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Peter Bergman, 70, is a soap opera icon. He’s played Jack Abbott on CBS’ The Young and the Restless for a whopping 35 years, and prior to that role, he played Cliff Warner for 10 years on

ABC’s All my Children. Bergman shares what he loves to hear from his fans, his thoughts on retirement and his most memorable on-screen kiss.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

As part of a military family, you moved a lot growing up. Professionally, you’ve chosen to stay long-term in one role. Do you think that was a conscious decision?

It is a remarkable thing that I, who moved every two years for most of my childhood, have lived in basically two places in the years that followed. ... Is that a coincidence, you think? I

mean, no, it’s probably not a coincidence — a home base that isn’t going to change. I’d probably be better off if I had moved several times and gotten a better and better house and

everything. But no, we stayed put because the homestead was really important to me, because I didn’t have that growing up.

After all these years, when your fans recognize you, what do they want to tell you?

My favorite thing is, “I learned to speak English watching your show.” … I love that. There’s something so cool about that. And the other thing that always touches me is, “I watch this show

with my grandma.” When you sat with your grandmother and watched television and it’s a personal, happy family memory, that makes me feel great. Most people just want to [ask] — and this is

fun for me — “Could I take a quick picture just so I could show my sister who loves you and loves the show?”

You turned 70 last year. Did you have a celebration?

It was a spectacular day because my oldest child — we have two kids, a son and a daughter — my son Connor, age 37, got married the day before I turned 70. So here we had [in attendance] for

the wedding all the people I care about, really care about. We told them, “The next morning, let’s celebrate Peter’s birthday.” We had a big brunch at the same hotel. My wife, Mariellen, set

it all up and I got to bring in 70 with a bang. And of course, the day before had been one of the great days in our family’s life.