CBS 'Young and the Restless' star Jerry Douglas dies at 88

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (Y&R) on CBS. The day-time soap opera had hit the number #1 spot in TV ratings during the 1987-88 season. (Daily ratings peaked at 8.1 million viewership overall.) The show stayed at number #1 for the next 33 years until 2020. 

There was no "Internet" back in the 1980's with only 4 TV networks (ABC-NBC-CBS-FOX). The day-time soaps drew huge viewership 5-days a week. "The Young and the Restless" aired at noon each day and by 1987 was very, very popular. 

Jerry Douglas portrayed John Abbott for 25 years on Y&R. He re-occured as a guest star for 10 more years. John ran "Jabot" Cosmetics who raised three children. By 1985 - John's love and hate relationship with his wife Jill Foster Abbott (Brenda Dickson) became too delicious for TV viewers... John even became a suspect in the shooting of Jill. The tagline went, "Who shot J.A?" (A rip-off of "Who shot J.R?" from the prime-time soap, "Dallas" CBS).

For twenty-five years - John was the matriarch of the Abbott family on "The Young and the Restless." I hadn't seen the soap after 1995. In my opinion - The 1980's had John Abbott at his classic best. RIP....

Below is 1984 CBS photo. Clockwise Jerry Douglas (John Abbott), Eileen Davidson (Ashley Abbott), Terry Lester (Jack Abbott) and Beth Maitland (Tracey Abbott).

Below is John Abbott and Jill Foster Abbott. Their chemistry was palpable.