The Young and the Restgless actress Pamela Peters Solow will be remembered for her role as Peggy Brooks

Pamela Peters Solow was an original Y&R cast member

Longtime soap fans will recall that Pamela Peters Solow was one of the first cast members on The Young and the Restless. She originated the role of Peggy Brooks on the second episode of the CBS series when it debuted in 1973. Solow passed away on Thursday. June 5th, according to her close friend, Todd Hirsch, via a Facebook post.

The Brooks family was prominent in Genoa City in those early days, long before the Newmans and Abbotts began their reign. Today, there is not a trace of the six family members in town, but they are fondly remembered by those who have been watching since the beginning.

Genoa City history is manipulated

The last time the Brooks clan was mentioned was when Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) falsely believed Stuart Brooks (Robert Colbert) may have been his biological father.

Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) was angry because Jack brought up the fact that she was not John Abbott's (Jerry Dorn) biological daughter. Ashley manipulated their mother, Dina Mergeron (Marla Adans), who had Alzheimer's disease, and convinced her that Jack belonged to Stuart, but Dina was not dating him when Jack was conceived.

Remembering Peggy Brooks

'sIt hard to believe that some of us have been watching the CBS soap for over 50 years and to process the changes that have taken place. Peggy was the youngest of four daughters of Jennifer (Dorothy Green) and Stuart. Her sisters were Lorie (Jaime Lyn Bauer), Leslie (Janice Lynde/ Victoria Mallory), and Chris Brooks (Trish Stewart).

Solow portrayed the character for an initial stint that lasted until 1977, when Patricia Everly took over the role. Solow eventually returned to the soap and reprised the role for a second time from 1978 until 1981, and then later returned for a final guest appearance in an episode in 1984

A young woman's life gone wrong

If you think Genoa City is filled with drama today, consider what Peggy Brooks dealt with in the 1970s. She was a college student who fell in love with her married professor, Jack Curtis (Anthony Herrera).

Peggy was not aware that Jack had a wife at first but remained in a relationship with him even though she was a virgin. Today on soaps it's unheard of for couples to be in long-term relationships without being intimate. In the 1970's virginity was still valued by some soap characters.

Y&R fans were angry that sweet, innocent Peggy became involved with a married man. The professor eventually divorced his wife. and he and Peggy became engaged. After she was raped Peggy could not be intimate with Jack and moved back home with her parents. The Young and the Restless viewers were also displeased at the way Peggy lost her virginity.

Additional acting roles

The 75-year-old actress had a busy career before joining the CBS soap. She appeared on many tpopular elevision series during the 1970s, including Man From Atlantis, The Partriarch Family, Happy Days, Emergency!, Medical Center, The Sixth Sense, Butch Cassidy, and Room 222. Her only credit after The Young and the Restless was Omega Cop in 1990.

Pamela Peters Solow lived in North Hollywood with her husband, actor Marty Levy. According to Hirsch, the couple were his neighbors. Leyy appeared in the films Back to the Future II, Volcano, Slam Dance, and Money Talks. He was also in the television series Ally McBeal, Without a Trace, and ER.

There is no record of how long the couple was married or whether Solow had children or continued acting after 1990. Still, longtime fans of The Young and the Restless will fondly recall the first-first family of Genoa City and the youngest daughter.