Terry Lester

Terry Lester (April 13, 1950 – November 28, 2003) was an American actor. His best known roles include Jack Abbott on The Young and the Restless, Mason Capwell on Santa Barbara (replacing Lane Davies) and Royce Keller on As the World Turns. Lester died due to complications from AIDS on November 28, 2003.

Early life and education Lester was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He graduated from Southport High School and began an acting career while at DePauw University.

Career He starred in the 1976 children's series Ark II, followed by roles in Airport 1975 and the 1978 Kiss movie Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park.

Lester's big break came when he joined the CBS daytime soap The Young and the Restless in 1980. He originated the role of Jack Abbott, a scoundrel who never met a woman (including his own father's wife) he didn't want to take to bed. Lester was so popular that The Young and the Restless creator William J. Bell wrote an entire family for him. The series was going through a transition period, and many fans believed his star quality helped the show build more viewership rising to #1 in daytime soap ratings.

In spite of his popularity, by the end of the decade Lester felt his role on the show was steadily declining. In 1989, he not only quit but also went to the daytime press and blamed Bill Bell's young daughter, Lauralee Bell (who played Christine Blair), for his dwindling role. He felt the excess airtime given to her came at the expense of both himself and other actors. Lester switched to NBC to take over the role of Mason Capwell on Santa Barbara for a year. In November 1992, he joined As the World Turns to play the charming Royce Keller, who was soon revealed to be suffering from multiple personalities which caused him to kill his own sister in the series. The role was complex, causing raves for Lester, but the headwriter behind the story, Douglas Marland, died suddenly in 1993, and Lester once again found his screentime diminishing. He left the series on May 5, 1994.

The remainder of his professional life consisted of appearances in primetime shows such as Walker, Texas Ranger and Star Trek: Voyager along with various tours in musicals and plays.

Filmography + Roles in television and film Year Title Role Notes 1974 Airport 1975 Mr. Kelly Film; uncredited 1975 Barbary Coast Bret Hollister Episode: "The Barbary Coast" 1976 Ark II Jonah Main role 1978 Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park Sam Television film 1978 Flying High Billy Bob Episode: "Swan Song for an Ugly Duckling" 1979 Eight Is Enough Reed Ellis Episode: "The Cupid Crisis" 1979 Dallas Rudy Millington Episode: "Return Engagement" 1980 Once Upon a Spy Rudy Television film 1980–1989 The Young and the Restless Jack Abbott Regular role 1985 Blade in Hong Kong Joe Blade Television film 1985 Hotel Chad Wheeler Episode: "Echoes" 1987 In Self Defense Dan Edwards Television film 1989–1990 Santa Barbara Mason Capwell Regular role 1992–1994 As The World Turns Royce Keller Regular role 1995 Star Trek: Voyager Haron Episode: "Maneuvers" 1997 JAG Chief Petty Officer Fred Holst Episode: "Rendezvous" 1997 Diagnosis: Murder Jeffrey Porter Episode: "Open and Shut" 1999 Walker, Texas Ranger Earl McMartin Episode: "Power Angels"