John McCook
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SOAP STAR STATS
John McCook (Eric, B&B)
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John McCook (Eric, B&B)
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Vital Statistics
- Birthdate:
- June 20
- Marital Status:
- Laurette Spang (1980-present), singer/actress Juliet Prowse, (1972-79)
- Children:
- Seth (b. August, 1972) with Prowse; Jake (b. October, 1981), Becky (b. November, 1983) and Molly (b. July, 1990) with Spang
The 411
Thanks to myriad roles on stage, in film and on TV, John McCook has had the romantic leading man down pat for years, so it wasn't a big leap for the California-born actor to create the suave fashion designer Eric Forrester on BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL in 1987.
When he was discovered by legendary movie mogul Jack Warner (while starring in a revival of West Side Story in New York City), McCook was already making a name for himself in musical theater. He then became a contract player for Universal Studios until he was drafted by the Army; there, he played piano for the Soldier's Chorus.
Following his two-year military career, John starred in Barefoot in the Park with Virginia Mayo and Mame with Ann Miller. He was then cast as Lance Prentiss on YOUNG AND RESTLESS in 1975; he quickly became a fan favorite. McCook also continued his success on-stage with starring roles in Oklahoma!, The Pirates of Penzance, They're Playing Our Song, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Fiddler on The Roof, Peter Pan and Man of La Mancha. He has performed opposite pal Carol Burnett in From The Top and Putting It Together.
After leaving daytime in 1980, McCook guest-starred on numerous prime-time TV shows until Y&R Co-Creator William J. Bell was looking for a patriarchal charmer for his newest soap, B&B. Bell called upon McCook, but in their first face-to-face meeting, the soap exec was surprised by the actor's undiminished youthful appearance. Would the audience accept him as the father of adult children? Some gray highlights did the trick, and 16 years later, the answer is a resounding yes!
Trivia
—Sometimes went by the stage name John Damon
—McCook's current wife is a former television actress best known for her role as Cassiopeia on BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
—McCook received his first Daytime Emmy nomination, for Outstanding Lead Actor, in 2001
—McCook's compact disc, John McCook Sings Bold & Beautiful Love Songs, reached the Top 20 in most leading European markets.
Career Highlights
Other Soap Roles
YOUNG AND RESTLESS (guest star, 1998) (1996, crossover from B&B)
YOUNG AND RESTLESS (Lance, 1975-80)
TV Roles
EPOCH (TV movie, 2000)
ACAPULCO H.E.A.T Scorned 2 (1996)
THE NEW WKRP IN CINCINNATI (guest star, 1991)
NEWHART (guest star, 1989)
MOONLIGHTING (guest star, 1987)
SIDEKICKS (guest star, 1987)
L.A. LAW (guest star, 1986)
OUR HOUSE (guest star, 1986)
AMAZING STORIES (guest star, 1986 and 1987)
BLACKE'S MAGIC (guest star, 1986)
SIMON & SIMON (guest star, 1986)
NEW LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE (guest star, 1986)
HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN (guest star, 1986)
MURDER, SHE WROTE (guest star, 1986)
REMINGTON STEELE (guest star, 1986)
BEVERLY HILLS COWGIRL BLUES (TV movie, 1985)
CODE NAME: FOXFIRE (Larry, 1985)
ROBERT KENNEDY AND HIS TIMES (mini-series, 1985)
MATT HOUSTON (guest star, 1985)
HILL STREET BLUES (guest star, 1984)
DOMESTIC LIFE (guest star, 1984)
MASQUERADE (guest star, 1984)
HOTEL (guest star, 1984)
FOR LOVE AND HONOR (guest star, 1983)
FAMILY TIES (guest star, 1983)
MAGNUM, P.I. (guest star, 1983 and 1984)
DYNASTY (guest star, 1983)
HART TO HART (guest star, 1983)
ALICE (guest star, 1982, 1983 and 1984 )
FANTASY ISLAND (guest star, 1982 and 1984)
DIFF'RENT STROKES (guest star, 1982)
HARPER VALLEY P.T.A. (guest star, 1981)
THREE'S COMPANY (guest star, 1981 and 1982)
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT (guest star, 1981)
TRAPPER JOHN, M.D. (guest star, 1980 and 1983)
THE LOVE BOAT (guest star, 1980)
TOURIST (TV movie, 1980)
CHiPs (guest star, 1980)
O'HARA, U.S. TREASURY (Capt. Shafer, 1971)
DRAGNET 1967 (guest star, 1968 and 1969)
MISTER ROBERTS (guest star, 1965)
NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS (guest star, 1964)
Film Roles
The Blue Sextet (1971)
I Drink Your Blood (1970)
My Blood Runs Cold (1965)
Memorable Quotes
"I'm an employed actor. How wonderful is that?"
— Soap Opera Digest, 6/19/01
"When my parent were in their 40s, I thought they were old. Back then, I thought a sex symbol was a musical instrument."
— Digest, 12/16/97
"I don't need to put gray in my hair anymore; I tell Susan Flannery [Stephanie] she's responsible for it!"
— Digest, 7/6/93
"I tried to parlay soap-opera notoriety into nighttime parts and it [didn't] work. They didn't think I had abilities beyond standing around with a glass of champagne looking cool."— Digest, 8/25/87
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