Jeanne Cooper, who starred on CBS’ The Young & The Restless, has died at age 84. She had played the Katherine Chancellor since the show’s debut in 1974.

According to Entertainment Weekly, he son, actor Corbin Bernsen, had been keeping fans up to date on her health using Facebook. She had been in and out of a Los Angeles hospital in recent weeks because of an illness. Bernsen wrote a lengthy message on Facebook today confirming that his mother died. He did not reveal the cause of death.

Bernsen confirmed that his mother died with his sister by her side. He said that he was on his way to meet with her but did not make it in time. “Reminder to self - time is a precious thing,” he wrote. “I too am at peace however. I said my goodbyes several times over during the last few weeks. I'll go one last time now for a gentle kiss a final farewell for this lifetime. She has been a blaze her entire life, that beacon, that boxer I spoke of earlier.”

CBS News reports that Bernsen first alerted Cooper’s fans that she was ill on April 12 with a tweet that said she was in an “uphill battle,” but later said she was getting better. In an April 17 Facebook post, he noted that her cursing was “showing me that she's becoming her old self, not thrilled about the situation, and ready to get out of the hospital and shake up the world.”

EW notes that Cooper’s character on the show had a successful surgery to remove a brain tumor recently and that episodes were filmed six weeks before they air. In a statement, Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment, remembered Cooper for her impact on the show and television.

“Jeanne Cooper will be remembered as a daytime television legend and as a friend who will truly be missed by all of us here at the Network,” Tessler commented. “She was the longest-running cast member on daytime’s No. 1 show, bringing indelible charm, class and talent to every episode. On behalf of everyone at CBS, we send our condolences to Jeanne’s family, as well as the legions of fans she has amassed during her record 39 years on The Young and The Restless, and throughout her career.”

Cooper earned 10 Daytime Emmy nominations, two Primetime Emmy nominations, a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 and won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2008.

image: CBS