John McCook

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Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series JOHN MCCOOK (Eric, The Bold and the Beautiful):

CBS.com: Congratulations on your nomination.

JOHN MCCOOK: Thank you. It's cool.

CBS.com: How did you hear the news?

JOHN MCCOOK: Brad Bell [Executive Producer and Head Writer] called us at six o'clock in the morning.

CBS.com: Were you awake?

JOHN MCCOOK: No. My wife answered the phone. My wife actually has a step-brother named Brad and so she said, "It's Brad," and I thought somebody in our family had died because it was six o'clock in the morning you know. But anyway, it was Brad and it was swell.

CBS.com: How does it feel to get your first nomination?

JOHN MCCOOK: I was very surprised and pleased because I haven't had a lot of story this year and as soon as I start thinking like that I go, "What am I? A stupid soap actor." Bottom line, it's great. It's great to get a nomination from your peers for this. It's great [to be] nominated with Peter Bergman [Jack, The Young and the Restless] who's my good, good buddy.

CBS.com: He told me that he called you first this morning.

JOHN MCCOOK: He called and everybody from the show called me. It was cool. All morning long I was on the phone. I would hang up and it would ring again, so that really made it fun. That's who we are here. We have so much fun doing it. It's an embarrassment of riches to go present at the Emmys or to get a free trip to New York. That's just so much fun anyway. So I'm really involved in it this year and really a part of it in a way that I never have been before.

CBS.com: Will you prepare a speech ahead of time?

JOHN MCCOOK: I guess I will. You really have to think about it because you might win. I fully expect not to. I fully expect that this is the best part of it for me and it is the best part for most people because only one person is going to win in each category. It's not about writing a speech, it's about, "Okay, I have to be sure to say this and sure to say that." There are certain things I really do want to say if I end up up there. I'm not just going to let it go and forget about it. You have a responsibility then to the people with whom you work if you are going to accept an award for what you've done. You need to be sure you give whatever credit you want to give to whichever people you want to give it to.

CBS.com: What do you think have been your best scenes this year?

JOHN MCCOOK: This is why I was kind of a little confused this morning when I was trying to think about it because I went back to all the stuff about Eric and Stephanie getting back together again and all the romantic scenes and [found] that it was all last year's competition. It's after all of that now. Over a year's time on the show, even if you don't have a storyline that's about you, you're very involved in others. I think this year goes back to when Brooke and Thorne were in Europe together and Eric was trying to manipulate Ridge and Taylor against Brooke. I did more than one hundred and four shows last year. Are all of them Emmy quality? Certainly not, but we're going to have to get serious and go through [my scenes] and submit stuff that best represents what I do on this show.

A Friend In Need

John McCook talks to Soap World about his extraordinary relationship with co-star, Susan Flannery (Stephanie).

Faking anguish and grief during Eric’s intense bedside vigil for a sick Stephanie wasn’t too much of a dramatic stretch for actor John McCook.

The star is happy to admit his love and respect for co-star Susan Flannery made the soon-to-be-screened emotionally charged scenes easy to muster.

Quietly, sensitively, the actor depicted Eric’s torment and helplessness at seeing Stephanie comatose after her stroke.

Viewers cannot help but be moved when Eric confesses to Stephanie: “I always thought I’d be here, and you’d be the one holding vigil.”

Sitting at her bedside, hoping she can somehow hear him, Eric fights to keep himself in check and not give in to fear and negative thoughts. He gains the inner strength to gently admit to Stephanie how he’d recently been reminded of how important she is to him and their family.

He acknowledges all she has done as a wife, mother and partner in the family business. “I haven’t told you how I appreciate that, but I do,” he says.

Holding her hand, caressing it lovingly, he wonders aloud: “Do you know how much you mean to me?” Then he pleads:” You come back to me. Give me another chance. Give us another chance.”

“Actors sometimes use substitutions – you think about an illness or the loss of someone in your own family and you play that,” McCook explains about how actors normally approach such emotional scenes.

“But in these scenes with Susan, it never occurred to me to do a substitution because I’ve been with Susan for so long. We have been friends and co-workers for 13 years now.

“So it’s a lot easier to do those kinds of scenes than people think, to take somebody that you love, that you work with so much and to put them into whatever the character’s situation is and to play the scenes. It was a very easy thing for me to look at Susan and to see her so vulnerable in that hospital bed,” he admits. “It was very easy for me to get in touch with those emotional feelings.”

McCook and Flannery have been working on B&B since day one. In many ways their relationship mirrors the strong ‘marriage’ they have on it. “We are like people that have been married for a long time in many respects,” he adds. “We know each other really well. We can do shorthand to one another – not just about work but other things too – by stealing looks at each other or sometimes simply by raising an eyebrow.

“We know what we’re saying and what we mean to each other. No words are necessary. Just as now words were necessary when Eric came into the hospital room and saw Stephanie lying there unconscious. No explanations were needed for the audience, or for Eric. They were in the same boat.”

McCook concludes: “Susan and I, we’re very dependent on each other to accomplish our work every day.

“So the idea of Stephanie almost dying, and the very idea of wanting to hold her and to let her know how much he loves her was easier to do than you would think. It made for very meaningful scenes.”

Soap World (Australia), April 2000, Issue # 26

Actors' Dressing Rooms

McCook wasn’t the first celeb to inhabit his spacious digs. “Dinah Shore and Danny Kaye were here when they were doing their TV shows,” he recalls. “I found this worn-out desk chair in the hall one day, ready to be tossed. It turned out to be Tim Conway’s, so I had it redone. Now, Tim’s coming back here to do a new television show. If it goes beyond 13 weeks. I’ll wrap the chair up and send it back to him”. Other furnishings include an antique desk and sideboard. “ I put some wood in here to warm up the place; it was all chrome and mirrors. I like leather furniture, but mine is more contemporary than I prefer.”

A piano at the workplace was a must for McCook. “I’ll play sometimes to relax or, if I’m in a musical, I’ll practice here. We’ve also used it over the years to run through songs for B&B.” Because McCook’s room is adjacent to the stage, his co-stars inevitably congregate there during down time. “Susan Flannery [Stephanie] and I spend hours together in here, running lines. Everybody usually comes in and hangs out at one time or another.”

“I loved Red Skelton and watched his variety show as a child..” says McCook of the late comic. “A few years back, I saw this picture stuck up for some event and I stole it.” In addition to plenty of family photos, McCook prominently displays posters of musicals he’s starred in over the years. “I don’t have posters of shows I’ve done in my home. But this is the place for it because here, I’m in show business. Sometimes I forget that my career is steeped in musical theater and that’s why I keep his stuff here, to remind me.”

B&B Stars On John

Tracey E. Bregman (ex Lauren Fenmore)

Tracey, do you like working on B&B better than Y&R? Who are your favorite actors to work with?

Tracey: I love working on B&B because of the actors. I'd say my favoirtes are John McCook and Susan Flannery

Tracey...What is it like to kiss John McCook?

Tracey: Well he's mister delicious...it's delicious!

Who was your favorite man to play opposite?

Tracey: Well, John McCook is just so hard to beat. He's wonderful and extremely thoughtful on top of that. He writes me little notes, remembers my birthday... All the important things to sweep a girl off her feet, even if I'm only his co-star.

Ronn Moss (Ridge Forrester)

How would you describe your relationship with John offscreen?

Ronn: Offscreen, John is extremely funny, extremely personable, fun to be around. He's much younger than he appears as Eric Forrester. He's not the patriarch that he has to be on B&B. He's like a little kid in a grown man's body. Lots of fun. We have fun both on the set and off.

Kimberlin Brown (ex Sheila Carter)

Kimberlin: John has a great sense of humor. He's wonderful to work with, and it's neat to work with someone who is as excited about the work as I am.

Anything else?

Kimberlin: He's got really soft lips!

Jacob Young (ex Rick Forrester)

Were you nervous your first day on the job, who showed you the ropes so to speak?

Jacob: John McCook who plays Eric, I was very nervous and John showed me the ropes and embraced me with open arms.

Who do you consider as an influence in your life?

Jacob: John McCook and Susan Flannery.They inspire me to be a better actor everyday. John keeps everybody laughing and he has really motivated me. When I joined the cast, he went above and beyond the call of duty and let me meet his family because he saw that I was this little kid from Oregon. He really helped me adjust.

Susan Flannery (Stephanie Forrester)

John McCook - what comes to mind?

Susan: John, my sweetheart. I can definitely say he is the sweetest, most wonderful guy in the world. He really is.

Justin Torkildsen (Rick Forrester)

Justin: John McCook is a wonderful man. He makes everybody there feel important. The first day I aired, I was in his dressing room and we watched it together.

Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke Logan Forrester)

Katherine: I was excited when the show paired me with John. You get so much from him as an actor. He kept me laughing.

Daniel McVicar (Clarke Garrison)

Who's the happiest person on the B&B to work with?

Dan: John McCook., who plays "Eric". He's funny, charming, warm and wonderful.

Andrea Evans (Tawny Moore)

What is John McCook really like?

Andrea: He is such a sweetheart! I adore him. I think we're both secretly hoping they'll put our characters together. I think Eric and Tawny would be interesting together.

Which male on the show B&B do you think looks the best?

Andrea: I think John McCook is a very handsome man. I loved working with John, we had a great chemistry and he's a sweet man, we found out we grew up ten minutes from each other in Illinois and we had a lot in common. The fan response was that we had a great chemistry between us.

If it won't get you in trouble - who is your favorite actor/actress on the show?

Andrea: LOL! Hmmm... There are a couple: John McCook and Susan Flannery are incredible and great to watch and always bring something special to even the smallest thing. Plus, I had a crush on John McCook years ago when he was on Y&R. I said that to him the other day and he wanted to hit me!

When John joined the cast of Y&R in 1976 after having worked extensively in the world of musical theater he though the role would give his vocal chords a nice break. But don't get your hopes up too soon! “I had to sing the first day I was on Y&R, and I freaked out,” he laughingly recalls these days. John’s first song on Y&R was Cole Porter’s “It’s All Right With me” and three or four songs each week were to follow.

When B&B premiered in 1987 John was 42 and there was one big problem about him playing Eric Forrester. John simply looked too young to play the father of four grown children and the soap’s patriarch. So, unlike the legions of most of the soap stars who color their hair to hide the gray, John had to add silver highlights!

The strong bond Susan Flannery and John’s characters Stephanie and Eric Forrester share on B&B also continues off screen. One day, after more than 12 years of co-starring Susan finally realized while running lines together with John in his dressing room how she really feels about him. “I just looked at him and said ‘I never told you this before, but I want you to know how much it means to me to have you on this show with me.’ ”, Susan recalls. Though surprised, John was moved and his eyes even welled up a bit.

Father Figure

Patriarch John McCook talks about life, love, Eric Forrester and an hour-long B&B

Did You Know ...

A Gemini, John McCook was born on June 20.

He is 6 foot 2 inches with brown eyes and salt-and-pepper hair.

When McCook was 11, his mother took him to his first musical, Peter Pan, with Mary Martin and Cyril Richard. "I saw the play with its music, power, fantasy, and I said, 'That's what I want to do!' " As an adult, he got to play the dual role of the father and Captain Hook in a summer-stock production.

McCook's first love is musical theater. "Musical theater, nightclubs, dinner theater...Music and action made a man of me, made me an adult. It took me out of my parents' home and formed my life."

Drafted by the U.S. Army, McCook spent two years conduction the men's chorus.

Anthony Hopkins is his favorit actor, Christine Lahti his favorite actress.

His favorite movie is North by Northwest.

Christmas is McCook's favorite holiday. "It's about family, and it connects us with our religion," he says.

He loves classical music. "I listen to classical music more than anything - Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky.”

In 1993 he released an album of love songs titled John McCook Sings Bold and Beautiful Love Songs.

McCook co-starred with Michael Nouri (ex-Steve, Search for Tomorrow), Janice Lynde (ex-Laurel, OLTL; ex-Leslie, Y&R), and Mary Stuart (ex-Jo, Search for Tomorow; Meta, GL) in a series of musical specials for CBS called After Hours: From Janice, John, Mary and Michael, With Love. The shows aired from 3 to 4 p.m.

Original cast member John McCook (Eric, B&B) takes his role - on-screen and off - very seriously. McCook is regarded as the half-hour soap's unofficial patriarch. In addition to opening up his dressing room to fellow cast and crew (not to mention the soap press), McCook hosts B&B's annual fan event, and he makes a point of welcoming each and every new actor to the show. "Nobody's really given me these responsibilities," says McCook. "But I do them because I feel that - as most of the actors her do - this needs to be a positive place."

The tradition of keeping one's dressing-room door open harkens back to McCook's theater days, which began when he was a student at Long Beach State College and landed a job narrating the Jungle Cruise ride in Disneyland. The aspiring actor received a compliment on his work from Walt Disney himself. "He said, 'Nice job, kid,' " McCook, a native of Venture, Calif., happily recalls.

McCook earned his Actors' Equity card in San Diego and performed in various stage productions including Anything Goes in Las Vegas and West Side Story on Broadway. Later, the legendary Jack Warner, co-founder of Warner Brothers, put him on contract at the studio. McCook appeared in the TV series Mr. Roberts and No Time for Sergeants and also spent time under contract at Universal Studios.

In 1976, McCook's longstanding relationship with the Bell family, who created Y&R and B&B, began when he was cast as Y&R's Lance Prentiss. His leading ladies includes Jaime Lyn Bauer (ex-Lauralee; now Laura, DAYS. McCook left Genoa City in 1980 when the show went to an hour. "I was 36 and felt it was the right age to leave," says McCook. One reason he could go was that his Y&R contract did not have a provision addressing the show going to an hour. (B&B fans can rest easy - such a clause does exist in the actor's current contract.) " I was given the opportunity to re-sign or not stay at all," says McCook. "I decided to compete for the brass ring."

McCook went for the gold ring in 1980 when he married actress Laurette Spang (Cassiopia, Battlestar Galactica). They appeared in the TV miniseries Tourist, filmed throughout Europe. Upon their return to the U.S., McCook became one of primetime's busiest player. He appeared on everything from Dynasty (doing a bedroom scene with Heather Locklear, no less) to Magnum P.I. and Family Ties. In 1985, McCook was cast as Larry Hutchins on the short-lived secret agent series Code Name: Foxfire, starring Joanna Cassidy, which was canceled after a few months. "I did other pilots, but I didn't get the brass ring as far as that was concerned," says McCook. "But I gained a wealth of experience and seven more years of maturity."

Such maturity was exactly what McCook's former Y&R boss William Bell was looking for when he was casting the role of B&B's Eric in late 1986. Even though the actor was only in his early 40s at the time, his tone and demeanor lent themselves to playing the older Eric. "Bill recognized that I could do it," a grateful McCook acknowledges. "When I was in my 20s and at Universal, they wouldn't let me play college guys because my voice was too adult sounding. I needed the years after Y&R to acquire some more physical maturity."

Working for a familiar, not mention successful, boss like William Bell, enticed McCook back to soaps. "It's a different situation than what a lot of actors have," points out McCook. "I don't work for a network like ABS or some huge advertising firm. I work for Bell-Phillip TV, and the people here know how to make daytime television. I'm very glad I'm on their team. I take a great deal of pride and value in the work I do here. Also, the absolute dedication that people who watch our show have is something to be respected. Being on B&B has gone far beyond being a job."

McCook candidly points out that there are also practical reasons for his present employment. He and Laurette have three children, Jake, 16, Becky, 14, and Molly, 7. McCook also has a son Seth, 24, from his first marriage to dancer-actress Juliet Prowse, who passed away last year. A definite family man, McCook is committed to Laurette for the long haul. "Laurette and I decided a long time ago we were going to be together no matter what," he says. "Any time we ever have a conflict, we know the bottom line is there is no threat to our marriage. Once a couple establishes that, they can better deal with disagreements and rough periods."

Recently, the devoted couple took advantage of the opportunity to sneak in some R&R during B&B's recent remote in Italy. "When you take your partner on a (work) trip, you have to reserve some attention for her," notes the actor.

With college for Jake still a few years away, McCook's preparing for the day his nest has one less occupant. "We have friends who have a child who's gone off to school, and we've seen them react to that," McCook says. "I don't particularly look forward to that. Our home is about our kids." Jake wants to be a film director, and Becky has indicated an interest in psychiatry. Seven-year-old Molly shows signs of following in her parents' footsteps as a performer. "Molly has a lot of energy, and while she could (turn to acting), we don't really know," McCook admits.

Speaking of having more than one actor in the family, would John and Laurette contemplate becoming a married soap duo a la Ronn Moss (Ridge) and Shari Shattuck (Ashley, Y&R)? "Laurette's really happy being a mom," McCook replies. "If she were offered a role on a soap, I don't thinks she'd take it. If it were for three weeks? Then I think she would."

If the frequent rumors of B&B expanding to an hour ever come true, McCook plans on working double-time to keep the set a happy one. "I can't say I'm against the show expanding to 60 minutes," states McCook, but he does pose the question: "Do we need to go to an hour to prove we're successful? I don't thinks so." Currently, B&B owns the No. 3 spot in the ratings and is seen in over 90 foreign markets. "We're already a success," McCook adds. "The day we go to an hour, it will be for reasons other than that. I will be because maybe CBS needs another half-hour on its lineup."

While additional cast would, by necessity, be added to an expanded version of B&B, McCook's likely to retain his place as one of the shows romantic male leads. "John's the sexiest guy on the show," proclaims Tracey Bregman (Lauren) whose character is in love with Eric. "Not that I don't love the other guys here, but John really is the sexiest one," she adds, with a laugh.

The writers have tapped into McCook's charisma over the years by pairing him with Stephanie, Brooke, Sheila and Sally. Even Taylor contemplated a romance with her one-time father-in-law. "John manages to combine his crazy sense of humor - which is always appealing - with honesty and a sense of caring," says B&B producer-director Deveney Marking. "He's all the things you want a person to be, but that's not what you always find in a work situation. John's just so darn warm to everyone. I don't know what we'd do without him."

Viewers almost had to find out when Eric and Lauren went down in a plane and subsequently encountered Rush. (Watch for Eric to keep his newly grown beard now that he and Lauren have been rescued.) Next up, B&B will explore how Eric's psyche has been affected by his experience. "Eric will have more of a connection with Lauren since she was the one with whom he shared that ordeal," McCook predicts. "Eric won't be able to relate this to how he feel with Stephanie (Susan Flannery). It will perpetuate the triangle in way that's more emotionally deep than simply Eric trying to choose which woman he wants to be with."

McCook has nothing but praise for his tow Emmy-winning leading ladies. "On one side, I have Tracey (1984-85 Emmy winner for Outstanding Ingenue when Lauren was on Y&R). We have a lot of fun. It was very flattering when the show paired me with this vital actress, who has humor, sexiness and good dramatic range. I loved her even before I started working with her. On the other, I have my partner Susan Flannery (1974-75 Emmy winner for Outstanding Actress as Laura on DAYS). She's pretty inspiring. I have so much respect for her. She'll reach for some emotion during a scene, and I'll say, 'Whoa - where did that come from?' I give her a lot of credit for the success of our scenes and of our show."

The only down side to McCook's front-burner storyline this year was that it kept him form appearing in any musical theater projects. During his B&B tenure, the actor has done two productions of Man of La Mancha and performed with Carol Burnett (ex-Verla, AMC) in From the Top! "It's been three years since I've done something," notes McCook. "I'd love to do a tour of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? of The Lion in Winter, but I don't have the time. Understandably (a theater producer) would need a major commitment from me and that's how it should be. The best reason of all as to why I'm unavailable is that I'm too busy here," says McCook, which a smile. "I think I'd be disappointed if I asked for some time off and the show actually gave it to me."

Michael J. Maloney

Getting To Know You

Ever wonder whether BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL’s Eric Forrester watches SEINFELD or JERRY SPRINGER? Okay, maybe we’ll never know. But Eric’s portrayer, John McCook, was willing to ‘fess up!

American Or Swiss: Swiss. There’s not as much cheese with the holes.

Crinkele-cut Or Shoestring Potatoes: Shoestring, just because I’m used to the skinny guys.

Rosie Or Oprah: Oprah. I love Rosie, but I still want my Oprah.

Regis Or Kathie Lee: Regis - no question about it.

White Or Dark Meat: White meat, and give me lots of skin, baby.

McDonald’s Or Spago: McDonald’s. I love their chicken sandwiches every time.

JEOPARDY Or WHEEL OF FORTUNE: JEOPARDY. It’s so hard that I’m glad to get any of the answers right.

Jerry Seinfeld Or Jerry Springer: Seinfeld. I refuse to watch Springer’s show; I just can’t abide it.

Song Or Dance: Song, because I love to sing. But I do love to watch dance - from ballet to tap. I’ve worked with a lot of dancers, and I have great respect for them as athletes, as well as artists.

Boxers Or Briefs: Boxers [laughs]. And that’s all I’m going to say!

Musicals Or Dramas: Dramas: I don’t like to watch musicals because I’d rather be doing them than watching them.

See America Or See Europe: Europe. It’s pretty incredible when you can go sit in a pub that’s 400 year old.

THE MUNSTERS Or THE ADDAMS FAMILY: THE ADDAMS FAMILY. But only the TV series - I never saw the movies.

AM Or FM: FM. I have my two classical stations and a jazz station set on the car radio.

Snap, Crackle Or Pop: I never want to see any of those guys again.

Snow White Or Cinderella: Oh, Cinderella. It’s not as dark a story as Snow White. I love the spirit of the Cinderella story, and Cinderella looks more like Laurette [McCook’s wife].

Making Dinner Or Making Reservations: I love to make dinner. I’m not a big restaurant guy. I make the meatloaf at home. I also make the best mashed potatoes ... because I put sour cream in them.

Ginger Or Mary Ann: Are those hurricanes [laughs]? I prefer Lovely - Thurston Howell’s wife.

Sunrises Or Sunsets: I see sunsets all the time, so I love sunrises when I’m up early enough for them.

Forgive Or Forget: I’m not very good at forgiving, so I have no choice but to forget.

John McCook shines on B&B

For months now, The Bold And The Beautiful’s Eric has been on the back burner. As such, it was heartening to see the family patriarch come to the fore again with some truly touching moments in Stephanie’s hospital room. There were no histrionics for a pro like John McCook. Quietly, sensitively, he depicted Eric’s anguish and helplessness at seeing is ex-wife comatose – those feelings each of us has experienced in similar situations when a loved one is in distress. In fact, a viewer couldn’t help but be moved when Eric confessed to Stephanie, “I always thought I’d be here, any you’d be the one holding vigil.’

Sitting at here bedside, hoping she could somehow hear him, Eric fought to keep himself in check and not give in to fear and negative thoughts. He gained the inner strength to gently admit to Stephanie how he’d recently been reminded of just how important she is to him and their family. He acknowledged all she had done as a wife, mother and partner in the family business. “I haven’t told you how I appreciate that, but I do,” he said. Holding her hand, caressing it lovingly, he wondered aloud, “Do you know how much you mean to me?” He entreated, “You come back to me. Give me another chance. Give us another chance.”

These tender, moving sequences were well-written by Jack Smith, and played ever-so-subtly by McCook. For this underutilized actor, we look forward to more scenes of the same caliber coming his way in the near future.

By David Johnson

McCooking’ With Class

When you watch John McCook on BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL, you get the feeling he is having the time of his life playing Eric Forrester. And you know what? He is.

„The funny thing is, I said ‘no’ when [Co-Creator] Bill Bell first asked me,“ recalls McCook, dimples sparkling. „Then I ran into Bill, and he said, ‘Oh, I thought you’d look older. ’ He was looking for me to play the patriarch of this family, and at 42 I looked like I could have been a European fashion designer. But to be the parent of four grown children at the end of a 30-year relationship, that was stretching it a bit. So I said, ‘I’m not sure I want to do it.’ And he said ‘I’m not sure you can! ’ “

But by this time McCook wanted the role, so with a little gray hair added to his temples, the rest was Forrester history. B&B debuted in 1987 and caught on with viewers (especially YOUNG AND RESTLESS fans) almost immediately. „I thought it would be great to play a fashion designer, the head of a family who’s creative and not a manipulator or a Quartermaine,“ explains McCook. „Bill’s version of Eric was the man behind the wooden desk at a big company, worrying about his children. It went like that for a couple of years until at [my wife] Laurette’s insistence, I lost some weight and pulled my self back together. Her theory was that if I looked the leading man part again, it wouldn’t be right form me to be sitting at a desk worrying about the children. She was right.“ McCook began doing more scenes with Katherine Kelly Lang. (Brooke) and now makes more love connections than on-screen stud/son Ronn Moss (Ridge).

„I used to worry about playing 10 years older than I am, but now it’s fine. I don’t need to put gray in my hair anymore; I tell Susan Flannery [Stephanie] she’s responsible for it!“

Alter ego Eric will be lucky if gray hair is all he gets from new bride, Sheila. „ was really lucky that they hooked Kimberlin [Brown] up with me,“ praises McCook of his TV wife. „We work together really well. She’s real pro and very inventive in scenes, as am I. We’re having a great time.“

Brown echoes her newly wedded husband. „John has a great sense of humor,“ she gushes. „He’s wonderful to work with, and it’s neat to work with someone who is a excited about the work as I am.“ Anything else? „He’s got really soft lips,“ Brown giggles.

As happy as he in on the set, it’s clear that McCook’s greatest joy comes from his family. „They’re funny and wonderful,“ nods the proud husband and father. „My kids are not exactly impressed with the work of a soap opera. Now when I do FAMILY FEUD, that’s something,“ he chuckles. A check of the B&B set reveals that Dad’s dressing room is one of the younger McCooks’ favorite places. „They love going to work with Daddy. It’s like I used to love going to the oil fields with my dad. No matter what your dad does, or your mom, it’s neat to go with your parents and see what they’re like when they’re being adult.“

McCook didn’t have much chance to spend with his parents once he was grown: He bolted for New York practically after the pro. „I was cast in a Broadway revival of West Side Story in 1964 at City Center. It was amazing that I was in New York about six hours and I got that role,“ he remembers, still incredulous. And his career has come as far as the quality of his living quarters since his first apartment. „I lived for a while with friends in fourth floor walk-up on 48th Street; I nearly lost all my genitalia to a very large rodent near the bowl. I mean, I’m from Ventura. There was no electricity in this bathroom, just an old Chianti bottle with a candle in it and a couple of kitchen matches. I struck the match and out of the corner of my eye I see this thing move; it was in the bowl, completely wet. That was where I lived! It was great.“

McCook spent the next decade in musical theater and working with then-wife Juliet Prowse on her Las Vegas shows. (Today, McCook says he and Prowse are „friendly,“ and that he is „close“ with their son, Seth.) He was introduced to daytime as Y&R’s suave Lance Prentiss in 1976. „It seems like I’ve been on daytime for a long time, but I really haven’t,“ McCook says. „I was on Y&R for about four-and-a-half years, and now six years on B&B. I left Y&R when it went to an hour in 1980 because it was a good time to get out into the workplace.“ During that time, McCook married Spang and began his second family. When it is pointed out that he has been involved with 40-year.old women for most of his adult life, he laughs. „Always have! Still am! I was younger than Juliet and now older than Laurette. But always with a 40-year.old.“ McCook was also busy professionally during this time. „ For those seven years I did tons of episodics, pilots, guest stars. I was in the pilot for L.A. LAW - I’m really proud of that. And I was in every sitcom in town. No one had ever seen me in anything but a tuxedo; I wasn’t an A-list actor, but I was a B-list actor. And I worked a lot.“

Fortunately, the „B-list actor“ was coaxed back to daytime. „The first reason I came back was that the Bells had been very good to me. And the other was steady, continuous work.“ McCook has grown al lot - as an actor and a person - since his first daytime stint. „I don’t have to be the hunk anymore, but I get to have as many stories, which is better. So I’m feeling very secure. And proud. Not cocky, but secure.“

Where would he like to be in 20 years? McCook pauses. „I’d rather be Macdonald Carey than getting a starting time at Pebble Beach for gold.“

John McCook began his soap career as the wildly popular Lance Prentiss on The Young and the Restless in 1976. After a four-year stint on that show, he left soaps to test the prime-time waters. He found steady gigs guest-starring on series like L.A. Law, Alice, and Family Ties, and in 1985 appeared as a regular on the short-lived night time series Code Name: Foxfire. Wed to actress Laurette Spang (Battlestar Galactica) since 1980, McCook was wooed back to daytime in '87 by Y&R head honcho William Bell to play Eric Forrester, B&B's patriarch.

Possessing a dry wit that keeps his castmates grinning on a daily basis, McCook's also known for his welcoming nature: He is the first to greet new actors when they're added to the show's roster. The father of four is equally gracious to members of the press, and recently invited us into his dressing room to discuss what's new at B&B, Eric and Stephanie's recent remarriage, and his thoughts on the show expanding to an hour. — Michael J. Maloney

The cast recently assembled for a new photo. How is it when everyone gets together?

It's fun. The other day, Justin Torkildsen, our new Rick, was surprised that he was in a scene with a lot of other people. He really had a good time because he got to speak to people at length [for the first time].

What advice did you have for Justin when he joined the show?

I met Justin soon after he was cast. I introduced myself to him as his TV dad. I wanted him to know that we've got a friendly environment here; it's not a scary place where you have to blow everyone away with your acting after you've been here for 10 minutes. My advice to Justin was don't worry about things. Everybody on our show wants a new actor to do well. I also met Justin's dad. I assured him that his son would be in a good place. I know if I were the dad of a teenager from someplace else and my son was going to join a show in another state, I'd be concerned. People have misconceptions about what Hollywood's about. I wanted to assure [Justin's dad] that I'm a family man and I have kids his son's age. It's more than just a bunch of blank-faced, strange, weird actors that Justin's working with here. He's working with family people.

Speaking of family, Eric and Stephanie's hospital re-marriage came as a surprise.

It did, but the writing was sweet and rich and it came from history. This time their [remarriage] was more organic. It wasn't a plot like their last attempt at remarriage [when the photo of Eric and Lauren in bed was revealed]. It was more about character, and that's always the best way to go. The plot that's going on now is about keeping Stephanie from finding out about Thorne and Brooke.

They say marriage is the kiss of death for a couple on soaps, but I don't think that will be the case with Eric and Stephanie.

No. Having Eric and Stephanie together again solidifies the Forrester family. The viewers like to see the affection that the characters have for each other. These are two people who share a lot. They're intellectually equal and they've been together forever. I don't know what troubles I can see down the road for Eric and Stephanie. I'd like to see the avenue explored where Eric finds it hard to take care of Stephanie [because of her stroke].

The pairing of Brooke and Thorne has been a surprise hit.

I agree. It wasn't just putting two people together to see what happens. This story has rich organic roots. Katherine (Kelly Lang, Brooke) is playing this story with absolute conviction in terms of being in love with this guy. And Thorne is as surprised and thrilled as he could be over it. It's affected Macy, Stephanie, Ridge and Eric. It's all incredibly compelling. I've read in some of the magazines where people have written in and said, "Oh, Brooke's at it again with another Forrester man." If you break it down in story facts, sure it looks that way. But it's a soap opera. We're taking rich, organic relationships and convoluting them once again. We don't need 35 characters to tell a story.

Exactly. And it's playing well on-air.

And that's all that matters. That relationship has fired people up and it has an effect on the viewers. It's brought up strong emotional reactions from fans, which is great.

Speaking of the viewers, B&B's fan event is now a biannual affair. As the event's master of ceremonies, how do you feel about that?

I don't think it should be held any less-frequently than that if we're going to have an ongoing relationship with the fans. Having it every other year will make it more special. We have new characters and actors here and by the time we have the event [next summer], the audience will have gotten to know them pretty well.

Laurette's series, Battlestar Galactica, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 1998. Were there any special events to honor that?

Not specifically that I recall. There are science-fiction events all the time and she's seen at different things. She keeps in touch with certain cast members like Dirk Benedict, Anne Lockhart and Richard Hatch (Starbuck, Sheba and Apollo).

Laurette looks terrific. Does she ever think about a return to acting?

Every once in a while. She'd really rather be home with our [youngest] daughter Molly. Laurette knows that if she went to work at 6:30 in the morning, by 8:30 she'd be wondering, "What's going on with Molly? Will she be picked up from school? Will I be home by dinner?" She went back to work after our [oldest] son Jake was born and it drove her nuts.

Is it rejuvenating for you to do theater projects outside of B&B, like Putting It Together with Carol Burnett?

Yes. I look forward to doing something next summer. I skipped last summer because I was so busy here [at B&B]. Come March or April, I'll start sounding around to see what's out there.

Brad Bell [B&B's head writer and executive producer] recently intimated in an interview that he's ready for the show to go an hour.

I read that. It's quite a change because people have been asking that for 13 years and the answer has usually been "No." But now I think he feels ready. He has the production and cast to be able to deal with it. It would be a tumultuous time here if that were to happen. We have the half-hour thing down pretty well. Expanding to an hour doesn't mean we'd necessarily need 20 more actors right away. It'd mean we'd be able to luxuriate some of our stories a lot more. I'm not sure we'd maintain what's engaging about our show for an hour a day, five days a week. I don't necessarily want to do it. But I certainly don't think it's a bad idea either.

You have a dry wit that can defuse potentially stressful situations. At a press conference last February, one international reporter would not stop inquiring about rumors of strife on the set. She made some reference to how her question was intrusive and you said to her, deadpan, "Well, then maybe you should stop asking it!" It really broke the room up.

I will always try to defuse things by saying something funny. I think everybody should have an effective way of dealing with conflict using wit and intellect rather than belligerence or confrontation. We have a tendency in situations with press conferences to be a little too serious. We should be having more fun at those moments. It's not a serious business. We're about entertainment.

Ratings are down all around, but B&B is almost always the No.-2-rated soap.

The Bells have a respect for the value of generational storytelling. I'm very lucky to be working here. I could have been dropped from any number of other shows by now. Shows are throwing out wonderful characters and dependable actors with strong followings left and right. It's an embarrassment that people writing daytime television keep doing that. It's ridiculous. They're trying to find a new audience, but there isn't one. It's the old audience that needs to be gotten back. The young people who watch soaps do so for the same reason that their parents and grandparents do.

Ready To Rumble!

Step in time: As a piano player in the Army, McCook had to improvise a bit. "You can't really march with a piano," he notes. " Instead, I'd have to play the glockenspiel or the cymbals, which is not the much fun."

To Sir Anthony, with love: Anthony Hopkins is the star's favorite star. "Every role he plays surprises me. I'm proud to be an actor after I see one of his movies."

There is such a thing as "too sexy": McCook's advice for soap newbies? "Don't play handsome. You were cast because you are handsome. If you try to play handsome, it's redundancy, and you just come across looking silly."

For years, it seemed that while Eric sat at the head of the Forrester dinner table, those gathered aroud it know that his on-again/off-again wife, Stephanie, truly held the seat of power. But in the wake of her nearly debilitating stroke, her hubby has proven once and for all who wears the pants in the family. And lest anyone question how far Papa Bear would go, considering how he decimated son Thorne's relationship with his former stepmom and sister-in-law, Brooke.

"That was nasty," admits John McCook. "It's not very characteristic of Eric, but he feels it's completely justified."

How Could He?! (With Relish!)

In fact, McCook says that his alter ego really may be making up for the mistakes of the past by finally putting Steph at the top of his priority list.

"What's risen u pin Eric is this resolve to be committed to Stephanie, to take care of her and make her happy."

In any case, McCook admits he loves his character's newfound pugnacity. "When my wife saw what Eric had devised for Thorne and Brooke in Venice, she said, 'Oh my God! It's so awful to see!' It's really monstrous stuff."

Love Among The Ruins

Although Mrs. McCook, Laurette, may disapprove of her spouse's on-screen misbehavior, he has more than won her favor in real life. In February, they celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in one of their favorite cities: Paris.

"Twenty years is a big deal," marvels McCook. "We stayed in a small hotel and just enjoyed the restaurants and walking around."

McCook was especially jazzed about checking out some new areas of the Paris underground - literally. "We have a book callled Rough Paris that has offbeat things to do," he explains. "I was really excited about touring the old sewers. People hid out down there at the turn of the century."

Sewers? McCook sure knows how to set a mood for romance! Seriously, though, the beauty of the City Of Lights didn't escape this rock-solid couple. "We love to just soak up the atmosphere," he says.

The World On A String

While in Paris, the McCooks found time to do some shopping. "There's a shop on the Ile de Cité that just sells marionettes, some of which are very old and valuable," he offers. "Last time I was there, they had a Don Quixote marionette that I wish I'd gotten."

The classic hero of literature is on of the crooner's favorite characters to play. IN fact, he has portrayed Cervantes' hopelessly romantic fool in Man Of La Mancha so many times that he practically sing the songs in his sleep. "It's too wonderful a piece to ever get bored with," says McCook, who likes to perform in a musical every few years just o keep on his toes. "I haven't decided whether or not I'll do a show this summer. But his spring I'll snoop around."

Family Feud

Meanwhile, McCook is thrilled to be showing Eric's snarky side. And even as Brooke jangles her ex's nerves by stirring things up in his company, he promises that Bid Daddy won't go down without a fight. "He may be pissing people off, but as long as viewers are tuning in, that's great."

Amy Helmes

The dashing and debonair John McCook has been playing B&B’s passionate patriarch, Eric Forrester, the head of Forrester Creations, ever since the show premiered in the US in 1987.

Asked to name his favorite storylines for Eric over the years, the good-humored actor discussed his choices during a candid conversation with Soap World.

Eric’s love for Brooke

“I loved Eric’s romance with Brooke, his marriage to her, his children with her.” John recalls. “I thought that was all really wonderful, because it was very dramatic and because it also involved Stephanie (Eric’s ex-wife, who was still very much in love with him) and Ridge (Eric’s son, who was Brooke’s former lover).

“What I liked was Eric and Brooke’s discovery that they could be happy together for their own different reasons. I thought that was pretty cool stuff. Katherine (Kelly Lang, who plays Brooke) is such a lovely person and has rally grown as an actress. It was a pleasure working with her.

“Eric and Brooke’s marriage outdoors in Palm Springs was very glamorous and romantic – with the balloon ride and their honeymoon in a tent in the desert. But the really dramatic part came with Eric’s anger and feeling of betrayal when he learned that Brooke had broken her marriage vows and made love with his own son, indicating that she was still in love with Ridge.

“Eric was incredibly hurt by that revelation. That brought that story to a very dramatic end so that was a really good storyline.”

Re-wooing Stephanie

“Recently, I liked Eric’s rediscovery of his feeling for Stephanie, wooing her, even though it didn’t exactly work out,” says John.

Viewers will remember that Eric and Stephanie’s second wedding was called off thanks to Sally planting a compromising picture of Eric and Lauren in the prayer book.

“I always like it when Eric and Stephanie rediscover what they enjoy about one another. I think that’s always a good thing – and that’s not a story that has begun and ended. It’s very much a part of the continuing story of Eric and Stephanie. And Susan (Flannery, who plays Stephanie is such a consummate actress that it just makes it a joy to work in scenes with her.”

Fun with Sally Spectra

“I think it’s really fun whenever Eric is teamed up with Sally Spectra. It wasn’t really a storyline but I loved when he flew to Europe with Sally first class, romancing her, even though it was insincere.”

Eric was doing the whole thing to protect his designs from being stolen by Spectra Fashions.

“I thought that was pretty interesting to play – and fun for Eric. There’s a chemistry between those two characters that is undeniable.

“And I love working with Darlene (Conley, who plays Sally). We have a lot of fun together.”

STAR OF THE WEEK B&B’s John McCook

“It’s very natural for Eric to say to Stephanie, ‘Marry me again. Let’s go back to what we had before’ ”

Is there a more thankless role on daytime that that of family patriarch? Often, you’re called on to act as a sounding board, while younger actors with sensational storylines seize the spotlight, but B&B’s John McCook is twice blessed. He consistently brings credibility and integrity to Eric Forrester, even when he’s on the peripheries of a storyline, and every now and then he gets a front-burner storyline and the opportunity to steal the spotlight for himself.

Recently, Eric tried to romance Lauren Fenmore, but she suddenly pulled back because of her friend – and Eric’s ex-wife – Stephanie, whose torch for Eric still burns. Afterward, Eric stunned his family and friends by proposing remarriage to Stephanie. For John McCook’s dazzling, textured performance, SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE names him Star of the Week.

McCook made Eric’s sudden proposal seem completely in character, adding believability and depth to the Forrester clan’s complex history. “I think it’s surprising to people, but I don’t think it’s inappropriate,” he reflects. “It’s like stirring up an emotion that’s been laying dormant for a while. If you don’t dwell on it, thinks can go along okay. But if it’s stirred up, it rises to the surface again. Eric’s desire for Lauren stirred up a passion in Eric. When Lauren suddenly backed off, it was the second time in recent history that Eric’s wanted a relationship with a female who’s close to his family, only to have the woman back off because she didn’t want to offend Stephanie. It happened with Taylor, and now it’s happened again with Lauren.”

Consequently, McCook believes that the stinging refection prompted Eric to examine his life and his desire to have a relationship with a woman he love. The introspection led Eric to someone who was already familiar to him, his ex-wife Stephanie. “It was like an epiphany for Eric,” explains McCook. “He already has Stephanie in his life and he loves her. He’s loyal to her and he’s comfortable with her. He’s also looking at his family – the rivalry between Ridge and Thorne, his daughter Felicia’s return – and it’s drawn him back again. They’re the type of things that make it very natural for Eric to say to Stephanie, ‘Marry me again. Let’s g back to what we had before.’ ”

But McCook realizes that Eric’s heart may not be listening to his head. “Eric’s forgetting all of the reasons why he divorced Stephanie in the first place. It wasn’t so much one incident as it was 30 years of malaise in the marriage, which slowly started to show. Now he’s falling in love with what’s wonderful about Stephanie again. But I think if Lauren decides to pursue him, she’s going to reintroduce the desire and passion Eric doesn’t have with Stephanie.”

McCook is enthusiastic about his new storyline, at least in part because it provides him with the chance to work more closely with castmate Susan Flannery (Stephanie). “There’s a certain parallel between the characters Eric and Stephanie and the actors John and Susan,” observes McCook. “The proposal scenes we did were perceived as warm and natural. It’s nice to see those two characters comfortable with each other, even when they’re discussing something as monumental as remarrying one another again. It’s as natural for me to sit and have a scene with Susan as it is for me to have a conversation with my own wife, Laurette. I’ve worked with Susan as long as I have with anybody on the show.”

By Robert Waldron