Jerry Douglas, Longtime Star of ‘The Young and the Restless,’ Dies at 88

Jerry Douglas, the actor best known for playing patriarch John Abbott on the long-running soap opera “The Young and the Restless,” died Nov. 9 in Los Angeles after a brief illness. He was 88.

Douglas was a mainstay of CBS’ top-rated daytime serial for more than 30 years in the role of the square-jawed cosmetics magnate and pillar of “Y&R’s” fictional Genoa City. He also racked up dozens of TV guests shots and supporting roles in movies over his long career, ranging from “The Bionic Woman,” “Barnaby Jones” and “The Streets of San Francisco” to “Arrested Development,” “Cold Case” and “Melrose Place.”

Douglas was a regular on “Y&R” from 1982 to 2006. Even after his character died, Abbott appeared in flashbacks from time to time, most recently in 2006 when he returned as a ghost to guide his children from the afterlife.. “Y&R” has been a mainstay of CBS’ daytime lineup since 1973. The serial topped the 20,000-episode mark last year.

“Jerry came to ‘Y&R’ in 1982 with an impressive resume of credits,” said Anthony Morina, “Y&R” executive producer. “Our show was lucky to have an actor of his caliber join the cast and introduce the audience to the iconic Abbott family. His contribution to the legacy of Y&R as Abbott family patriarch, John Abbott is still felt to this day. He will be sorely missed.”

Born Nov. 12, 1932, in Chelsea, Mass., Douglas was a quarterback at Brandeis University, where he graduated with a degree in economics. He pursued acting after college, studying with noted instructors Uta Hagen in New York and Jeff Corey in Los Angeles. Douglas was also a screenwriter and a playwright and developed projects with Josh O’Connell. He was also a life-long golfer and avid reader.

Douglas began logging TV guest shots in the early 1960s on such series as “The Untouchables” and “The Donna Reed Show.” His many other credits include “The Rockford Files,” “Gunsmoke,” “Combat,” “Bonanza,” “Land of the Giants,” “Ironside,” “Mannix,” “Mission: Impossible,” “The F.B.I.,” “The Rookies,” “S.W.A.T.” and “Quincy.” Movie rules included Oliver Stone’s “JFK,” “Avalanche,” “The Godson,” “Head Over Spurs in Love” and “Mommie Dearest.”

He also appeared on stage as an actor and singer. In 2005 he recorded the pop album “The Best is Yet to Come.”

Douglas’ survivors include his wife of 36 years, TV personality Kym Douglas; three children and two grandchildren.