The Real Reason Shemar Moore Keeps Returning to Young & the Restless

Shemar Moore will always be young and restless at his core.

Ever since starting on The Young and the Restless in 1994, the actor has always felt a connection to the show and its setting, Genoa City. That’s why he gladly returned for three episodes between April 7th and 9th.

Oh my gosh, you guys, hearing Shemar say that just killed me! He was on Y&R Insider recently, and he basically said being on the set of The Young and the Restless feels like coming home! Can you believe it?! He said they’ve been asking him for years to pop back in and play a little, and he admitted he could never say no. Seriously, it’s everything! He loves being part of the Y&R family just as much as we love watching him! I’m not crying, you’re crying!

After all, the 55-year-old added, “This is where it all started for me.”

Shemar Moore, who stars in S.W.A.T. and has a 3-year-old daughter named Frankie with his former partner Jesiree Dizon, says he owes his long and successful career to Bill Bell, the creator of The Young and the Restless. Moore credits Bell with giving a nervous young actor a chance and launching his career.

He explained that he wouldn’t be where he was today, or have had such a fulfilling life, without a key moment in his past and his long career in the sport. He feels incredibly grateful for the 33 years he’s spent playing the game.

Shemar, known for winning a Daytime Emmy in 2000 for his role as Malcolm Winters, has often spoken about how The Young and the Restless gave him his start in acting.

In a recent interview with TV Insider, the actor described his career as a progression through education. He said his eight years on The Young and the Restless felt like high school, his eleven years on Criminal Minds were like college, and his eight years on S.W.A.T. were like graduate school.

I’ve been a huge fan of Shemar Moore ever since his days on The Young and the Restless, and I’ve watched him take on so many great roles since then! It really surprised me to learn that, despite all his success, he hasn’t always felt confident in his acting. It just goes to show you that even incredibly talented people have their doubts.

He went on to say that when he started, he was terrified and lacked confidence. He genuinely feared people would discover he wasn’t good enough and send him packing, telling him they’d made the wrong choice.

Shemar’s former colleague, Kristoff St. John, who played his brother on the soap opera, developed a genuine friendship that mirrored their characters’ relationship.

Kristoff really looked out for me,” he said. “He told me he’d help me figure things out. On screen, he felt like an older brother, and honestly, he was like that off-screen too – a mentor and someone I really looked up to.

Shemar is happy to be back where he and Kristoff first became friends. He described feeling both thankful and sentimental about returning.

Shemar isn’t the only famous actor who began their career on a soap opera. Here are some other celebrities who got their start in daytime television.

Believe it or not, one of the most famous actors in the world got his start with a small role on the soap opera Another World. He played a young basketball player in just two episodes. It just goes to show that everyone begins somewhere – and sometimes, they even win an Academy Award!

Oh my gosh, can you believe Elizabeth Banks was in All My Children?! It was just a tiny role – she played a waitress, and she had a scene with Josh Duhamel where he was, naturally, flirting with her. It aired way back in 1999, which is amazing because just two years later she was already becoming a legend in Wet Hot American Summer! I seriously re-watched that scene a million times, knowing who she’d become. It’s just…iconic!

Leonardo DiCaprio is now a huge star, but before he became famous with Titanic, he actually started his career with appearances on TV shows like Roseanne and Growing Pains. He even had a small role in the soap opera Santa Barbara back in 1990, appearing in a quick flashback scene.

Let me tell you, before Demi Moore was a household name, she actually got her start on daytime TV! Back in the early ’80s – 1982 and ’83 to be precise – she played Jackie Templeton on General Hospital. Jackie was a really interesting character, a New York City reporter determined to find her long-lost sister. It was a great role that definitely showcased her talent, even back then!

The Academy Award-winning actress also won a Daytime Emmy in 1988 for playing the roles of Frannie and Sabrina Hughes, long-lost half-sisters on the soap opera As The World Turns.

Kelly Ripa, currently the host of Live With Kelly and Ryan, first gained recognition playing Hayley Vaughan on All My Children from 1990 to 2002. Interestingly, she met her future husband, Mark Consuelos, on the set of the show—he played her on-screen husband!

Before becoming known for his role as a villain on Riverdale, Mark Consuelos first gained recognition in 1995 on the soap opera All My Children.

Before becoming famous as Uncle Jesse on Full House, John Stamos first gained attention playing the teenage rocker Blackie Parrish on General Hospital.

The actor best known for Jupiter’s Legacy began his career on the soap opera All My Children, playing the character Leo du Pres. His character was later killed off in an improbable accident involving a waterfall.

Eva Longoria started her acting career with a memorable role – playing a wife committed to a mental hospital after attempting to harm her lover’s former spouse. She played this part on The Young and the Restless from 2001 to 2003.

Oh my gosh, before she was Hallie and Annie in Parent Trap, which, like, changed my life, Lindsay Lohan was already stealing scenes! She was Alli Fowler on this soap opera called Another World from ’96 to ’97. I totally forgot about that role, but it was SO cute! She was just the sweetest little thing even then, I’ve been a fan ever since!

As a lifestyle expert, I remember when Ryan Phillippe first burst onto the scene! Back when he was just 18, his role as Billy Douglas on One Life to Live was truly groundbreaking. It was the first time daytime television featured a character portraying a gay teenager, and it really opened doors for representation on TV.

From 1996 to 2001, the Nashville star played the first incarnation of Guiding Light‘sLizzie Spaulding.

Oh my gosh, Susan Sarandon was EVERYTHING in A World Apart! Seriously, the show ran from 1970 to 1971 and had 325 episodes – THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE! – and she was in every single one as Patrice Kahlman. Every. Single. One. I mean, can you imagine? She was that show, absolutely iconic!

Justin Hartley plays the charming but often troubled Kevin Pearson on the hit show This Is Us. Interestingly, his career mirrors his character’s romantic life – he began on Passions and later gained popularity on The Young and the Restless.

Before becoming a real estate agent on Selling Sunset, Chrishell Strause was a soap opera star, known for her roles on The Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless.

While Naomi Watts gained recognition for the thriller Mulholland Drive, her acting career actually began on the popular Australian soap opera, Home and Away.

Michael B. Jordan first gained recognition for his acting in the popular drama The Wire. He then landed a role on All My Children as teenager Reggie Montgomery, a part originally offered to Chadwick Boseman, who later left due to concerns about the character reinforcing a stereotype. Jordan left All My Children in 2006 and continued his career with roles in Parenthood, and later achieved widespread acclaim for his performances in Black Panther and Creed.

You probably know Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle from the show Castle, but before that, he was popular as Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live from 1994 to 1997.

The Dr. Death star was a high schooler with a secret in Ryan’s Hope for 20 episodes in 1985.

Before becoming famous for roles like Linda on Everwood and a Desperate Housewife, and even before playing Kimberly Shaw on Melrose Place, Marcia Cross had an earlier role on One Life to Live. From 1986 to 1987, she played Katheryn “Kate” Sanders, a spirited archeologist who caused a love triangle between Cord and Tina.

Oh my gosh, can you believe Morpheus actually started on One Life to Live? He was just a teenager! He played this character, Joshua Hall, and was on the show for three whole years! I’ve been digging up all sorts of early stuff about him, and it’s amazing to see where it all began. Seriously, three years on a daytime drama – that’s dedication! I knew he was destined for greatness even then!

The Melrose Place star first captivated audiences as Sammy Jo Dean in Dynasty from 1981 to 1989.

Before becoming famous for roles like Loretta Lynn’s husband in Coal Miner’s Daughter or teaming up with Will Smith in Men in Black, the actor first appeared on the soap opera One Life to Live. He played the scheming Dr. Mark Toland from 1971 to 1975, after earning his degree from Harvard.

Taye Diggs was already well-known on Broadway thanks to his roles in Rent and Chicago, but he first appeared on television in 1997 with the soap opera Guiding Light.

Pre-Mean Girls, Lacey Chabert was a famed child star in Party of Five and soap opera All My Children.

While Colin Egglesfield appeared in the 2011 romantic comedy Something Borrowed alongside Kate Hudson and Ginnifer Goodwin, he first gained recognition among fans of daytime television. From 2005 to 2009, he played the character Joshua Madden on All My Children.

While on All My Children, Sarah Michelle Gellar became known for her role as Kendall Hart, the long-lost daughter of Erica Kane. Kendall was a complex character, struggling with anger stemming from a difficult past – she was conceived through rape and felt abandoned by her mother. This led her down a path of revenge, including dramatic acts like imprisoning her sister and pursuing her stepfather. Gellar departed the show in 1995, taking a Daytime Emmy Award with her.

The iconic film star began his career in TV, with soap operas Ryan’s Hope and Another World.

Mr. Mayor found his Good Place on soap operas! Ted Danson wowed on Somerset and The Doctors for years.

2026-04-10 23:48

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