Jack Abbott

Jack Abbott is a fictional character from the American CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless.

The character was introduced in 1980 being portrayed by Terry Lester.

The role of Jack Abbott was written into the series on July 22, 1980, being portrayed by Terry Lester.

In May 1985, it was announced that Lester would be leaving the role; he stated that it was because of a CBS film (Blade) he starred in which could have possibly become a series: "I wanted to work something out. I've enjoyed being with the show. However, I was concerned about the possibility of Blade being picked up as a series and being tied to The Young and the Restless."

However, he ended up staying.

Brett Porter briefly portrayed the role in 1986.

The writers picked up on Lester having "played with Jack's dialogue" according to his intuitions.

Lester departed from the series in 1989 and was replaced by Peter Bergman shortly thereafter.

Bergman relocated to California after successfully auditioning for the part.

His first episode aired on November 27, 1989.

Jack is known for his longstanding feud with the Newman family patriarch, Victor Newman as well as his romances with Diane Jenkins, Nikki Newman, Phyllis Summers, and Sharon Newman.

In 1989, Lester quit out of anger, as he felt that Jack was being "squeezed" out of the storyline, and was upset that Lauralee Bell's character Christine Blair was moved to the forefront of several storylines.

Lester made his last appearance on September 1, 1989.

The producers immediately began exploring recast options.

At the time, Bergman, who had risen to super stardom as Dr. Cliff Warner on All My Children, had recently been fired.

Bergman's firing made headlines, and Melody Thomas Scott, who portrays Nikki Newman, suggested Bergman as Jack to her husband and former executive producer Edward J. Scott when she read of the news in Soap Opera Digest.

Bergman revealed that the producers had contacted his agent and asked about his height; he initially thought it was a joke.

They then inquired about Bergman's feelings about replacing someone, and he was hesitant to take the role.

He made his debut on November 27, 1989.

Other actors were considered for the role, including Jon Lindstrom, who screen tested for William J. Bell, which was later broadcast on an episode of 48 Hours.

In 1997, Bergman appeared as Jack on an episode of the popular CBS series The Nanny entitled "The Heather Biblow Story".

In the episode, he shared a kiss with fellow guest star Pamela Anderson.

Bergman also guest starred as Jack on another of the network's comedy series' The King of Queens; he appeared in the episode "Inner Tube" along with fellow cast members Melody Thomas Scott and Scott Reeves (who portrayed Ryan McNeil).

In December 1998, Bergman’s character appeared on The Bold and the Beautiful in a crossover event.

Bergman’s appearances on the show were December 24 and 28, 1998.

Jack has represented the Abbott family as the patriarch since the 2006 passing of his father, John Abbott.

In 2006, Bergman stated: "I love what I do! I get a new script every day, and I can't wait to find out what happens next. I've been doing this for 18 years, and I still can't wait to see what Jack has in store for us next."

While he was in the role, Lester stated that Jack was a villain, but not entirely: "I think Jack has changed in the past four years, although there's a tendency to make him the same old circus villain he was in the beginning. Happily the producers, the writers and myself were able to keep Jack progressing - never a wonderful person, but not nasty just to be nasty."

Of the character, Bergman stated that: "Jack goes from tender, loving scenes at the beginning of an episode with Nikki, where he's so pathetic and loving and sincere, to taking someone's head off by Act 5. Jack is mercurial that way. He can be in a perfectly good mood and you scuff his shoe and he wants to kill you. I don't have any problems supporting that with real emotions."

According to Bergman, "Jack is not annoyed by the 'little people' ever."

Though Jack is a villain, Bergman "wanted Jack to have Achilles heels."

Jack spends majority of his life longing for "a solid happy family."

Bergman's first lines as Jack on the show were "Smiling Jack is back. No more Mr. nice guy."

Jack has always had trouble finding and keeping the right woman.

When compared to his former alter ego Cliff Warner, Bergman explained: "It is quite the contrast, the guy who found his one true love, followed by the most unlucky-in-love guy out there, someone who can't seem to hold on to it. Love is just out of his grasp."

He stated in 2009: "I was on All My Children and replacing someone was sheer death, and it never worked on All My Children."

When the producers called him again, he decided it "couldn't hurt" to audition.

Scott arranged for Bergman to come to California and audition with Jerry Douglas and Jess Walton, who portrayed John and Jill Abbott respectively.

After a successful audition, Bergman was offered the part.

Bergman reluctantly relocated to California after accepting the part.