TVSquad

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.

However, Bergman was already a star thanks to AMC. He was popular. He had made Dr. Warner a romantic leading man with a great love story -- Cliff and Nina. I remember well that when Y&R cast him as Jack, the reaction was "HIM?"

But Bergman proved all of us wrong. He not only succeeded as Jack, he's been stellar. Fifteen Emmy nominations as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series; three Emmy wins. All for Jack. And while we've recently been all concentrating on Eric Braeden's travails, it's Bergman that's been responsible for the synergy between Victor and Jack. That was never there in that strong a way before Peter took on the role.

To commemorate his time on Y&R, co-star Billy Miller -- who plays his brother Billy on the soap -- interviewed him for CBS. Take a look:




You know, with all his success on the show, to many people Peter will be remember best for the Vicks Formula 44 commercial he did in 1986 -- "I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV." How ironic, but still, enjoyable. So, here's to Peter Bergman. We'll remember you for this and for Jack, too. Watch: