Bryton James (Devon, Y&R)

Bryton began his acting career when he was just a toddler. He landed his very first commercial audition for Disney Mattel at the tender age of 2. By the time he was 3, Bryton won his first television series role, playing Richie on FAMILY MATTERS. He appeared on the show throughout its nine-year run. MORE

Lauralee Bell (Christine, Y&R)

Lauralee Bell was born and raised in Chicago. The daughter of William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell, Lauralee and her older brothers moved to Los Angeles after her parents created Y&R. MORE

Peter Bergman (Jack, Y&R)

Jack Abbott has always been a bit of a ladies' man. Who knew that his portrayer, Peter Bergman, found his way into acting by chasing after a girl? And lucky for daytime and his fans, he did. MORE

Vail Bloom (Heather, Y&R)

Born in Boston but raised in Connecticut and Florida, Vail Bloom never aspired to be an actress growing up. In fact, when she enrolled at Princeton University, she majored in architecture, eventually earning a Bachelor's degree in the subject. MORE

Tracey E. Bregman (Lauren, Y&R)

Department store heiress Lauren Fenmore has certainly led an eventful life on on both Y&R and BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL, but her portrayer, Tracey E. Bregman's background is just as colorful. Born to a showbiz family in Munich, Germany, Bregman then lived in London, England until she was 10, when her clan relocated to Los Angeles. MORE

Eric Braeden (Victor, Y&R)

Eric Braeden was born Hans Gudegast on April 3 in Kiel, Germany. He emigrated to the United States in the late '50s and settled in Texas. Prior to beginning his acting career, Braeden worked in the University of Texas' medical school lab. He relocated to Los Angeles where he attended Santa Monica College. MORE

Tricia Cast (Nina, Y&R)

Long Island, NY native Tricia Cast has been acting professionally since she was 12 years old. In 1979, she played Tatum O'Neal's role in the TV version of THE BAD NEWS BEARS. Throughout the early '80s, she continued to do guest appearances in prime-time series such as LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE and IT'S A LIVING. MORE

Sharon Case (Sharon, Y&R)

They say the third time's the charm, a cliché that has worked out well for Sharon Case. After short stints on GENERAL HOSPITAL, AS THE WORLD TURNS and VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, Case was cast as the third Sharon Collins Newman, a role she's held since 1994. MORE

Judith Chapman (Gloria, Y&R)

Judith Chapman was born in Greenville, S.C. The daughter of an Air Force General, she spent the majority of her childhood living outside of the United States. As a young teen, she caught the acting bug and began her career in Spain. MORE

Jeanne Cooper (Katherine, Y&R)

Born in Taft, Calif., in 1928, Jeanne Cooper attended College of the Pacific before graduating from Pasadena Playhouse School. Cooper's career included television guest spots on THE TWILIGHT ZONE, PERRY MASON, L.A. LAW, MAVERICK, TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL, THE NANNY and BEN CASEY (for which she received a prime-time Emmy nomination). MORE

Doug Davidson (Paul, Y&R)

Doug Davidson was a marine biology major at Occidental College before venturing into acting. On May 15, 1978, Davidson assumed the role of Paul Williams on Y&R, where he would meet his future wife, Cindy, who has portrayed two roles on the show. He received his first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in 2003, on the eve of his 25th anniversary with Y&R. MORE

Eileen Davidson (Ashley, Y&R)

Born and raised in southern California, Eileen Davidson started her career as a model in Mexico City and California. She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in 2003, as well as a Soap Opera Digest Award for Favorite Return in 1999. MORE

Don Diamont (Bill, B&B)

He may play handsome ladies' man Brad Carlton on Y&R, but portrayer Don Diamont admits that even he went through an awkward stage when he was younger. Still, the New York, NY, native eventually began a brief modeling career ("I didn't like standing there for hours on end having my picture taken."), and then switched to acting. MORE

Jerry Douglas (ex-John, Y&R)

For over two decades, Jerry Douglas reigned in Genoa City as Abbott patriarch John Abbott. Born Gerald Rubenstein and raised in Chelsea, Massachusetts, Douglas went to Brandeis University to earn a degree in economics. MORE

John Driscoll (Chance, Y&R)

Born in Woodbridge, Va., John Driscoll was raised in a military family. "I grew up in that regimented lifestyle," says the actor, whose father Eugene graduated from West Point and was a lieutenant colonel in the Army. MORE

Chris Engen (ex-Adam/Victor Jr., Y&R)

Born in Apple Valley, California, Chris Engen moved to Los Angeles while in junior high school. His interest in the performing arts led him to take guitar lessons at age 12. MORE

Hayley Erin (Abby, Y&R)

Los Angeles, CA native Hayley Erin began acting professionally when she was still in grade school. Though she's still only a teen, she's already appeared in many popular prime-time series, including THE DISTRICT, TWO AND A HALF MEN and MODERN FAMILY, and had a recurring role on EMILY'S REASONS WHY NOT. MORE

Clementine Ford (Mac, Y&R)

Born in Memphis, TN, the daughter of nightclub entertainer David Ford and model/actress Cybill Shepherd, Clementine Ford always seemed destined for the limelight. She made her acting debut on her mother's hit comedy series, Cybill, in 1998. MORE

Adrienne Frantz (Amber, Y&R)

Adrienne Frantz began performing at a young age, immersing herself in theater, voice and dance lessons while in her hometown of Mount Clemens, Michigan. At age sixteen she headed east, where she enrolled in a Medford, New Jersey high school and pursued voice and acting lessons in New York City. MORE

Daniel Goddard (Cane, Y&R)

Australian native Daniel Goddard created the role of Ethan "Cane" Ashby, Jill's biological son who Katherine gave away as an infant, on YOUNG AND RESTLESS. Goddard was a year shy of completing a degree in finance when he decided to switch gears and go for a career in acting. MORE

Michael Graziadei (Daniel, Y&R)

Michael Graziadei joined the cast of THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS as a recast of Daniel Romalotti Jr. Graziadei was born in Germany and began acting at the age of 5 when he was in a production of The King and I. His family later moved to Nashua, N.H. where he starred in a production of The Basset Table. MORE

Camryn Grimes (ex-Cassie, Y&R)

Born in Van Nuys, California, Grimes has acting in her blood. Her mother is actress Heather Grimes, her father is actor/producer Preston Lee, and her uncle is actor Scott Grimes. MORE

Stacy Haiduk (Patty, Y&R)

A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Stacy Haiduk began her career dancing and modeling. She moved to New York City at the age of 17 to pursue both and, in the process, began studying acting. Before long, things were off and running in a new direction. MORE

Amelia Heinle (Victoria, Y&R)

Amelia Heinle has been fighting her way to the top since her first audition at LOVING. As an aspiring actress, the Arizona native worked at a coat check in Manhattan. On a lunch break, she caught a cab to a LOVING audition, but was thrown off when the cab brought her to the ONE LIFE TO LIVE set. MORE

Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe, Y&R)

Born in New York, Elizabeth Hendrickson developed a passion for acting at a young age. She grew up a devout fan of the TV series STAR SEARCH. By the time she was in the eighth grade, she auditioned and became a finalist for THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB. MORE

Christel Khalil Hensley (Lily, Y&R)

A true California girl, Christel Khalil Hensley was born and bred in Los Angeles. She got into acting via her three older brothers, who often accompanied her to acting school. Eventually, Khalil's mom enrolled her in a class, too. By the time she was 5, Khalil was out on the audition circuit and admits she never considered another career path. MORE

David Lago (ex-Raul, Y&R)

Born in Downey, CA, the 5-feet-7-inch actor joined Y&R in August 1999, and received four Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Younger Actor, in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004. MORE

Christian J. LeBlanc (Michael, Y&R)

Christian J. LeBlanc began his career all wet — literally...LeBlanc was doing laps in the school's swimming pool when he was approached by a photographer who suggested he look into modeling. MORE

Adrianne Leon (ex-Colleen, Y&R)

Singer, songwriter, and actress Adrianne Leon wrote songs for GENERAL HOSPITAL for two years before getting cast as Brook Lynn Ashton. MORE

Kate Linder (Esther, Y&R)

Kate Linder first joined Y&R as a nameless day player in 1982. However, she kept getting invited back and the audience soon fell in love with the wacky maid she played, who co-star Jeanne Cooper (Katherine) had named "Esther." MORE

Thad Luckinbill (J.T., Y&R)

Thad Luckinbill has had a successful acting career, both on Y&R and in movies and prime-time, but he's a Midwestern boy at heart. Growing up in Enid, OK, he was the only sibling who shared his mother, Anna Sue's interest in entertaining (she's a singer). He would perform in church plays and also enjoyed singing and playing guitar. MORE

Vanessa Marano (Eden, Y&R)

A native Californian, Vanessa Marano began acting onstage at the tender age of 6. She performed in numerous plays at Agoura Children's Theatre in Agoura Hills, Calif. Her first professional work was appearing in several national television commercials. MORE

Eva Marcille (Tyra, Y&R)

A native of Southern California, Eva Marcille relocated to Atlanta to attend Clark University, where she majored in speech communications with an emphasis in theater. Marcille received an early acceptance to Vanderbilt Law School, but declined it when she found out she was chosen to be a contestant on AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL. MORE

Darius McCrary (Malcolm, Y&R)

California native Darius McCrary was born into an entertainment family. His father, Howard McCrary is a singer and composer and his younger brother, Donovan, is also an actor. MORE

Billy Miller (Billy, Y&R)

Texas native Billy Miller got into acting while attending the University of Texas. After graduating from college, he moved to Los Angeles and was signed with the Wilhelmina agency. MORE

Joshua Morrow (Nicholas, Y&R)

Joshua Morrow was born lucky. An all-star athlete, he fell into acting almost without realizing how it happened.

Born in Juneau, Alaska, he moved to Oklahoma with his father after his parents divorced. MORE

Emily O'Brien (Jana, Y&R)

A native of Bedfordshire, England, Emily O'Brien moved to the States at the age of 10. The self-professed "theater girl" promptly began performing and studying acting. She appeared in plays at Carlsbad High School and at MiraCosta College, where she majored in theater. MORE

Nia Peeples (Karen, Y&R)

Virenia Gwendolyn Peeples was born and raised in California, where she lived with her parents and two sisters, Paula and Cynthia. As a child, Peeples performed locally with her family at concerts and conventions in her community, singing and dancing with many cultural styles, including Polynesian, Spanish and Irish. MORE

Greg Rikaart (Kevin, Y&R)

Born and raised in Staten Island, Greg Rikaart never expected to be a successful, award-winning actor. Although acting was a bug Rikaart caught early in life, he did not decide to pursue his passion until graduating from Villanova University in Pennsylvania, when he took the plunge and moved to sunny California. MORE

Victoria Rowell (ex-Drucilla, Y&R)

Victoria Rowell's childhood experiences shaped her into the woman she is today. One of six children, her family was split when they were placed in different foster homes. Rowell's foster mother believed greatly in promoting the arts and pushed her to discipline herself. MORE

Kevin Schmidt (Noah, Y&R)

Andover, KS native Kevin Schmidt got into acting thanks to his brothers Kendall and Kenneth. While both were involved with showbiz, a young Schmidt wasn't interested in performing himself. However, when he was about 9, his mother suggested he join his siblings in Los Angeles for the summer. MORE

Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki, Y&R)

Melody Thomas Scott began her career at age 3 under the tutelage of renowned coach Ethel Meglin, who helped launch the career of Shirley Temple. Scott studied singing, tap, ballet and jazz dancing. MORE

Ted Shackelford (Jeffrey, Y&R)

While going to high school in Tulsa, OK, Ted Shackelford had a percolating interest in acting, but it wasn't until he graduated from the University of Denver that he gave community theater a try. Thoroughly infected by the acting bug, Shackelford moved to New York City and worked as the night manager of The Carlyle Hotel while waiting for his big break. MORE

Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, Y&R)

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Michelle Stafford made the trek to California as an infant. Her parents moved her and her older sister, Janine, to Montrose, California, where she was raised. MORE

Kristoff St. John (Neil, Y&R)

Kristoff St. John was born with acting in his blood. His father, Christopher, is an actor/director, while his stepmother, Marie, is an actress who graduated from London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. St. John considers Marie to be his mother and has a great deal of respect for her for giving up her career for her family. MORE

Tammin Sursok (Colleen, Y&R)

A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sursok and her family moved to Australia when she was 5. Sursok discovered a love for acting early on and soon began performing on both television and the stage. She studied speech and drama at Trinity College of London. MORE

Joan Van Ark (ex-Gloria, Y&R)

Joan Van Ark was born in New York and is married to her high school sweetheart, John Marshall, a former award winning TV newsman. They are the parents of Vanessa Marshall, an accomplished actress and comedian. MORE

Billy Warlock (Ben, Y&R)

Born in Gardena, California, Billy Warlock is a staunch Aries who loves a good golf game and some quality time on the ski slopes.

Warlock's acting career began after he caught director Garry Marshall's eye while doing a stint as a stunt double for Robin Williams on MORK & MINDY. MORE

Lauren Woodland (ex-Brittany, Y&R)

A natural performer, Lauren Woodland has been dancing since she was three. She began working in the entertainment business at the age of five. She made her stage debut at age eight. MORE