John McCook's starring roles on stage and screen have defined the image of the romantic leading man in a career encompassing Broadway, primetime television and daytime dramas. Today, he is instantly recognizable to millions of fans as the debonair fashion designer Eric Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful.
John's compact disc of romantic love songs titled John McCook Sings Bold & Beautiful Love Songs for Arcade Records reached The Top 20 in most leading European record markets.
Discovered by legendary movie mogul Jack Warner while starring as Tony in the New York City Center revival of West Side Story, John was one of the last products of Hollywood's famed studio system and talent development program. He was later signed by Universal Studios as a contract player before being drafted by the U.S. Army for a two-year stint.
John starred in the national tour of Barefoot in the Park with Virginia Mayo followed by the Los Angeles and Las Vegas productions of Mame opposite movie and stage legend Ann Miller. He was then cast as the passionate playboy Lance Prentiss on the then brand-new daytime drama The Young and the Restless. John's potent interpretation of the sensual role of Lance catapulted him to national prominence. His television exposure provided John with the opportunity to return to the musical theatre with starring roles in Oklahoma!, The Pirates of Penzance, They're Playing Our Song, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, A Fiddler on The Roof, Peter Pan and The Man of La Mancha. For Long Beach Civic Light Opera, John starred in Man of La Mancha, 42nd Street and opposite Carol Burnett in From The Top and the Stephen Sondheim revue Putting It Together at the Mark Taper Forum.
John was a series regular on Codename: Foxfire and has made dozens of guest star appearances on such series as L.A. Law, Murder She Wrote, Moonlighting, Newhart, WKRP in Cincinnati, Amazing Stories, Too Close For Comfort, Alice, and Three's Company, among many others.
John was a nominee for "Outstanding Supporting Actor" at the 1998 Soap Opera Digest Awards and a recipient of the "M.V.P. Award" from Soap Opera Update Magazine for his portrayal of Eric Forrester.
California-born and raised, John attended Long Beach State College long enough to appear in a production of Tea and Sympathy and land a job at Disneyland. He made his professional debut at the San Diego Circle Arts Theatre and then appeared at Melodyland in Guys and Dolls, with Hugh O'Brian and Betty Grable, Firefly with Anne Marie Alberghetti and Flower Drum Song, with Pat Suzuki.
John is married to former television actress Laurette Spang and they have three children; Jake, Becky, and Molly. John also has a son, Seth, from a previous marriage.
PLACE OF BIRTH: Ventura, California
DATE OF BIRTH: June 20, 1945
MARITAL STATUS: Married, Lauretta Spang [Feb 16, 1980]
