The 30 best characters from 'The Young and the Restless'

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Ranking the best

CBS

In honor of its 30th consecutive year as daytime’s most-watched drama, we’ve gone back over the long and storied history of The Young and the Restless to identify the show’s 30 best characters (and the terrific actors who made them happen). Some of the roles are long gone from Genoa City but that doesn’t make them any less important to the ratings. So without further ado…

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30. Gloria Abbott (Judith Chapman)

Robert Voets/CBS

The mother of Michael Baldwin married the great John Abbott, much to the chagrin of his children Jack and Ashley. Whoever they hated, we hated — but oh, was she fun to despise!

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29. Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown)

Robert Voets/CBS

A dynamic character that appeared on both Y&R and The Bold and the Beautiful, Sheila was the perfect villain and a frequent sparring partner for Lauren Fenmore.

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28. Lily Winters (Christel Khalil)

Monty Brinton/CBS

The daughter of fan favorites Drucilla and Malcolm has developed into a big fan favorite because of her romance with the hunky Cane Ashby.

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27. Ryan McNeil (Scott Reeves)

Monty Brinton/CBS

Oh, did Victor hate him! Ryan deflowered Victoria but ended up marrying the trashier Nina, who was much better in bed, anyway. What a cad! But a handsome one, at that.

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26. Daniel Romalotti (Michael Damian)

Tony Esparza/CBS

The rock star was quite a hit with the ladies — specifically Lauren Fenmore, Cricket Blair, and Phyllis Summers. Also, his hair always deserved its own (limited series) spin-off.

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25. Traci Abbott (Beth Maitland)

CBS

She always seemed too nice for the Abbott family, which is why she made such a suberb yin to her brother Jack’s yang.

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24. Nina Webster (Tricia Cast)

Cliff Lipson/CBS

Flo’s daughter was such a mammoth trainwreck! Much to the chagrin of Katherine and Jill, this trailer park Jezebel seduced and married Phillip Chancellor III and got rich quick.

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23. Leanna Randolph (Barbara Crampton)

Monty Brinton/CBS

She was a former mental patient who tried to kill Ashley and then went on to marry Vict. It only got crazier from there.

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22. Christine "Cricket" Blair (Lauralee Bell)

Dove Shore

Bell has always been a special part of the soap because she’s the daughter of William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell, the series’ creators. Also, her character went from being a teen model to a successful lawyer. Winning!

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21. Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle)

CBS

She’s an astute businesswoman and voracious maneater. Then again, what else would you expect from the daughter of Victor Newman?

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20. Sharon Newman (Sharon Case)

Monty Brinton/CBS

She excels at suffering, but at least she knows how to pick good men; she’s been hitched to Jack, Nick, Dylan and…Victor?! Hey, everyone makes mistakes now and then.

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19. Drucilla Winters (Victoria Rowell)

JPI

Drucilla married Neil but slept with his brother Malcolm. Their illicit union gave us Lily and endless hours of delicious entertainment until Rowell left the show in a blaze of glory. Memories!

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18. Kevin Fisher (Greg Rikaart)

Robert Voets/CBS

Gloria’s son and Michael’s brother was such a delightful little troublemaker.

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17. Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson)

CBS

The son of John and Jill is such a royal screw-up, which makes him all the more beloved.

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16. Brad Carlton (Don Diamont)

Cliff Lipson/CBS

The former groundskeeper at the Abbott estate wooed Traci and became an invaluable employee of Jabot Cosmetics. Naturally. Also: humada humada.

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15. Chelsea Lawson (Melissa Claire Egan)

CBS

She was such a bad, bad girl (who needs to make a Genoa City comeback, stat).

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14. Phyllis Summers (Gina Tognoni)

CBS

The scheming former groupie of rocker Danny Romalotti gave birth to his child Daniel and started a fierce rivalry with Cricket. She’s also the master manipulator of men (see: Jack, Nick).

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13. Paul Williams (Doug Davidson)

Courtesy of JPI Studios

Genoa City’s private investigator was also the nicest guy in town. I’m sorry, why did he have to leave again?

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12. John Abbott (Jerry Douglas)

Monty Brinton/CBS

Who doesn’t miss the days of this regal patriarch, especially when he called his daughter Ashley “my beauty”?

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11. Malcolm Winters (Shemar Moore)

Cliff Lipson/CBS

Poor Neil didn’t have a prayer with the ladies as long as his hot brother Malcolm was around. You’re welcome back anytime, baby boy.

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10. Lauren Fenmore (Tracey E. Bregman)

Monty Brinton/CBS

Her relationship with Michael Baldwin makes us all believe in endless love. Maybe it helps that she never really ages?

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9. Jill Foster Abbott (Jess Walton)

Cliff Lipson/CBS

As one of the drama’s more integral characters, Jill loves big and fights hard.

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8. Neil Winters (Kristoff St. John)

Monty Brinton/CBS

A lover, not a fighter, Neil rivals Paul as one of Genoa City’s good guys.

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7. Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson)

CBS

Victor never deserved her, but then who was ever really good enough for the queen of Genoa City?

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6. Victor Newman (Eric Braeden)

CBS

We can’t put him at No. 1; he’s just too damn infuriating. But that’s also why villains like Victor are so good for business: they know how to drive us mad.

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5. Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc)

CBS

A fantastic lawyer and terrific lover who’s also the funniest dude in town. What’s not to like?

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4. Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott)

Courtesy of JPI Studios

Anyone who’s endured multiple marriages to The Mustache deserves a top spot on our list. But that’s not the only reason we love Nikki: she’s faithful, tough, and deliciously candy-coated.

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Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow)

Courtesy of JPI Studios

We wept when his daughter Cassie was killed in a car accident. Now we just want to set him up with a cape and a super-tight bodysuit because if Genoa City were ever in need of a superhero, Nick would be it.

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Katherine Chancellor (the late Jeanne Cooper)

Monty Brinton/CBS

Daytime’s grand matriarch needs no introduction. We miss you, Duchess.

And the best character on Young and the Restless is…

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1. Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman)

CBS

It would be easy to explain away Jack’s importance to the show as the one character who can take down Victor Newman. But that’s not the primary reason why he’s at the top spot. While he may be volatile and frequently unpredictable, he’s also the bedrock of the show. There is simply no Y&R without Jack.

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The 30 best characters from The Young and the Restless

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Ranking the best

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30. Gloria Abbott (Judith Chapman)

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29. Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown)

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28. Lily Winters (Christel Khalil)

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27. Ryan McNeil (Scott Reeves)

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26. Daniel Romalotti (Michael Damian)

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25. Traci Abbott (Beth Maitland)

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24. Nina Webster (Tricia Cast)

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23. Leanna Randolph (Barbara Crampton)

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22. Christine "Cricket" Blair (Lauralee Bell)

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21. Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle)

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20. Sharon Newman (Sharon Case)

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19. Drucilla Winters (Victoria Rowell)

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18. Kevin Fisher (Greg Rikaart)

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17. Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson)

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16. Brad Carlton (Don Diamont)

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15. Chelsea Lawson (Melissa Claire Egan)

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14. Phyllis Summers (Gina Tognoni)

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13. Paul Williams (Doug Davidson)

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12. John Abbott (Jerry Douglas)

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11. Malcolm Winters (Shemar Moore)

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10. Lauren Fenmore (Tracey E. Bregman)

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9. Jill Foster Abbott (Jess Walton)

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8. Neil Winters (Kristoff St. John)

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7. Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson)

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6. Victor Newman (Eric Braeden)

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5. Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc)

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4. Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott)

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Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow)

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Katherine Chancellor (the late Jeanne Cooper)

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1. Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman)

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