Province Article

Bierdz survives tragedy
Forgiveness, art help ex-soap star heal after brother killed mother

Joe Leary
Special to The Province

Monday, July 05, 2004

The Thom Bierdz story reads like something straight out of a soap opera, the genre for which he is best known. But even Hollywood screenwriters couldn't script a scenario quite like this.

The actor was born in 1962 in the U.S. midwest with an adoring mother and two younger brothers. And while early life appeared idyllic, its many later years, in 1998, when the Bierdz story took the first of its tragic twists.

Just one month after leaving the role of Phillip Chancellor III on the popular daytime drama The Young and the Restless, Bierdz's brother Troy beat their mother to death with a baseball bat.

While still coming to grips with that horrific tragedy, Bierdz's life was sent into a further tailspin in 2002, when his other brother Craig, deep in the grips of depression, committed suicide, leaving behind a wife and two young children.

While one could understand the deep resentment that manifests itself during such tragic circumstances, Bierdz's story is not one borne of anger or bitterness but rather one of acceptance and ultimate forgiveness.

Just how does one begin to reconcile with someone who has robbed you of something so precious?

"Five years after her murder, I was led by a message from my mother that I received through a psychic to go back to my incarcerated, schizophrenic brother, Troy," said Bierdz.

"When he appeared, he was a shell of a man. I was able to get Troy on medication and he slowly became lucid. He wasn't even aware he had killed our mom and said he thought it was a bad recurring dream. I had to explain to him what he had done and I continued to visit him, not judging him. His demeanor was that of a scared child."

While Troy currently serves a life sentence in a Wisconsin prison, the two brothers remain in constant contact and have since developed a strong brotherly bond.

"I am proud of his immense spiritual growth and love him very, very deeply," said Bierdz.

Further enabling Bierdz toward coming to terms with life is his highly personal and acclaimed collection of paintings, more than 200 of which can be viewed on his website: www.thombierdz.com. "It's what has kept me in the moment as I am at times haunted by the past or anxious of the future."

Today, Bierdz's life appears back on track with a future decidedly brighter than his unbelievable past. He'll soon be having a premier gallery opening of his artwork in L.A., the powerful ICM agency has begun to approach publishers with his life story, and he recently returned to the set of The Young and the Restless to reprise the role of Phillip Chancellor in a dream sequence that airs this afternoon.

"It was 15 years ago that I was there . . . a month after I left, my brother killed my mother, so I was returning to a self before that . . . it was surreal."

To rebound from unimaginable tragedy is one thing. To forgive those responsible and accept them, is quite another. Bierdz proves that it is be better to give than to receive.

"One of the most important things I've learned from all this -- and the lessons are many -- is the one who forgives, is the one who benefits most."