The Young and the Restless suddenly announced a cast change
The latest Young and the Restless comings and goings for 2026, including returns, exits, recasts, and first airdates.
Track the latest Young and the Restless comings and goings for 2026, including cast returns, exits, recasts, and confirmed first airdates. As Genoa City continues to shift, this page keeps up with the biggest casting changes fans need to know about. Don’t forget to return daily just after 4 PM EST to read the Canadian day-ahead recaps.
Quick highlights:
- Tina Casciani returns as Riza in March
- Christel Khalil is back on screen in March
- Stacy Haiduk returns as Patty Williams in March
- Michael Damian and Lauralee Bell return as Danny and Christine in March
- Beth Maitland makes appearances starting the week of March 30
- Shemar Moore and Vivica A Fox return April 7
- Chris Wenchell appears as a drug dealer in May.
- Lauren Koslow cast as Jill Abbott starting June 25, 2026.
- Jere Burns debuts as Dr. Laurence Markham June 15, 2026
- Additional exits and recasts are expected throughout 2026
- Doug Tompos appears as Dr. Nowling on Monday, June 22.
- Josh Griffith exits Y&R as head writer June 2026. Should be out by September.
- Eileen Davidson returns to Y&R on July 10 as Ashley Abbott.
Latest Y&R Casting News
Stay up to date with the newest casting changes on The Young and the Restless. From surprise returns to major exits and recasts, here are the latest updates affecting Genoa City in 2026.
Returns, 2026
Eileen Davidson is back as Ashley, July 2026
Eileen Davidson will return to Y&R as Ashley Abbott, when she hears some dire news. Read the Y&R spoilers for more about that. Watch for her return July 10, 2026.
Exits, 2026
Josh Griffith Steps Down as Head Writer of Y&R
Headwriter of Young and the Restless, Josh Griffith, is stepping down, according to TV Insider.
Cast and crew were informed today of the news, though there is no word yet on who will replace the seven-time Daytime Emmy winner.
He teased what was coming for 2026 on the CBS soap, saying, “You’ve got to just keep that momentum going. It’s going to be a very exciting, suspenseful, and romantic winter and spring. It’s going to be jam-packed with intrigue, mystery, suspense, and love. We have some fun surprises up our sleeve for 2026.”
Newcomers, 2026
Jere Burns debuts as a doctor on June 15, 2026
Reported June 11: Jere Burns debuts on Y&R as Dr. Laurence Markham on June 15, 2026. Burns portrays Diane’s doctor in a multi-episode arc, according to TV Insider. Other than at the Y&R crossover to the Beyond The Gates event the week of June 8, which was filmed well before these scenes were, viewers haven’t seen Diane since May 14, when she left Jack a voicemail. She wanted to find a way forward. We suspected in the Y&R spoilers that Patty (Stacy Haiduk) had something to do with her disappearance.
Jere Burns is known for FBI, Foxhole, NCIS: Los Angeles, Dead to Me, Suits, Breaking Bad, and a list of various other roles that span all the way back to 1988-1992, when he was Kirk Morris in Dear John, a role he worked on with Susan Walters, who portrayed Mary Beth Sutton.
Jess Walton Recast With Lauren Koslow June, 2026
Lauren Koslow, who portrays Kate Roberts Brady on Days of our Lives, will be cast as Jill Abbott temporarily since Jess Walton is not available for filming due to scheduling conflicts. Koslow will appear on the show in five episodes, starting June 25, 2026.
TV Insider stated, “The casting marks a full-circle moment for Koslow, whose first major acting break came on Y&R. In 1984, then-producer Ed Scott spotted her in an acting class, leading to an audition for the role of Lindsey Wells. In a bit of soap symmetry, one of Koslow’s primary scene partners was Brenda Dickson, who played Jill at the time.”
This won’t cause an impact for Koslow in taping at Days and Walton will return next time her character is on canvas as schedules permit.
