Jerry Douglas of The Young and the Restless has died at 88

Jerry Douglas of The Young and the Restless has died at 88 … actor appeared on almost 900 episodes of soap opera

  • Boston-born actor played the role of John Abbott on the show from 1981 thru 2006 
  • He played the head of the Jabot Cosmetics company on the show 
  • Douglas had appeared on other TV shows including Gunsmoke, Bonanza and Barnaby Jones 
  • He had appeared in movies including JFK, Mommie Dearest and Silent But Deadly 


The Young and the Restless mainstay Jerry Douglas died on Tuesday at the age of 88 after a brief illness.

TMZ was first to report the actor’s death, citing his family.

The Chelsea, Massachusetts-born actor played the role of John Abbott on the show from 1982 thru 2006, when the character was killed off. He made sporadic appearances on the show as his character’s ghost, until his last in 2016. 

The latest: The Young and the Restless mainstay Jerry Douglas died on Tuesday at the age of 88 after a brief illness. He was snapped in March of 2013 in LA 

Douglas was the third performer to play the role of Abbott, the head of the Jabot Cosmetics company on the show.

The accomplished actor had appeared on multiple high-profile TV shows over the years, including The Donna Reed Show, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The F.B.I., The Incredible Hulk, Barnaby Jones, Melrose Place and Cold Case.

Among the movies he was seen in included Good Guys Wear Black, The Back-up Bride, JFK, Mommie Dearest and Silent But Deadly.

Douglas, who would have turned 89 on Friday, gathered with friends for an early birthday celebration in October, Soaps reported.

The Boston-born actor played the role of John Abbott on the show from 1981 thru 2006, when the character was killed off

The Boston-born actor played the role of John Abbott on the show from 1981 thru 2006, when the character was killed off

Douglas and his wife Kym were snapped in April of 2013 at an event in LA

Douglas and his wife Kym were snapped in April of 2013 at an event in LA 

His The Young and the Restless costar Lauralee Bell shared an image of the gathering on her Instagram page last month, which was attended by costars including Peter Bergman, Eileen Davidson, Beth Maitland, Tracey E. Bregman.

‘Feel so lucky to have been included in this unbelievably special birthday lunch for Jerry Douglas!’ Bell said. ‘Thank you @peterbergmanyr and @eileendavidsonofficial so much! I will cherish this afternoon always,’ she wrote.

The Young And The Restless exec producer Anthony Morina said in a statement, according to Deadline, ‘On behalf of the entire company of The Young and the Restless, we send our deepest sympathies to the Douglas family on the passing of Jerry Douglas.

‘Jerry came to Y&R in 1982 with an impressive resume of credits. Our show was lucky to have an actor of his caliber join the Y&R cast and introduce the audience to the iconic Abbott family.

Morina added, ‘His contribution to the legacy of Y&R as Abbott family patriarch, John Abbott is still felt to this day. He will be sorely missed.’

Douglas, who was born Gerald Rubenstein, is survived by wife Kym Douglas, sons Jod and Hunter, and daughter Avra.

Douglas and his wife were seen at the Daytime Emmys in June of 2013

Douglas and his wife were seen at the Daytime Emmys in June of 2013 

Douglas, who would have turned 89 on Friday, gathered with friends for an early birthday celebration in October

Douglas, who would have turned 89 on Friday, gathered with friends for an early birthday celebration in October 

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk