Jesse Grant/Variety via Getty NEED TO KNOW Peter Bergman opened up about his cameo on the Apple TV sci-fi series, Pluribus, which premiered on Nov. 7 Known for his long-running arc on The Young and the Restless, Bergman hasn't taken on a non-soap opera role since 2001 The actor said this project came about because of his friendship with Bryan Cranston Peter Bergman is shaking things up after decades working solely on soap operas. The actor, 72, is featured on the new Apple TV sci-fi series Pluribus, which marks the first time since his guest role on The King of Queens in 2001 that he has appeared on a non-daytime show. Bergman recently spoke with TV Insider about joining the sci-fi drama and how it all started with Bryan Cranston . “Bryan and I met each other on a softball field in Central Park when I was on All My Children and he was on Loving , and we have been friends since,” Bergman explained. “His wife, Robin, and my wife, Mariellen, are very dear friends, and we vacation together.” From Left: Peter Bergman and Bryan Cranston in Hollywood City, Calif. on May 10, 2016. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic The two have supported each other since before they made it big. Bergman has been playing Jack Abbott on The Young and the Restless since 1989, while Cranston is best known for his breakout role on Malcolm in the Middle before going on to star in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. The creator of the latter two as well as Pluribus is Vince Gilligan, who, through Cranston, Bergman also developed a close friendship with. “Vince and his wife Holly are just the loveliest people in the world,” the Emmy winner gushed. “We’ve had them in our home, and we’ve done lots of things with Vince and Holly. So, Vince texted me and said, ‘Hey, I have this thing coming up that I think you’d be perfect for.’ I said, ‘As long as it fits into my Y&R schedule, I’d love that.’ ” Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. From that point on, what would become Pluribus (after three name changes, Bergman revealed), things came to life quickly. “When I got the script, the character’s name was Distinguished Gentleman, and I thought, ‘Well, Vince clearly thinks I’m a distinguished fellow,’ ” he joked. “And then I read my dialogue, and I realized, ‘He knows I’ve done a soap, and I can learn copious amounts of complicated dialogue.’ ” Bergman’s cameo takes place at the end of the premiere episode, appearing as a government official who is giving a televised speech directed at the show's main character, Carol Sturka (played by Rhea Seehorn ). “When you watch it, you’ll understand why we could only shoot it from beginning to end every single time,” Bergman noted. “Once they said, ‘Action,’ I was talking for almost seven pages.” Related Stories Source: https://people.com/young-and-restless-star-peter-bergman-on-first-non-soap-show-in-24-years-11847982