9 Quick Questions for Peter Bergman

Actor kicks off 35th year as Jack Abbott on ‘The Young and the Restless’

Gayle Jo Carter,

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Published January 17, 2024

peter bergman against green ombre background

Photo Collage: MOA; (Source: Sonja Flemming/CBS)

Peter Bergman, 70, is a soap opera icon. He’s played Jack Abbott on CBS’ The Young and the Restless for a whopping 35 years, and prior to that role, he played Cliff Warner for 10 years on ABC’s All my Children. Bergman shares what he loves to hear from his fans, his thoughts on retirement and his most memorable on-screen kiss.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

As part of a military family, you moved a lot growing up. Professionally, you’ve chosen to stay long-term in one role. Do you think that was a conscious decision?

It is a remarkable thing that I, who moved every two years for most of my childhood, have lived in basically two places in the years that followed. ... Is that a coincidence, you think? I mean, no, it’s probably not a coincidence — a home base that isn’t going to change. I’d probably be better off if I had moved several times and gotten a better and better house and everything. But no, we stayed put because the homestead was really important to me, because I didn’t have that growing up.

After all these years, when your fans recognize you, what do they want to tell you?

My favorite thing is, “I learned to speak English watching your show.” … I love that. There’s something so cool about that. And the other thing that always touches me is, “I watch this show with my grandma.” When you sat with your grandmother and watched television and it’s a personal, happy family memory, that makes me feel great. Most people just want to [ask] — and this is fun for me — “Could I take a quick picture just so I could show my sister who loves you and loves the show?”

You turned 70 last year. Did you have a celebration?

It was a spectacular day because my oldest child — we have two kids, a son and a daughter — my son Connor, age 37, got married the day before I turned 70. So here we had [in attendance] for the wedding all the people I care about, really care about. We told them, “The next morning, let’s celebrate Peter’s birthday.” We had a big brunch at the same hotel. My wife, Mariellen, set it all up and I got to bring in 70 with a bang. And of course, the day before had been one of the great days in our family’s life.

How do you feel about aging?

I’ve tried to stay in good shape. I lucked out with the genes. My father looked young for a very long time. And so for years, I was always proud to tell people how old I was because I looked a little younger than I was. Now I think it’s starting to catch up with me, and I have aches and pains that I never had before, and I have to take them seriously now, and I don’t like that, but I love the wisdom of experience. … I’ve never had a real problem with growing old, but 70 [made me think], OK, so how many more summers do I probably have? Maybe 20? And I never started to do that kind of math. I’m also of a retirement age. Do I want to retire? I never thought about that before, and now it’s something I allow myself to think about.

peter bergman with the young and the restless cast

Bergman, seen here with his “The Young and the Restless” castmates, has played Jack Abbott on the show since 1989.

Sonja Flemming/CBS

Do you have any retirement plans?

Well, I have none at this point because I’m still enjoying my work so much. But things change. Here’s another thing that changed: I have been learning lines [of dialog] for most of my life. For 44 years I’ve been learning a lot of lines. That’s my job, and you get better and better at it until your brain starts getting a little older and you’re not as good at it as you can be, and you’re spending more time and preparation and everything. So if I get to the point where I can’t remember any of this stuff, I’m gonna retire before I embarrass myself.

Have you changed your routine to stay healthier as you age?

I pride myself in having stayed in really good shape for all of this. So the deal was, [the show’s wardrobe staff] dressed me in wonderful, wonderful Armani suits and jackets, and if my weight changes all the time, I can’t wear those incredible clothes. So I haven’t changed my suit size in the 34 years I’ve been here. I don’t have the same waist that [I’ve always had], but it’s the same suit size.

How have you managed that?

I was a runner for many years. For 28 years I ran marathons and 10Ks and such. Then my hips and my knees started talking to me about 15 years ago. I switched over to spinning, and when I can’t spin, I speed walk. I exercise probably five days a week. I exercise whether I’m working or not, and I’m a little careful about what I eat.

You’ve been nominated for 24 Daytime Emmys, with three wins. Do you have a favorite Emmy memory?

Certainly the first time I won [in 1991], it was very exciting. I was pretty darn new to Young and the Restless, and I had just left All My Children, so when they called my name, I had this new cast who were very excited that somebody from their show won, and I had my old cast — who I missed terribly at that moment — and they were all on their feet. So it was especially loud and crazy, and it seemed like the whole audience was thrilled I was up there. In truth, it was just those All My Children people saying, “Good for you.” I got canned from All My Children, and here I was picking up my first Emmy. We were also [shooting] in New York at that time ... and everyone in New York in the following days was congratulating me. People on buses and people in subways were saying, “Hey, congratulations.” It was really fun.

After 45 years as a soap star, you must have kissed a lot of women. Is there a favorite?

That is dangerous, dangerous territory to walk. But here’s my answer, and this is actually the truth. This was not one of my leading ladies. I had a scene where I was really surprised that we had a whole makeout thing. There’s a character here named Leanna Love [portrayed by Barbara Crampton at the time]. She is supposed to lay a big fat kiss on Jack, and he’s supposed to kind of be a little weak in the knees. And [when it happened I thought] Surprise! I didn’t have to act at all. Oh my God, [I’m] literally a little weak in the knees. I don’t know what just happened. But wow, that was amazing. It happened once. That’s fun. Once. That was it.

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Gayle Jo Carter is a former entertainment editor at USA WEEKEND, who during her 30-year reporting and editing career, has worked at USA TODAY, Voice of America and Feature Story News. When not interviewing high-profile people, she’s teaching reformer Pilates classes and doing her best to raise two empathetic, curious, healthy young people to adulthood.