digest, the actor admitted he thought he’d be gone after a few months.

”We had [recasts] on All My Children that just didn’t work; there were...

General Hospital spoilers tease that the powers that be are hoping lightning strikes again! The show has cast Lane Davies as Fergus Byrne, who shares a dubious connection with Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn).

As longtime soap fans know, Davies is best known for originating the role of Mason Capwell on Santa Barbara where he was one-half of a supercouple with Grahn who portrayed Julia Wainwright in the 80’s.

Davies appeared in the role from 1984 through 1989 after which Mason was recast, first by Terry Lester and later by Gordon Thompson.

General Hospital Spoilers – Alexis Davies And Nancy Lee Grahn Have Teamed Up On General Hospital Before!

Davies formerly played Dr. Cameron Lewis on General Hospital from 2002 through 2004 and shares scenes with Grahn during his tenure until Cameron was killed off in 2004. Cameron Webber (William Lipton) is named after Davies earlier role.

Daytime fans might also recognize Davies from his role...

The Young and the Restless family is mourning the loss of Marla Adams, who died at 85.

Marla played Dina Abbott Mergeron on and off on Y&r for over 37 years.

Josh Griffith, Y&r’s executive producer, shared a statement with People magazine to honor Marla after news of her death broke.

“On behalf of the entire company of The Young and the Restless, we send our deepest sympathies to Marla’s family. We’re so grateful and in awe of Marla’s incredible performance as Dina Mergeron as both Marla and Dina made an unforgettable mark on Y&r,” read the statement.

The actress had an incredible career before she joined the soap opera world, though.

Today, those who knew and loved Marla are mourning the loss – as are the fans who adored her.

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Peter Bergman and Eric Braeden play longtime rivals on “The Young and the Restless”, but fans might be surprised to hear there was a time they didn’t get along all that well off-screen, either.

Bergman chatted to Et Canada’s Cheryl Hickey as we joined the cast on set to mark the show’s 50th anniversary.

Read More: Eric Braeden Reveals The Origin Story Behind His Famous ‘Young And The Restless’ Moustache

Bergman, who took over from the late Terry Lester to play the role of Jack Abbott back in 1989, recalled: “I think people might be surprised to know that at the very beginning, Eric and I had a lot of trouble getting along. I think I’ll take some of the blame for it.

“I came on to replace someone in a very famous role that was very popular, and the only way to do it was to come in and take over.

With three Daytime Emmys for Best Actor, Peter Bergman (“The Young and the Restless”) is one of only five men to win that award that many times or more. But you could actually consider him overdue for a fourth trophy given the sheer number of times he’s been nominated. In 2022 he earned his 23rd nomination, which is by far the most any actor has received in the category. But so far his win rate is just 14. Compare that to Anthony Geary, who was batting .500 (eight wins out of 16 noms) by the time he retired from “General Hospital.” Is it finally time for Bergman to add another trophy to his mantel?

See‘The Young and the Restless’ leads Daytime Emmy nominations with 18, Kelly Clarkson has top talk show

Bergman assumed the role of businessman Jack Abbott in 1989 following a decade-long stint by Terry Lester, and Bergman has been playing it ever since.

1967: Dark Shadows' Maggie remained frustrated locked in a cell.

1983: General Hospital faced a hostage crisis.

1993: As the World Turns' Hal and Barbara were remarried.

1996: All My Children's Hayley and Brian wanted to relive their prom."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1967: On Dark Shadows, locked in a cell in the Old House basement, Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott) opened the music box when she heard Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) coming, pretending that she had been listening to it. He didn't believe her and...

1981: Another Life premiered on Cbn.

1984: Days of our Lives' Howie walked down the aisle as Hope.

1997: Port Charles premiered on ABC.

2007: As the World Turns' Noah arrived in Oakdale."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1964: On Another World, Russ (Joey Trent) admitted to Jim (Leon Janney) that he did not feel smart enough to succeed in school.

1966: On Morning Star, Hank Stover (Warren Remmerling), Bill Riley (Edward Mallory) and Katy Elliott (Elizabeth Perry) turned to Eric Manning (Ron Jackson) for assistance.

1967: The Doctors' Althea turned in her resignation.

1997: General Hospital's Helena returned to Port Charles.

2008: All My Children celebrated the life of Myrtle Fargate.

2011: One Life to Live's Roxy dreamed about Fraternity Row."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Peyton Place, Martin Peyton (George Macready) told a drunken Leslie Harrington (Paul Langton) that he had always been inferior.

1967: On The Doctors, Dr. Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) stopped by the home of Dr. Matt Powers (James Pritchett) to give him her official resignation from Hope Memorial Hospital.

1979: Brian and Paige were married on The Edge of Night.

1983: Kim Zimmer debuted as Reva Shayne on Guiding Light.

1995: General Hospital's Sonny said goodbye to Stone.

1996: Gh's Edward had a Thanksgiving nightmare."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Dark Shadows, Matthew (Thayer David) had just begun to strangle Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) when Liz (Joan Bennett) burst into the cottage.

1975: The final CBS episode of The Edge of Night aired. The network also aired the last half-hour episode of As the World Turns,...

1970: The Hortons gathered for Thanksgiving on Days of our Lives.

1989: Peter Bergman debuted as Jack Abbott on The Young and

the Restless. 1997: General Hospital's Quartermaines were robbed

on Thanksgiving, thanks to Tracy. 1997: The Port Charles

interns made sure Ellen and Jake had a Thanksgiving meal."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1964: On Another World, Bill Matthews (Joseph Gallison) and Missy Palmer (Carol Roux) shared a kiss on the bridge.

1970: On Days of our Lives, the Hortons celebrated Thanksgiving. "Bless this food, and give us the courage and strength to live to the fullest...

1969: Bright Promise premiered on NBC.

1978: The final episode of For Richer, For Poorer aired on NBC.

1986: Another World's Marley and Jake were married.

1989: Terry Lester debuted as Mason Capwell on Santa Barbara."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1947: Radio soap opera Claudia premiered. Due in large part to the success of the two Claudia movies, the D'Arcy advertising agency decided to bring the characters to radio in a five-a-week quarter-hour serial on behalf of its client, Coca-Cola. Kathryn Bard was cast as Claudia and Paul Crabtree as David, with Joe King announcing.

1969: Bright...

1967: Dark Shadows' Maggie remained frustrated locked in a cell.

1983: General Hospital faced a hostage crisis.

1993: As the World Turns' Hal and Barbara were remarried.

1996: All My Children's Hayley and Brian wanted to relive their prom."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1967: On Dark Shadows, locked in a cell in the Old House basement, Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott) opened the music box when...

1981: Another Life premiered on Cbn.

1984: Days of our Lives' Howie walked down the aisle as Hope.

1997: Port Charles premiered on ABC.

2007: As the World Turns' Noah arrived in Oakdale."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1964: On Another World, Russ (Joey Trent) admitted to Jim (Leon Janney) that he did not feel smart enough to succeed in school.

1966: On Morning Star, Hank Stover...

1978: Ryan's Hope's Maeve was disgusted with Delia.

1982: Gh's Robert, Tiffany, Jackie & Luke made a pact.

1984: Days of our Lives' Hope moved out of Shenanigans.

2006: Passions' Endora used a rain cloud to wake up Fox."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1935: NBC Radio aired the final episode of soap opera Judy and Jane, produced by Frank and Anne Hummert. Sponsored by Folgers Coffee, it...

1980: Edge of Night's Draper was sentenced.

1981: Gh's Sarah raised Jeff's suspicions.

1986: Y&R's John confronted Jack.

1995: AMC's Will shocked a Pine Valley courtroom."Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."

― Machiavelli

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1941: Radio soap opera We Are Always Young premiered on the Mutual Network. The show told the story of a serious composer who worked...

1967: The Doctors' Althea turned in her resignation.

1997: General Hospital's Helena returned to Port Charles.

2008: All My Children celebrated the life of Myrtle Fargate.

2011: One Life to Live's Roxy dreamed about Fraternity Row."History is a vast early warning system."

― Norman Cousins

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Peyton Place, Martin Peyton (George Macready) told a drunken Leslie Harrington (Paul Langton) that he had always been inferior.

1967: On The Doctors, Dr. Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) stopped by the home of Dr. Matt Powers (James Pritchett) to give him her official resignation from Hope Memorial Hospital. Althea was pregnant and unmarried at the time,...

The show may not be so young anymore -as its 40th anniversary indicates -- but it's still restless, proved by the plot twists it keeps handing its longtime characters.

That's what has kept so many stars of "The Young and the Restless" on board, and they'll be present as the CBS daytime drama hits the four-decade mark Tuesday, March 26. Though the milestone will be noted in certain ways, it'll also be just another day in fictional Genoa City, according to three-time Daytime Emmy winner Peter Bergman, who has played Jack Abbott on the soap since 1989.

"It's a giant chunk of my life," he tells Zap2it. "Because I can remember clearly my first day, it seems it was yesterday. My daughter was 4 weeks old when I started the show, and she graduated from college last year. When you put it in terms of someone else's life, that's a really long time.

With its 40th anniversary arriving on March 26, CBS’ The Young and the Restless invited cast members to reflect on their time (and wild times) with the top-rated daytime drama — and TVLine has an exclusive look at the first trip down memory lane.

Related | Eileen Davidson Returns to Y&R

For three weeks starting Monday, March 11, each Y&R episode will be prefaced by a brief on-camera interview with one of the show’s stars. “The videos are a love letter to longtime fans,” executive producer Jill Farren Phelps tells TVLine, “and will also help new viewers develop a greater appreciation...

On this date in...

1989: Terry Lester's contract expired with The Young And The Restless where he had been playing Jack for nearly a decade. Then Terry ran into Santa Barbara's head writer, Chuck Pratt, an an L.A. function. Chuck commented, "Boy, would I like to write for you," which Terry found very flattering. Two weeks later, New World Television president Jon Feltheimer called the actor at home and emphasized that his company had many other production arms other than Santa Barbara and that if Terry joined the cast of the soap, they would help him find the other vehicles he was interested in.

2007: One Life To Live aired its 10,000th episode.

2007: Luke and Noah shared their first (historic) kiss on As The World Turns. YouTube clips of the kiss have been watched by millions of fans since that day.

Celebrating a birthday today are:

Julianna McCarthy (ex-Liz,...

Christopher Anne Templeton passed away on Tuesday, February 15, 2011, in San Antonio at the age 58. She was born on February 26, 1952, in Lake Forest, Il to Edmund Owen and Joyce Irene Templeton. She is preceded in death by her parents.

Even though Christopher battled Polio her whole life, she courageously broke through all barriers she faced. She was the first disabled actress to receive many contract roles. She was a supporting actress on The Young And The Restless (as Jabot secretary, Carol) for 10 years. She went on to become a successful writer, director, and actress in many movies, independent films, and television productions. Chris' shows included Simon & Simon, Columbo, and In The Heat Of The Night among others.

Because of Christopher’s relentless tenacity, she brought her Grey Forest, TX community together through several successful events. Christopher, along with others, started the Grey Forest Farmer’s Market. She was President of the...

Where has the time gone? Is it really 20 years that Peter Bergman's played Jack Abbott on The Young and the Restless? Amazing, but true. Not only has Bergman been tearing it up as Jack for two decades, he's pretty much eradicated the memory of his tenure on All My Children where he was nice guy, Dr. Cliff Warner. Say what you will about Jack, he's not a nice guy. He can have his good moments, but this character is too complicated, too selfish, too diabolical ever to be confused with a noble man like Cliff.

Which is what has made Peter Bergman's time on Y&R so remarkable! The character had been so sharply defined by Terry Lester that it was going to be tough for any actor to take over the part.

Continue reading Peter Bergman celebrates 20 years on The Young and the Restless

 

Filed under: OpEd,...

On Nov. 27, Peter Bergman will celebrate his 20th year playing Jack Abbott on CBS's top-rated The Young and The Restless. The veteran soap star (he previously played Dr. Cliff Warner on ABC's All My Children) talked exclusively to EW.com about what it was like to originally assume the role, how he felt about his character talking to a ghost, and whether he and the cast believed that Eric Braeden would ever really quit the show. EW: What was it replacing Terry Lester, who had previously played Jack Abbott, 20 years ago? Peter Bergman: He had burned every bridge he could burn before he left.