As one of the longest-running scripted shows on television, several famous actors had their start on The Young and the Restless. The CBS show had been created solely to compete with the popular and successful youthful ABC soap operas, such as General Hospital, One Life to Live, and All My Children. Created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell, The Young and the Restless premiered on March 26, 1973.
Although it took several years to achieve top ratings, The Young and the Restless’ youthful and sexually driven storyline appealed to a growing demographic of youths, especially young women. Unsurprisingly, it became a platform and launchpad for several popular actors today. Here are 5 actors who had their start on The Young and the Restless.
David Hasselhoff
Famously nicknamed The Hoff, David Hasselhoff was one of television’s most recognizable stars. With over a billion viewers tuning in weekly to watch him play LA County Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon on Baywatch, he set a Guinness World Record as the most-watched man on TV. However, more than a decade before all of that fame, David Hasselhoff was an unknown actor whose television debut was on The Young and the Restless.
Hasselhoff was hired as a replacement for actor William Gray Espy. David Hasselhoff was recast as Snapper Foster, the oldest son of the Foster family. Originally, The Young and the Restless had a storyline involving only two families, the wealthy Brooks and the poor Fosters. David Hasselhoff played the character gracefully for six years, from 1975 to 1982.
Tom Selleck
Although he has several acting credits in movies, Tom Selleck is mostly known for his work in television. Selleck had his breakout role playing private investigator Thomas Magnum on the CBS crime drama series Magnum, P.I. (1980–1988). However, before his breakout role, Tom Selleck also starred in The Young and the Restless. He joined the CBS soap opera in 1974, playing Jed Andrews.
Tom Selleck only starred on the show for about a year but returned in 2005 to briefly reprise his role as Jed Andrews. Today’s television audiences would know Tom Selleck from playing NYPD Police Commissioner Frank Reagan on the CBS police procedural drama Blue Bloods. As one of its main cast, Tom Selleck has appeared on all seasons of Blue Bloods since it premiered on September 24, 2010.
Eva Longoria
Although The Young and the Restless wasn’t Eva Longoria’s screen debut, it was her first major role in television. Longoria made her debut in 2000, guest-starring on Beverly Hills, 90210 and General Hospital. Eva Longoria originated the role of Isabella Braña, a mentally ill woman who was often described as crazy and evil. The character’s story arc was having an affair with Paul Williams (Doug Davidson), Christine Blair’s (Lauralee Bell) husband. The affair produced a son, Ricky Williams. Eva Longoria exited the show in 2003, with her last appearance being on August 15, 2003.
Paul Walker
Although Hollywood lost the actor on November 30, 2013, Paul Walker remains a popular name among movie audiences, especially fans of the Fast & Furious franchise. Like several other actors before him, The Young and the Restless helped give the actor recognition in his early career. Before joining the cast of The Young and the Restless, Paul Walker starred in the first season of the American sitcom Throb (1986-1987). However, the popularity of The Young and the Restless had more effect on his career than Throb. Cast as Brandon Collins in 1992, Paul Walker was only on The Young and the Restless for about a year.
Shemar Moore
American actor Shemar Moore is a popular face for American procedural crime dramas. Moore has had notable roles as Derek Morgan on the CBS Criminal Minds (2005–2016) and currently plays Sergeant II Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson on another CBS series, S.W.A.T. This means the actor has appeared on CBS shows consecutively for more than a decade, since 2005. However, his television career with CBS goes back to the beginning of his career.
Shemar Moore made his debut, originating the character of Malcolm Winters on The Young and the Restless in 1994. Moore played the character from 1994 until he left the show in 2005. Darius McCrary was later recast in the role, playing the character from 2009 to 2011. However, Shemar Moore returned to reprise Malcolm Winters in guest appearances from 2014 to 2023. If you recognized any of these actors on The Young and the Restless, read up on the8 Young and the Restless shocking moments fans won’t forget.
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