Janet Bergman Collins
Encyclopedia
Janet Gardner Walton Collins (née Bergman) is a fictional character
in the now-defunct American
soap opera
, Search for Tomorrow
. She was played by several actresses including actresses Ellen Spencer, who originated the role in 1951, and Fran Sharon, but actress Millee Taggart
is most identified in the role. She played the role from 1971 until 1982.
and Marge Bergman
, the next door neighbors of Joanne Gardner
. She grew up in the fictitious community of Henderson. While Jo was friends with her parents, Janet became the best friend of her daughter, Patti
. The two grew up together, and had many and varied romance trials during their growing up years.
Her first marriage was to Bud Gardner, Jo's nephew, which, for a time, caused their families to be related. (They were already family, in a sense, when Jo's widowed father, Frank, married Janet's paternal grandmother.) When it was revealed that Bud had died, Janet mourned him, and then later married Dr. Dan Walton (Ron Hussman). Their marriage produced three children; Gary (played by Rick Lohman), who became a doctor like his father; Liza
; and Danny (played later on in the show's run, by Cain DeVore). Bud however turned up alive and truly psychotic, and later on, he really did die.
Meanwhile, Dan had died, himself. At this time, she was dealing with grief on all fronts, and then she met Dr. Wade Collins, a wealthy psychiatrist. She fell in love with him and he with her. Gary and Danny took to him immediately, but Liza felt that it was a betrayal of her father's memory. After Wade skillfully made her confront her issues, she softened towards him and then she gave her blessing. Later on, Janet and Wade were married.
After that, her mother died, and Stu and Tommy (Janet's younger brother) moved in with her and Wade, after he sold their old house. She made her family feel welcomed and loved. For ten years, Janet and Wade were very happy. (they helped bring humor and stability to the show, thanks to the talented Millee Taggart and John Cunningham who could play both drama scenes and comedy scenes with relative ease.) Her character is most frequently remembered as Janet Collins.
Then, tragically, Wade had died at the hands of his diabolical best friend, Allen Ramsey (Conard Fowkes),and once more Janet became a widow, but this time, she was a wealthy widow, and that made her a very tempting target by some very greedy and corrupt individuals.
Later on, Janet fell in love with Ted Adamson (Wayne Tippitt), a corrupt builder, who had softened quite a bit under Janet's influence. He had two daughters of his own, Laine, who was corrupt like her father had been; and reporter Sunny Adamson
(Marcia McCabe). Janet's love made him much kinder, but she couldn't marry him, since she felt she had not mourned Wade long enough. Not long after, a reformed Ted moved away from Henderson and Laine, who also reformed, went with him.
However, Sunny remained in Henderson, taking a job at the television station, and she became close to Jo.
Janet then left Henderson for California to be with her son, Gary and his wife, Carolyn (Marilyn McIntyre).
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the now-defunct American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
, Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow is an American soap opera which premiered on September 3, 1951 on CBS. The show was moved from CBS to NBC on March 29, 1982. It continued on NBC until the final episode aired on December 26, 1986, a run of thirty-five years. At the time of its final broadcast it was the...
. She was played by several actresses including actresses Ellen Spencer, who originated the role in 1951, and Fran Sharon, but actress Millee Taggart
Millee Taggart
Millee Taggart is an American actress, best known for her long-running role as Janet Bergman Collins on Search for Tomorrow. She portrayed the character from 1971 to 1982...
is most identified in the role. She played the role from 1971 until 1982.
Character
Janet is the daughter of StuStu Bergman
Stu Bergman was a fictional character in the now-cancelled American soap opera, Search for Tomorrow. The part was played for almost all of the show's 35 years by the late Larry Haines.- Jo's best friend :...
and Marge Bergman
Marge Bergman
Marge Bergman was a character in the now-cancelled American soap opera Search for Tomorrow. She was played by actress Melba Rae until her death in 1971....
, the next door neighbors of Joanne Gardner
Joanne Gardner
Joanne Gardner was the main character on the long-running soap opera Search for Tomorrow. For 35 years, the role was played by actress Mary Stuart...
. She grew up in the fictitious community of Henderson. While Jo was friends with her parents, Janet became the best friend of her daughter, Patti
Patti Tate
Patricia Tate Whiting McCleary , often called Patti Tate, was a fictional character on the now-cancelled American soap opera Search for Tomorrow...
. The two grew up together, and had many and varied romance trials during their growing up years.
Her first marriage was to Bud Gardner, Jo's nephew, which, for a time, caused their families to be related. (They were already family, in a sense, when Jo's widowed father, Frank, married Janet's paternal grandmother.) When it was revealed that Bud had died, Janet mourned him, and then later married Dr. Dan Walton (Ron Hussman). Their marriage produced three children; Gary (played by Rick Lohman), who became a doctor like his father; Liza
Liza Walton Sentell
Liza Kaslo Sentell was a fictional character on the now cancelled American Soap opera, Search for Tomorrow. She was played, most notably, by Kathleen Beller; actress and writer, Meg Bennett; the late actress Sherry Mathis, who was most identified in the role; and Louan Gideon, who played her to...
; and Danny (played later on in the show's run, by Cain DeVore). Bud however turned up alive and truly psychotic, and later on, he really did die.
Meanwhile, Dan had died, himself. At this time, she was dealing with grief on all fronts, and then she met Dr. Wade Collins, a wealthy psychiatrist. She fell in love with him and he with her. Gary and Danny took to him immediately, but Liza felt that it was a betrayal of her father's memory. After Wade skillfully made her confront her issues, she softened towards him and then she gave her blessing. Later on, Janet and Wade were married.
After that, her mother died, and Stu and Tommy (Janet's younger brother) moved in with her and Wade, after he sold their old house. She made her family feel welcomed and loved. For ten years, Janet and Wade were very happy. (they helped bring humor and stability to the show, thanks to the talented Millee Taggart and John Cunningham who could play both drama scenes and comedy scenes with relative ease.) Her character is most frequently remembered as Janet Collins.
Then, tragically, Wade had died at the hands of his diabolical best friend, Allen Ramsey (Conard Fowkes),and once more Janet became a widow, but this time, she was a wealthy widow, and that made her a very tempting target by some very greedy and corrupt individuals.
Later on, Janet fell in love with Ted Adamson (Wayne Tippitt), a corrupt builder, who had softened quite a bit under Janet's influence. He had two daughters of his own, Laine, who was corrupt like her father had been; and reporter Sunny Adamson
Sunny Adamson
Sunny Taylor was a fictional character in the now cancelled American Soap Opera, Search for Tomorrow. She was played through the show's end in 1986, by actress Marcia McCabe....
(Marcia McCabe). Janet's love made him much kinder, but she couldn't marry him, since she felt she had not mourned Wade long enough. Not long after, a reformed Ted moved away from Henderson and Laine, who also reformed, went with him.
However, Sunny remained in Henderson, taking a job at the television station, and she became close to Jo.
Janet then left Henderson for California to be with her son, Gary and his wife, Carolyn (Marilyn McIntyre).