Jack Abbott

Bergman said that his initial casting was met with criticism when compared to his portrayal of the "nice guy" Cliff Warner on All My Children. Bergman however was able to win over majority of Lester's fans within the first six months of his tenure. He stated: "The All My Children fans were the hardest ones to win over because Cliff was such a nice character." Marla Hart of the Chicago Tribune noted that since joining the soap opera, "Bergman has traded on his pretty-boy image to underscore Jack's less savory side." Jamaica Gleaner news wrote: "It's Jack's humanity that keeps him from being just plain bad. Jack is the anti-hero that you just can't help but root for, especially when viewers get to glimpse Jack's vulnerability." On Jack's rivalry with Victor Newman (Eric Braeden), Allison Waldman of AOL TV said: "After all, their characters' on screen feud has been the stuff of soap legend. Victor and Jack have shared wives, corporations, but mostly, unabashed hatred. They despise each other." In July 2020, Bergman's casting was cited as the best all-time recast on a soap opera, by Soaps.com.

In 2016, Phyllis cheats on Jack, with his half brother, Billy, leading them to divorce when Jack learns of this in September. After his divorce, Jack finds ways to get back to Phyllis, but focuses his attention more on getting back at Billy, such as raising the rent of the company he works for, Brash & Sassy.

In April 2015, it is revealed that there are two Jacks, one being Jack himself and another being a doppelgänger hired by Victor. On-Air On-Soaps noted that there was much speculation leading up to the reveal, observing that "Many in the audience guessed it". Bergman took on dual roles, the first time he had done this in his career. The actor said that he was "having a ball" playing two characters, saying: "The challenge is to make it entertaining and the best way to do that is to make a lot of it funny, and we do." Luke Kerr of Daytime Confidential wrote: "[Victor] went shopping at Moguls-R-Us and came home with a shiny, new Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) doppelganger, whom he's unleashed on Genoa City." Little is known about Fake Jack upon his introduction to the soap opera, apart from the fact that he was found by Victor in a Peruvian prison, although Bergman speculated that the character "is quite literally a doppelgänger, that lookalike we all supposedly have walking around on the planet somewhere". The character is described as a "loose cannon". Bergman also told TV Insider that Fake Jack "likes to wear bright stuff. [Laughs] I've been having a ball with the people in the wardrobe department!"

—Bergman on the loves of Jack's life (2009)

In prison, John began going off the rails. Jack took this opportunity to make John cut out Gloria from his will, making John believe it was Dina. John was released early due to being ill, but was rushed to hospital and died. Jack and his siblings manipulated the funeral's time so that Gloria wouldn't be there. They also kick Gloria out of the mansion. It is discovered that John actually left Gloria fifty percent of his billion dollar estate. The Abbotts were livid when Gloria continued to climb up the corporate ladder at Jabot. Jack begins dating Nick's ex-wife Sharon Newman and they eventually marry in April 2007. Jack runs against Nikki for Wisconsin State Senate and wins with the help of Phyllis and Sharon scheming against Nikki. He has a rocky career as a senator, and ultimately resigns in December because of various events that ultimately lead to a senatorial ethics hearing including Victor's public release of a private conversation between Jack and Ji Min Kim. Nick, Phyllis, Jack and Sharon begin a magazine entitled Restless Style which becomes a huge success. However, eventually Sharon and Jack leave the company. Sharon and Jack eventually divorce after his part in forging a diary to implicate Victor for murder. He romances Mary Jane Benson, who is eventually revealed to be his psycho ex, Patty. Patty wreaks havoc and shoots Victor three times, nearly killing him. Patty manages to escape town with the help of Adam Newman.

Following a 2006 storyline which saw the Abbott children team up against their late father's wife Gloria Fisher (Judith Chapman), Bergman said: "It's almost laughable that anyone feels sorry for Gloria." He said that "a woman died possibly because of her malfeasance (Gloria tainted Ashley's skin cream sample), and we're feeling sorry for her? Not to mention how she changed the last part of John's life: He spent the last month of his life in prison." Bergman, however, stated that Jack changed after his father's passing; all he wanted was to regain the family company, Jabot Cosmetics and would do anything good or bad to get it. Bergman said: "Jack changed at the funeral. A switch changed immutably the day John died. John was Jack's moral compass. Now he's not encumbered by that course of right and wrong. There are not too many places he won't go to protect his family."

In 2000, despite Diane's divorce from Victor, she remained affectionate towards Victor, and she stole Victor's sperm intending to impregnate herself with his child. After a round of thefts by Nikki and Ashley before regaining it, in a twist of fate, Diane ends up pregnant with Jack's son through his own sperm bank donation. Jack later begins romancing Phyllis Summers; they marry however, it is revealed that Diane's son is his. Their marriage was at risk, as Diane tried to use Kyle to get Jack back. She moves in the Abbott pool house and develops a bitter rivalry against Phyllis. Diane sets the pool house on fire to frame Phyllis, and she is sent to jail for arson and attempted murder. She is freed and Jack and Phyllis gain custody of Kyle; but later hand Kyle back to Diane.

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 an onscreen 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 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."

Jack has had other various romances. In 1994, Jack became romantically involved with newly introduced character Mari Jo Mason (Diana Barton), after a "year of going" it solo without a love interest. Nancy Reichardt of The Tuscaloosa News noted that Jack was back "romantically speaking", finding love again. However, Mari had a hidden past; a relationship with Blade Bladeson (Michael Tylo), who was married to his sister Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson). Bergman said he was "having fun" playing out the storyline, but speaking of Mari, he said: "I uík quite make out whether she's a big event in Jack's life or a big event in Blade Bladeson's life ... I certainly love the idea that it's a convoluted a story as it is." Bergman said that he is happy that Jack is "feeling saucy again", stating: "I like Jack being on the prowl. I like the energy Jack gets to play. It's different from what I've been playing for some time." Of working with a newly cast soap opera actress, Bergman said it could be difficult working with someone lacking "technical experience" but at the same time, praised Barton's work. The romance failed.

Bergman stated that Jack's three most significant romances with Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott), Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) and Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) helped to reform him. Jack goes after Nikki initially for business and revenge. He intends to get Nikki to fall for him and then use her to get Jabot Cosmetics back from Victor. Jack's plan to bargain for the company by using Nikki backfires when he falls for her. Jack falls hard and is at "his most vulnerable" with Nikki. Though quite a few women fall victim to Jack's philandering ways, Nikki forgives him. When they lose their son in March 1993, Bergman said that, "Jack learned empathy for the first time in his life." Jack usually has a lot of control over his life, but he cannot save Nikki from her addiction; in fact, he makes it worse. By the time the relationship does fall apart, "[Jack] is still a cad, but not as bad as before."

Bergman has been nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series 16 times from 1990 to 2002, 2007 to 2008, and most recently again in 2010 winning four awards overall in 1991, 1992 and 2002.

Jack Abbott is a fictional character from the American CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. The character was first introduced in 1980 being portrayed by Terry Lester. Lester departed from the series in 1989 and was replaced by Peter Bergman shortly thereafter. Bergman relocated to California for the role after he successfully auditioned 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 Nikki Newman, Phyllis Summers and Sharon Newman. Jack has represented the Abbott family as the patriarch since the 2006 passing of his father, John Abbott.

Next Jack has an affair with his now-stepmother Jill. Jack's ex-girlfriend, Lindsey Wells takes pictures and blackmails him into marrying her in 1985. Jack retrieves the photos and reveals that the marriage is invalid. Lindsey then sells the remaining pictures to Katherine Chancellor, who makes them into a puzzle and sends it piece by piece to John. John throws Jack out of the Abbott Mansion and divorces Jill. When Jill is found shot, Jack, John and Katherine are among the main suspects. Jack originally confesses in order to prevent his affair with Jill from going public, but the truth comes out that the killer was a masseur named Sven from the Genoa City Hotel. In the late 1980s, Jack and Victor Newman hire Leanna Love to write a biography on Victor. Unknowingly to Jack, Leanna adds a chapter that exploits the affair between Victor and Jack's sister Ashley Abbott. Victor believes Nikki Newman is behind the publication, and divorces her. He marries Leanna, which is later declared invalid. Victor eventually returns to Nikki, and gains reigns over Jabot Cosmetics. Victor fires Jack and replaces him with Brad Carlton. In response, Jack spitefully marries Nikki, who is again estranged from Victor.

The role of Jack Abbott was first 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. 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 rose 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 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. 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.

John Robert Abbott, Jr. known commonly as Jack, is born on June 29 (in 1953 or 1954) to Dina Abbott. and John Abbott . He has two younger sisters, Ashley and Traci. Dina walks out on the family when Jack is only thirteen. John is left to raise their children on his own with assistance from housekeeper and nanny, Mamie Johnson (Marguerite Ray, and Veronica Redd). At the age of 19, Jack travels to Vietnam to serve in the army where he falls in love with a young Vietnamese woman known as Mai Yun. At war's end, Jack is forced to evacuate Mai Yun's village and loses contact with his soul mate. After graduating from college, Jack attends Harvard Business School where he becomes captain of the debate team. Jack graduates with an MBA and also gains the reputation of a playboy.

He was an actor and writer, known for Graft (1915), The Fair God of Sun Island (1915) and The Figurehead (1920).

Jack Abbott was born on November 18, 1886 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.