BEVERLY HILLS—Thom Bierdz was a natural for soaps. When the handsome young man joined “The Young and the Restless” in 1986 he shot into fame and kept his poise, humility and down to earth Midwest charm when many other young stars with much less talent and good looks became arrogant and unpopular with the fans. When Bierdz left “Y&R” in the early 1990s fans were mystified and sad. What we industry insiders knew was the real story. It was something that could not have been written by a soap scribe.

Courtesy: Thom Bierdz

Thom Bierdz received the news from back home in Wisconsin that many people can not even imagine. His brother who is a paranoid schizophrenic in a psychotic episode beat their mother to death with a baseball bat. Those of us who have had stalkers in the past, and personally my latest is also a paranoid schizophrenic, worry about this very issue on a regular basis. What encouragement or words can someone with mental illness hear or not hear that can cause them to become dangerous. Truth be told, many people worry about this on a regular basis. Thom not only had to deal with the murder of his mother at his own brother’s hands, but he then became the focus of his brother Troy’s rage and delusions himself. For six days Thom lived in fear of his brother’s threats against him becoming a reality.

Bierdz like every young star in this town fell on hard times and was in depression about what his future would hold. However, despite having the acting talent of a seasoned actor and the good looks of Cary Grant, Bierdz fears were not of where he’d get his next acting role, it was how would he live with the tragedy in his family and personal life that would cripple a lesser man and how would he gain his personal strength to soldier on living his life.

It’s always exciting when I have the opportunity to bring a story of redemption to our readers. Thom Bierdz brand of therapy included writing a tell-all about his own life’s experiences, which includes the highs and lows. He also found the power within himself to follow his dream of becoming a painter. Of Bierdz’s autobiography titled "Forgiving Troy: A True Story of Murder, Mental Illness and Recovery," renowned journalist Michael Logan with TV Guide said, “…a terrific, gut -punching memoir that chronicles his triumph over an unspeakable family tragedy...Chilling, hopeful, spiritual, you'll never read anything like it." I concur.

What is great about Thom Bierdz’s story is that he overcame it all. He defeated depression, fear and shame in order to return to the public eye and recently was hired to return to “Y&R” in the coveted role he vacated almost two decades earlier. Fans have been very happy about Bierdz’s return and so has the show’s producers. Bierdz made it apparent during this interview how grateful he is to Ms. Maria Arena Bell and Mr. Josh O’Connell. In addition to being grateful for his return as Phillip Chancellor, III. Phillip recently revealed something about himself that Bierdz revealed six years ago. Phillip and Thom are gay.

“Y&R” is making a point to bring reality and substance to the storyline of Phillip’s return as a gay man. Thom Bierdz feels blessed to be able to play the character with truth as he is able to talk about his own personal experiences as a gay man in an industry that once shunned the idea of expressing or admitting this lifestyle. Bierdz spoke candidly with Canyon News on Tuesday and I found the actor to be as genuine as he was when I met him 25 years earlier. Bierdz and “Y&R” agreed that no question would be off limits and like the class act he is, he kept his word.

Q-Thom, We have both had similar experiences regarding schizophrenics. I had a stalker who simply wouldn't go away and you have a brother with the disease. For people who have not read your book, which I suggest that everyone reads by the way, did you know when your brother was growing up that something was wrong with him?

A-“Troy acted up and was an aggressive teen which was so unlike his otherwise gentle and shy nature. We didn't know what to make of him, neither did doctors. Between his years of 15 and 19, my doting mother took him to 40 doctors: two said he was schizophrenic but 38 said he was not.”

Q-The day that you got the telephone call that your mom was dead at the hands of your brother, how did it make you feel in the immediate?

A-“Surreal. There is a part of me deeply spiritually rooted so I am surprisingly calm around the subject of death.”

Q-You were afraid for your life for a while. After someone puts you through such trauma, how do you prepare yourself to start to forgive?

A-“There was no preparing. My visiting him in prison five years after he killed Mom was spur of the moment and unexpected, as I was asked by a mysterious source to go see him. Once I saw him, it was easier to forgive him as at that point he had broken away to a pitifully babbling psycho. In the following years though, he was medicated and became a whole different person. His change is unbelievable! Yes, Troy was on the loose for six days after killing our wonderful mom, and he threatened to kill all of us. It was a very tough time for me.”

Q-Was it easier to forgive because he was your brother and unlike what many of us suffer, someone stalking who is unrelated?

A-“True - if this was a stranger I would not have felt the need to find a productive bond with him. When my mom was alive she always asked us to swear that we'd always be there for each other no matter what. And I must say he has been there for me, too.”

Q-Your artwork is incredible. I am an art lover and I haven't seen this level of detail in a long time. Can you tell us a little about your process of painting? Do you have an idea long before you put brush to paper what you are going to do?

A-“I do many commissions, from dog portraits to family portraits, all can be seen at ThomBierdz.com. Those commissions, of course, are planned carefully and I go over the entire composition with the collector before I start to paint. My expressionistic paintings, however, are almost like I am in a trance as my brain just empties itself onto the canvas. I trust my instincts and then afterwards I can dissect the paintings and usually see the underlying meaning.”

Q-Your new storyline on “Y&R” is so timely. Here you are, Phillip Chancellor the III with a grown son, a wife and family and you come out as being gay to them at this stage in your life. Are you receiving positive fan mail about Phillip's truth and integrity?

A-“I am! From some gay people, but mostly from straight people. Everybody has a gay member in the family and everyone seems happy that Phillip is the gay Chancellor. Yesterday a 91-year-old woman wrote me, thanking me. I owe thanks to head writer Maria Arena Bell and producer Josh O'Connell.”

Q-Your TV son, Chance, played by John Driscoll is a new Veteran of the Iraqi War. He's such a believable actor. Are you looking forward to fleshing out the father/son relationship and if so, are you hoping that “Y&R” will also deal with the returning soldier side of the storyline?

A-“I would like that very much, and because John is such a good actor, I know we can really make this relationship a real significant, emotional one to watch. Phillip can be there for Chance when no one else will, and vice-versa. I have no idea what the storyline is coming up but I see possibilities.”

Q-The reason I suggest that everyone should read your book is because it's an autobiography filled with truth. You even offer embarrassing facts about yourself in order to be authentic. You give your readers hope. Can you tell us if you live in this positive realm you seem to be in now?

A-“It is an effort to remain positive in a world with so much confusion and doubt, but I don't get out of bed until I am very excited to start my day and usually there is a creative task I am excited to do that day. Once I start my creating, I am in a great mood.”

Q-Lastly, do you have hope for Troy's future as well as others in his situation and your own?

A-“I just read 'Man's Search For Meaning,' by Viktor Frankl about a psychiatrist surviving the concentration camps and he says only one out of 28 survived. He postulated that survivors usually have a special someone to live for, or a purpose. Troy will be in prison 30 more years, so I would like him to want to help others with sharing our story so that he feels like he is contributing to his fellow man. I think him having a purpose to exist would brighten his heart and day. It does mine.”

Thom Bierdz’s purpose is to offer hope for others, entertain and educate his fans and to continue down this positive path he’s walking now. I will be reviewing his book soon. After reading it, I found myself looking at how I have handled the hard reality of having to deal with stalkers and Bierdz gave me hope with his honest and sincere words in his autobiography, as he does with his art. To purchase "Forgiving Troy" or Bierdz incredible artwork, go to: ThomBierdz.com