In 1989, after exiting All My Children where he played heroic Cliff, Peter Bergman secured an audition for the role of bad boy Jack Abbott. He landed the coveted gig and immediately made the part his own. Today, YR will honor Bergman with a look back at Jack’s life to honor his 30th anniversary in Genoa City.
Soap Hub is commemorating this happy occasion by looking back at six of Bergman’s most powerful stories/story arcs on YR.
Congratulations, Peter Bergman: Play Ice Castles For Me
Jack was determined to win Jabot Cosmetics back from rival Victor Newman (Eric Braeden). His scheme was to wed Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) and use her as a bargaining chip to get his dad’s company back.
But first, he had to break up Nikki and Jim Grainger (John O’Hurley). Jack paid a Colonnade Room server to play Victor and Nikki’s love them, Through the Eyes of Love. Jim’s jealousy after seeing Victor and Nikki dance led to their split, paving the way for Jack.
Heartbreaker For Jack
Jack fell for Nikki for real, which put a crimp in his plan to use her in his battle against Victor. After Nikki gave birth to their premature infant, who died, Jack was devastated. Soon, a woman showed up with a baby at Jabot. Jack was put off by this stranger until he found out that her little boy had been given his late son’s heart.
Ain’t That A Kick In The…Hand?
Victor was ripping into Jack after finding out he was up to no good when the mustached mogul collapsed. Jack had a choice — call for help or walk out of the room and leave Victor to die. He chose the latter and, adding insult to injury, Jack accidentally on purpose kicked Victor’s hand as he callously exited.
Highs In The 90s
Jack was thrust into three romances in the mid-1990s. First, he was reunited with Luan (the late Elizabeth Sung), his love from Vietnam and the mother of his long-lost son Keemo (Phillip Moon).
Luan’s untimely death made him prey to manipulative and dangerous Mari Jo Mason (Diana Barton). After Mari Jo was carted away, Jack reconnected with former fling Diane (Alex Donnelley).
Calling Gloria
Ignoring stepmother Gloria’s (Judith Chapman) genuine feelings for John, Jack blamed the gold-digger for his …continue reading on the next page —>
Share this: