The Young and the Restless Veteran Peter Bergman Celebrates His Birthday

The Young and the Restless’ Jack Abbott may be headed for some dark days after he fell off the wagon recently trying to help Nikki get back on it. Luckily the same can’t be said for his portrayer, Peter Bergman, who has his own special milestone.

Happy Birthday, Peter Bergman

That’s because he was born on June 11, 1953, at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba, which means that this talented actor is turning 71 years old!

Bergman auditioned for the (much-recast) role of Dr. Jeff Martin — a prominent character on ABC’s All My Children – but he didn’t make the cut.

Instead, he helped create a wholly original part — Dr. Cliff Warner. He played the oft-married (though only to Taylor Miller’s effervescent Nina Cortlandt) physician for 10 years, from 1979 to 1989. He was also known for the iconic commercial for Vick’s cough medicine, in which he said, “I am not a doctor, but I play one on TV.”

Afterward, he was hired to assume the role of Jack Abbott on The Young and the Restless — replacing Terry Lester. Bergman made his debut on November 27, 1989. He has remained with the soap ever since.

For his efforts, Peter Bergman has been nominated for 23 Daytime Emmy Awards in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. One nomination, in 1983, was for playing Cliff. The rest are all for Jack. Bergman took home the statuette three times in 1991, 1992, and 2002. These honors and various fan-voted awards through the years make Bergman the most decorated Y&R performer.

His other acting credits include the television films Woman on the Ledge (with a host of other daytime fan favorites), Fantasies, Pity the Poor Soldier, Money, Power, Murder, and Danielle Steel’s Palamino. He also made guest appearances on The Five Mrs. Buchanans, The Nanny, The King of Queens, and The Bold and the Beautiful (reprising the Jack Abbott part).

Bergman and his wife, Mariellen, have been married since 1985. They have two children, Connor and Clare.

Soap Hub would like to wish Peter Bergman a very happy birthday and many more.