Rest In Peace: Jeanne Cooper, The Fiery Kay Chancellor Of Genoa City

In every daytime soap opera, there’s always that one woman who’s the matriarch, the steadfast character reflecting many generations inside the fictional town.

All My Children’s Pine Valley has Erica Cane.

One Life to Live’s Llanview has Vicki Lord.

Days of Our Lives had Alice Horton.

But The Young and the Restless’s Genoa City had the unbelievably sultry Katherine “Kay” Chancellor.

Playing her since debuting in 1973, Jeanne Cooper’s near forty-year run as the rich, illustrious businesswoman with short silver hair and deep rich voice was originally meant to be temporary, but Cooper put so much passion and charisma into Kay that she was kept on for decades longer.

I was about four years old when starting my CBS soap opera watching ritual with my mother and quite obsessed before preschool even started. At 12:35 PM, Young and the Restless kicked off afternoons of shared chocolate ice cream pints laced with drama, cheesy orchestra music, and click clacks of heeled shoes. This was a comfortable tradition–two dedicated hours being lost in other people’s problems in life and love.

For years, I would come home from school and ask greedy questions, wondering what the “fancy lady” (my nickname for Kay) had gotten into. My mother would recite all the day’s stories, and I fed on excitement-tinged words like ambrosia, always ready for the next delicious morsel.

Stylish, sophisticated, independent Kay was an amazing inspiration and constant favorite. Her razor quick wit, fiery spirit, brimming intelligence, and refusal of fuss from anyone including men were commendable charms to watch. Magic energy beams in Cooper’s bright eyes at each delivered word and ruthless spirit engaged her footsteps. She could throw anything at any character–physically or verbally with the power of a ferocious lioness. They would either feel threatened or step away insecurely at this rage, intuitively knowing that she was a feisty woman who could not be barred or caged.

Kay’s contention with Jill started out as they usually do in soaps–over a man! Their relationship progressed over the years toward meddling in their offspring’s lives and business dealings over the Chancellor Empire, but the embittered twosome has since softened, especially after almost finding out that they were mother and daughter for that hilarious short period of time. They still trade barbs every now and then, with Jill getting angry last week about Kay not telling anyone about her brain tumor.

Even as she aged, the writers still gave Kay great stories–from alcoholism, to many marriages, and the first soap opera extreme makeover (Cooper pitched the idea). The talented Cooper, a former Hollywood film and television star, could do anything. As an avid soap watcher, it is quite amazing to see that opportunity to shine when in other arenas of television and film that is a gift rarely received. Being on a soap opera involves tremendous strife, especially seeing as these actors read 300-page scripts and memorize them daily. With a woman like Cooper still doing and enjoying it, she showcases her passion. It’s not just work for her; it’s a joy that shows in every scene that she steals–shining so bright and beautiful. Age means nothing but numbers!

Jeanne Cooper, who contributed so much of her remarkable life to daytime, died May 8, 2013 at the age of 84, just a few days after filming her last scene on The Young and the Restless’s 40th anniversary. A woman to honor and appreciate, she will be celebrated on CBS with a special that airs on May 28, 2013 detailing her phenomenal run.

How many soap actors, let alone actresses get this kind of treatment?

Only a legend.

Though I cannot wait to see what stories they tell about Kay and the actress, my 12:35 PMs are a little sadder now.

And yes, my mother and I mourned her loss over the phone.