Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
In 2013, shortly after a round of promotion for the Y&amp;R 40th anniversary, Cooper became ill due to an infection. Cooper died on May 8, 2013, in a Los Angeles hospital. In addition to infection, Cooper had been a heavy smoker most of her adult life and suffered from Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Her final Y&amp;R scene was taped Tuesday, March 26, 2013, (the exact date of Y&amp;R's 40th anniversary) and aired on Friday, May 3, 2013. “Mom passed this morning”, her son, Corbin Bernsen, revealed on Twitter the day of her death. “She was in peace and without fear.”