Katherine Chancellor

Katherine Chancellor
The Young and the Restless character
Jeanne Cooper as Katherine Chancellor
Portrayed by	Jeanne Cooper (1974–2013) Beverly Garland (1981) Gisele MacKenzie (1986) Michael Learned (2011)
Duration	1974–2013
First appearance	January 18, 1974
Last appearance	May 3, 2013
Classification	Former; regular
Introduced by	William J. Bell
Crossover appearances	The Bold and the Beautiful
In-universe information Other names Katherine Shepherd Katherine Sterling Katherine Murphy Occupation Author Businesswoman Philanthropist Family Chancellor Father Walter Shepherd Husband Gary Reynolds (1950–60)[1] Phillip Chancellor II (1961–75) Derek Thurston (1978–81)[2] Rex Sterling (1988–90, 1992–94) Patrick Murphy (2009–13) Sons Brock Reynolds Tucker McCall Grandsons Devon Hamilton Granddaughters Mackenzie Browning Other relatives D.J. Hellstrom (great-grandson) Becca Hellstrom (great-granddaughter) Dominic Abbott Newman Winters Chancellor (great-grandson) Ashley Abbott (godchild) Victoria Newman (godchild) Chloe Mitchell (godchild)

Katherine Chancellor is a fictional character from the CBS Daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless, portrayed by Jeanne Cooper. Created and introduced by show creator William J. Bell in January 1974, Cooper's Katherine was introduced in an effort to increase the show's struggling ratings. When Bell's plan proved successful, Cooper was signed to a contract.^[3] Cooper went on to become one of the longest-running cast members in the show's history, ending her nearly 40-year run on May 3, 2013, five days before her death.^[4][5]

Throughout Katherine's history, a majority of her storylines have focused on her controversial and chaotic relationship with Jill Abbott. The feud is one of the longest-running feuds in the history of American soap operas. The rivalry was ignited by Jill's affair with Katherine's husband, Phillip Chancellor II, and how Katherine's attempt to win back his affections leads to his death. After Phillip's death, the women fight over Jill and Phillip's son, Phillip III, as well as numerous other men including Katherine's husband, Rex Sterling. A 2003 plot twist leads to Katherine and Jill believing they are mother and daughter; however, this plot is undone in 2009 by head writer Maria Arena Bell and Katherine is given another son, Tucker McCall.

Cooper is regarded as an icon of the genre, with some critics believing her character and performance are chiefly responsible for the soap opera's success and longevity. She is also famed for having her own facelift performed onscreen in 1984, as Katherine gets the same procedure within the story. It is referred to as daytime television's first "extreme makeover".^[6]