UPDATE THURSDAY May 8th 3:30pm Jeanne Cooper has passed away. Please see updated story on the front of the website.
Soap star Jeanne Cooper’s life is turning into a soap opera: “The Young and the Restless” star didn’t pass away yesterday–despite a blogger’s mistaken announcement that was picked up Cooper’s former castmate on Twitter. Victoria Rowell, who was on the show for many years, sent out a Tweet based on something she saw, that Cooper had died. This prompted the show’s other stars, Eric Braeden and Melody Thomas Scott, to send out their own Tweets deny it. Then Cooper’s actor son, Corbin Bernsen, responded angrily from the set of the TV show “Psych” in Vancouver, where he’s stuck filming while his family undergoes this tragedy in Los Angeles.
Bernsen wrote on Facebook: “I had promised to stay silent for a bit but I feel it is necessary to make sure all know that a RUMOR of my mom’s passing earlier today that had been spread by someone on Twitter is false! I want to confirm: This is NOT TRUE. I’m not going to elaborate on mom’s status beyond this – she is still very much with us. Period. I vowed to give my mom and God the time and space – “a holiday from all our personal needs and feelings” to work through this quietly, together and I will continue to do that here now – respectfully. You can be assured that I will continue to be truthful with you as I have been from the beginning regarding her condition – the good, the bad and the ugly at the right time and place.
@victoriarowell my mother has NOT passed!shame on you! U R offensive! 2all mom is still with us and this idiot has broken our peace.
— Corbin Bernsen (@corbinbernsen) May 5, 2013
A special lady & great Native American actress @bravomaxine: RIP Jeanne Cooper (1911-2013) Dead @ebraeden @melodythomassco @victoriarowell
— Victoria Rowell (@victoriarowell) May 5, 2013
“Please trust that. Rumors will fly in our tabloid hungry – rush to conclusion society, and part of my connecting with you here is to make sure we are all respectful of this incredible woman, and her present journey, wherever it takes her. …. Always good for the soul. Lastly, I did lash out the person spreading misinformation today, I was upset, understandably. I know my mom would be the first to say, “let it go,” make peace. So I offer that before I head off to sleep. The pillow is much softer in doing so.”