Few shows on television have lasted as long or inspired as much loyalty as The Young and the Restless, which has been introducing new faces, killing off old ones, and sending characters packing since 1973. Over the last 50-plus years, Genoa City has seen a steady churn of actors and storylines — but 2025 might just be one of the most eventful years yet.

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Premiere date: March 26, 1973 ·
Network: CBS ·
Creators: William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell ·
Setting: Genoa City, Wisconsin ·
Number of episodes (approx.): Over 7,800

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Will the show end soon? No official statement from CBS
  • Who exactly will leave in 2026? Speculative only
  • Details on Marguerite Ray’s cause of death not publicly released
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
The upshot

With five significant exits already in 2025 and more on the way, The Young and the Restless is refreshing its ensemble at a pace not seen since the early 2000s. Fans will need to pay attention to which exits are permanent deaths versus door-opening departures.

Will The Young and the Restless end?

What does the network say about the show’s future?

CBS has not announced any cancellation plans. The network officially renewed The Young and the Restless through the 2024–2025 season, following what CBS (the network’s official platform) described as continued strong engagement from its core audience.

Ratings and renewal history

Despite a long-term decline in broadcast daytime viewing, The Young and the Restless consistently ranks as the #1 or #2 most-watched daytime drama in total viewers. According to IMDb News (industry news aggregator), the show has maintained enough viewership to justify annual renewal cycles since its 1973 debut. The series has never faced a significant cancellation threat.

The implication: For someone wondering if the show will last another year, the track record says yes — but only as long as CBS sees it as a profitable asset in its daytime lineup.

Who passed away on The Young and the Restless in real life?

Which actress from The Young and the Restless just passed away?

Marguerite Ray, who appeared on The Young and the Restless in the 1980s as Judge Sherry Grayson, died in 2025 at age 89. Ray’s death was confirmed by multiple outlets, including Soap Opera Digest (the authoritative soap industry publication). No cause of death has been publicly shared.

What young and the restless actor died at the age of 89?

That actor is Marguerite Ray, whose role spanned several episodes during the early years of the show’s history. She was among the larger ensemble of recurring judges and legal figures that populated Genoa City’s courtroom scenes.

Earlier notable real-life deaths include Kristoff St. John, who played Neil Winters and died in 2019 at age 52. St. John’s death was widely reported by The Hollywood Reporter (the entertainment trade publication) as a devastating loss for the daytime community.

Why this matters

For viewers who grew up with these faces, each real-life death breaks a tie to the show’s history. The loss of older cast members narrows the living link to the 1970s and 80s era of the series.

Why is Mariah leaving Young and Restless?

Is Mariah’s departure permanent?

Actress Camryn Grimes, who has played Mariah Copeland since 2014, announced her departure from The Young and the Restless in early 2025. According to ScreenRant (the entertainment news outlet), Grimes’s exit is tied to personal growth and off-screen opportunities. The show has not officially stated whether the door will be left open for a future return.

What storyline leads to her exit?

Mariah’s exit storyline involved her character leaving Genoa City to pursue new professional opportunities, a classic soap device that allows for a potential return. As of mid-2025, no final air date for Grimes’s last episode has been confirmed by production.

The pattern: Mariah’s departure fits a recurring narrative strategy — exit with dignity, not death — keeping the door open for actor returns when schedules allow.

Who is the longest cast member on Young and the Restless?

The table below shows which actors hold the longest tenure on the current roster.

Actor Character First Episode
Melody Thomas Scott Nikki Newman 1979
Eric Braeden Victor Newman 1980
Tracey E. Bregman Lauren Fenmore 1983 (with breaks)
Christian LeBlanc Michael Baldwin 1991
Doug Davidson Paul Williams 1978

Melody Thomas Scott joined The Young and the Restless in 1979, making her the longest-serving current cast member. Eric Braeden followed in 1980 as Victor Newman and has played the role continuously since. Their consistency is a rarity in daytime television, where cast turnover is high.

The trade-off: For longtime viewers, these anchor actors provide continuity; for new viewers, the deep history can feel like a barrier to entry. The show balances both by pairing them with newer characters.

Is Claire on Young and the Restless really Victoria’s daughter?

Claire’s backstory and reveal

Yes, Claire Grace was confirmed as Victoria Newman’s biological daughter in a 2024 storyline. The reveal, reported by IMDb News (the film and TV database outlet), was a major plot twist that brought together decades of family drama. Actress Hayley Erin currently plays the role of Claire.

How other characters react

The revelation sent waves through the Newman family, especially affecting Victor, Nikki, and Victoria’s other children. The storyline allowed the show to revisit past events from Victoria’s younger years, giving veteran actors and viewers a chance to reflect on character history.

What to watch

Claire’s integration into the Newman dynamics has created new friction points between Victoria and her siblings — and raised questions about inheritance, loyalty, and whose side she will ultimately take. Viewers tracking the Newman family tree will find this one of the more layered additions in recent years.

2025 timeline: exits and deaths

The chronology below traces how the show’s cast has shifted during its most turbulent year in decades.

Date/period Event Type
1973 Premiere of The Young and the Restless on CBS Milestone
January 24, 2025 Jordan Howard (Colleen Zenk) dies on-screen Character death
January 2025 Ian Ward (Ray Wise) dies in shootout with Victor Character death
January 27, 2025 Cameron Kirsten (Linden Ashby) final episode Character exit
2019 Death of Kristoff St. John (real life) at age 52 Real-life death
2024 Claire revealed as Victoria’s biological daughter Plot twist
Early 2025 Camryn Grimes (Mariah) announces departure Cast exit
May 2025 Allison Lanier (Summer) announces departure Cast exit
2025 Marguerite Ray dies at age 89 (real life) Real-life death
2025 Connor Floyd (Chance Chancellor) leaves; character killed off Character death
2025 Michelle Morgan (Amanda Sinclair) exits; last appearance September 2025 Cast exit

The pattern: Five on-screen character deaths and at least three actor departures make 2025 one of the most dramatic years of turnover in the show’s modern history. But the distinction between character death and actor departure matters: only some exits are permanent.

The catch

Not every 2025 departure is a death. Some characters left town alive, meaning the door remains open for actor returns. Fans who mourned Chance Chancellor’s death should take note: in soap operas, rarely is death truly final.

Confirmed facts vs what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Marguerite Ray passed away in 2025 at age 89 — confirmed by Soap Opera Digest (the soap industry’s primary news source)
  • Mariah (Camryn Grimes) is leaving The Young and the Restless in 2025
  • Claire is Victoria’s biological daughter — revealed in 2024
  • Jordan Howard, Ian Ward, and Cameron Kirsten exited the show in January 2025

What remains unclear

  • Will the show end in the near future? No official statement from CBS
  • Which actors will leave in 2026? Only speculative coverage so far
  • Details on Marguerite Ray’s cause of death have not been released
  • Whether Camryn Grimes or Allison Lanier will return in the future is unconfirmed

“Summer’s departure sent her to Italy, not to a soap opera grave. That distinction matters for fans hoping for a return.”

ScreenRant (the entertainment news outlet)

For a show that has aired over 7,800 episodes since 1973, uncertainty about the future is hardly new. But for current viewers, the question is less “will the show end?” and more “who will still be in Genoa City when the next chapter begins?”

Additional sources

youtube.com, youtube.com

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Frequently asked questions

How long has The Young and the Restless been on the air?

Since March 26, 1973 — more than 50 years and over 7,800 episodes.

Who is the current executive producer of The Young and the Restless?

Josh Griffith is the current executive producer and head writer.

What is the name of the fictional city in The Young and the Restless?

Genoa City, Wisconsin.

How can I watch episodes of The Young and the Restless online?

Episodes stream on Paramount+ after their CBS broadcast airing.

Has The Young and the Restless ever been canceled?

No, the show has aired continuously since 1973 and has never faced cancellation.

Which actor has played Victor Newman the longest?

Eric Braeden has played Victor Newman since 1980.

Are there any plans for a crossover with Beyond the Gates?

No official crossover announcements have been made as of 2025.

For longtime fans of Genoa City, the news in 2025 is bittersweet. Real-life losses like Marguerite Ray and Kristoff St. John remind us that the actors behind the characters are human, while on-screen departures ensure the story keeps moving forward. Whether you are following the Newman family tree or just checking in on the show’s future from a distance, one thing stands firm: The Young and the Restless remains television’s most durable daytime drama — and its most eventful year in decades is still unfolding.