The Young and the Restless is a long-running American television soap opera, created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. It first aired on March 26, 1973. The longest-running current cast member is Doug Davidson, who has portrayed private investigator Paul Williams since May 19, 1978.[1]Jeanne Cooper, who portrayed the soap opera's matriarch Katherine Chancellor, holds the record for the series' longest-running cast member, airing from November 1973 until her death in May 2013.[2]Melody Thomas Scott and Eric Braeden, who portray Nikki and Victor Newman, are the second and third longest-running cast members, having joined in February 1979 and February 1980, respectively.[1][3]Kate Linder has portrayed Esther Valentine since April 1982, and rounds out the series' top four longest-running cast members.[4] The following list is of cast members who are currently on the show: both main and recurring members, as well as those who are debuting, departing or returning from the series.
