John Abbott (Y&R)

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John Abbott was a fictional character on the soap opera The Young and the Restless. The character is played by Jerry Douglas from 1982 to August 2006 and previously by Brett Halsey from 1980 to 1982.

[edit] Character History

The founder of Genoa City conglomerate Jabot Cosmetics and a wealthy pillar of the community, John Abbott was married to Gloria Fisher (Judith Chapman) and had three grown children, Jack (Peter Bergman), Traci (Beth Maitland) and Billy (Scott Seymour). He also had four stepchildren, Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) (although John thought he was her father), Christine Blair (Lauralee Bell), and Gloria's two sons, Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc), and Kevin Fisher (Greg Rikaart).

John had been serving seven years in prison for murdering Gloria's ex-husband, Tom Fisher (Roscoe Born), who made threats to Ashley and who he believed had murdered Michael's wife Lauren Fenmore (Tracey E. Bregman).

John had previously been married to Dina Mergeron (Marla Adams), Jessica Blair (Rebecca Street) and twice to Jill Foster (Jess Walton) and had affairs with Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper), Ellen Winters (Jennifer Karr) (notable for being Y&R's first interracial pairing), Joanna Manning (Susan Seaforth Hayes), Mamie Johnson (Veronica Redd) (another interracial affair) and Gina Roma (Patty Weaver).

Prior to being released from prison, John noticed trouble seeing out of his right eye. At the hospital, it was found that he had a stroke. He had another massive stroke, which left him incapable of breathing on his own. His wife, Gloria, decided to let John go after Jack threatened her with legal action. John was taken off life support and died on August 18, 2006 with his family and close friends by his side.

He later returned as a spirit to his son, Jack, for a few episodes.