Shemar Moore recently made a heartfelt return to The Young and the Restless, the iconic soap opera that launched his acting career nearly three decades ago. The actor, now 55, appeared in three episodes from April 7 to 9, describing the experience as a homecoming.
“To be here at The Young and the Restless, it truly is coming home,” Moore said in an interview on the show’s YouTube series Y&R Insider. “They have asked me throughout the years to come visit and play a little bit, and you never say no. This is where it all started for me.”
Moore credits the late show creator Bill Bell for taking a chance on him as a young, nervous actor in 1994. Reflecting on his journey, he noted that without that opportunity, he wouldn’t have built the successful career he enjoys today.
“Without that moment and without my years here, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you,” he explained. “I wouldn’t be blessed with the 33 years that this game has given me.”
He likened his career progression to an educational journey: eight years on The Young and the Restless were his “high school,” 11 years on Criminal Minds served as “college,” and eight years on S.W.A.T. represented “graduate school.”
Moore also opened up about his initial insecurities on set, recalling how he feared being dismissed as a mistake. However, his late co-star Kristoff St. John, who played his on-screen brother, became a real-life mentor and source of support.
“Kristoff wrapped me up, and he said, ‘I got you. I’m gonna help you find your way,’” Moore shared. “He was a big brother to me on the screen. He was a big brother to me and a mentor in real life.”
Now a father to 3-year-old daughter Frankie, Moore expressed gratitude for the chance to revisit the show where his career—and a meaningful friendship—began. As he put it, returning to Genoa City leaves him feeling “humbled and honored and nostalgic.”