The Young and the Restless began production at CBS Television in 1973 and has sustained itself into the present day. Over the course of almost five decades fans have watched stories of lies, betrayal and scandal unfold before their eyes, tales brought to life by the residents of Genoa City, the locale where the volatile company of characters reside. Plot threads of adultery, incest and heartbreak are interwoven into the daily routines of the core cast, which keeps ratings high and interest up among viewers.
As storylines evolve and new details emerge daily about the sordid lives of the leading players, even skipping a single episode may mean a viewer misses key elements regarding the citizens of Genoa City. To update fans both new and old, here are ten hidden details about the characters on Young and the Restless.
Victor Newman Was Originally A Guest Character
Victor Newman, portrayed by Eric Braeden, has emerged as the leading male figure in the series. A face indistinguishable from the show, Victor has appeared on screens worldwide since his debut in 1980. While viewers may find it inconceivable to imagine a Genoa City without him, Newman was originally conceived as a guest character. When Braeden signed on to appear on the show he was provided a contract that stated his character would reoccur for a span of eight to twelve weeks; however, fans instantly resonated with the gravel-toned Newman and he was soon upgraded to a member of the main cast, ultimately becoming the patriarch of the Newman family.
Katherine Chancellor Appeared On Almost Every Episode
Katherine Chancellor was introduced to the show in 1973 in an attempt to garner ratings among viewers. Quickly becoming the breakout star of the show, Chancellor, played by Jeanne Cooper, became synonymous with not only Young and the Restless, but with the soap opera genre. Notably, actress Jeanne Cooper, who garnered two Daytime Emmy awards for her performance, appeared on almost every episode during her forty-year run, with her final appearance occurring only five days before her real-life passing.
Jill Abbott: Last Character Standing
Jill Abbott is a soap opera staple; the matriarch of the Abbott family, Jill worked her way up from being a manicurist to the one-time CEO of Chancellor Industries, following the retirement of Katherine Chancellor. Jill Abbott has successfully ensnarled her fellow cast of Genoa City characters into her web of ambition and romance, and her long-time rivalry with Katherine Chancellor remains the longest-running in soap opera history.
What many fans overlook, however, is that Jill Abbott is the last remaining character to have been with the show since its inception in 1973. Following a ratings dip early into the shows run, a rework of the cast occurred, and every major character was written out and replaced, except for Jill, whose presence onscreen proved to routinely rake in ratings.
Brad Carlton’s “Bold” Death
In 1985, actor Don Diamont was brought onto the show to play the new gardener for the Abbot family, Brad Carlton. For over two decades, Brad was a prominent member of the cast, finding himself the focal point of many storylines, and often the object of desire for more than one female cast member at a time. In 2009 however, Diamont was unceremoniously fired from the show and his character subsequently drowned in a lake. While fans were initially taken aback from the loss of this Genoa City staple, it was later revealed that Diamont had been let go in order to portray a new character written exclusively for him on The Bold and the Beautiful, another popular daytime drama.
Foster Care Storylines
For three decades, the prominent storylines on Young and the Restless focused on lust and power; characters were often scheming of new ways to find either or both, and viewership remained strong. Then, in 2004, audiences were introduced to the character of Devon Hamilton, a teenage product of the foster care system who was taken in by the affluent Winters family. What was unique about Hamilton is that his character was crafted to operate outside the realm of typical romance-based soap opera storylines, in fact, actress Victoria Rowell pitched the idea to the head writers in an effort to bring light to the struggles of real-life foster children. Critics and fans praised this storyline, and actor Bryton James, who played Devon, won a Daytime Emmy for his performance of this unique character.
Lily Winters: Fan Favorite
Lily Winters, daughter of Drucilla and Malcolm Winters, debuted on the show in June of 1995. Originally introduced as a child, the character took a hiatus and was later brought back as a teenager, now played by actress Christel Khalil. Audiences became enamored by her portrayal and Lily Winters quickly became a fan-favorite character. In 2012, following a contract dispute, Khalil decided to leave the show and a fan campaign to convince her to stay began, which included hiring a pilot to fly over CBS Studios with a banner reading “Y&R Fans Want Christel Khalil as Lily Ashby.” The production team eventually relented, and as of 2020, Lily remains on the show as a recurring character.
Neil Winters: Daytime Trailblazer
Neil Winters first graced the screens of daytime television in 1991 and would continue to appear until 2019, following the death of his real-life actor, Kristoff St. John. Winters would be the first African American lead brought onto the show, as the writers felt that it was necessary to showcase representation among the cast.
Winters was an instant hit among fans, and St. John garnered many Daytime Emmy Awards for his performance. Notably, Neil still holds the record for being the longest-running African American character to appear on the program, blazing a trail of diversity for future cast members to follow.
The Many ‘Lives’ Of Ashley Abbott
Actress Eileen Davidson has been the primary performer to bring the character of Ashley Abbott to life. Initially appearing in 1982, Abbott has remained a central figure on the show for almost forty years, with storylines often focusing on her business dealings with the Abbott-run company, Jabot Cosmetics. In 2012, Davidson was abruptly fired from the show with no reason given; however, Sony Pictures later revealed that her contract was terminated in order to allow for Davidson to return to Days of Our Lives, a soap opera she had previously appeared on, and where she would reprise her original role of Kristen DiMera.
The Origins Of Nikki Newman
Nikki Newman is one of the most prominent figures on daytime television; a formidable businesswoman and the romantic partner of Victor Newman, Nikki has become an audience favorite since her initial appearance in 1978. What fans may forget, however, is that Nikki originally had more humble beginnings. While Newman is now revered for her business savvy, including starting her own company, the character was introduced as a stripper, who audiences have watched build herself up to the woman she is today.
The Work Ethic Of Katherine Chancellor
In 1984, cast member Jeanne Cooper made the decision to have a facelift, and where most performers would use the recovery time to relax, the actress had no such plans. Cooper discussed her upcoming surgery with the production staff and together they decided that if she were to have the surgery, Katherine Chancellor would too. Described as “TV’s first extreme makeover,” Chancellor was given a storyline that coincided with her real-life surgery, opening the door for discussions regarding reconstructive surgery to become less taboo in mainstream media.
