Jerry Douglas (actor)
| Jerry Douglas | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Gerald Rubenstein November 12, 1932 Chelsea, Massachusetts, United States |
| Spouse(s) |
Arlene Martel (1962 - divorced) Kymberly Bankier (1985 - present) |
Jerry Douglas (born November 12, 1932) is an American television and film actor. For 25 years Jerry Douglas reigned in fictional Genoa City as patriarch John Abbott on the daytime television serial The Young and the Restless. In 2006 his character was killed off, however, he has made special appearances since then.
Douglas was born as Gerald Rubenstein in Chelsea, Massachusetts to Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. He was raised in Chelsea, Massachusetts, Douglas went to Brandeis University to earn a degree in economics. Eight months into law school in Manhattan, he gave up the books and started auditioning. However, his lack of training frustrated him, and he eventually moved then-wife, actress Arlene Martel, and their daughter Avra Douglas to California.
Settling in the San Fernando Valley, Douglas sold insurance by day and took acting classes at night. Although he still struggled, he received encouragement after appearing in the play, John Brown's Body. A critic said he was terrific, which inspired him to hire an agent.
For several years, Douglas appeared on TV shows like Mission: Impossible and The Feather and Father Gang, often playing the villain. At the same time, his wife decided to move herself and their children—including son Jodaman Douglas (aka journalist and designer, Jod Kaftan)—up to Carmel.
In an attempt to save his marriage to Arlene, Douglas quit acting and followed her. Despite this, the couple eventually divorced and Douglas returned to Los Angeles to continue his career.
Soon after, he found himself embroiled in a custody battle for his son Jod, which he won.
Today, Douglas is remarried, to Kymberly Bankier, whom he met at a Muscular Dystrophy Association event. Although she is over twenty-six years younger than he is, they have been married since April 6, 1985 and have a young son, Hunter, together.
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