In the world of soap operas, a character’s departure is more than a plot twist — it’s an emotional fracture. Between 2024 and 2025, The Young and the Restless saw several powerhouse exits, not only shifting storylines but shaking the hearts of longtime fans.These weren’t just minor transitions; they were landmark farewells. Some were dramatic deaths. Others were emotional send-offs or personal career choices.
But all of them marked the end of an era.
Here, we spotlight five of the most impactful exits in recent Y&R history — each one a turning point, on-screen and off.
1. Christian LeBlanc：Michael Baldwin tearfully bids farewell, Y&R loses its courtroom soul
In the show: Prominent attorney and moral anchor
Farewell Date: June 2025
Exit Type: Voluntary hiatus, emotional goodbye
For over three decades, Michael Baldwin was the courtroom conscience of Genoa City — sharp, composed, and morally complex. Portrayed by Emmy-winning Christian LeBlanc since 1991, the character became an irreplaceable fixture in the Y&R landscape.
In June 2025, LeBlanc announced his departure via a tearful video message on social media: “I can’t talk for long… too emotional… thank you for letting me live this journey.
” His voice cracked as he expressed gratitude, and fans responded in droves — with #ThankYouMichael trending almost instantly.
Behind the scenes, the reason was deeply personal: LeBlanc chose to step away to focus on health and family matters. Fans, while heartbroken, showed overwhelming support and flooded comment sections with love and memories. Many hope — and believe — that Michael Baldwin’s return is only a matter of time.
2. Jermaine Rivers：Damian Kane dies suddenly, causing the core of the plot to collapse
In the show: Antihero and major conflict catalyst
Farewell Date: Early July 2025
Exit Type: On-screen death, poisoned and stabbed
One of 2025’s most shocking plotlines was the violent demise of Damian Kane — poisoned and then stabbed during a heated confrontation.
Although soap fans are always skeptical of “final” deaths, Jermaine Rivers quickly confirmed via social media: “Yes, this is the end… thank you for the wild, intense ride.”
Reactions were mixed. Many fans applauded Rivers for bringing unexpected complexity to the short-lived role, while others criticized the writers for cutting off what could have been a rich, evolving character arc. Damian’s death didn’t just end a plotline — it left several others dangling.
While Rivers was not a long-term Y&R actor, his performance left a lasting impact, and his exit reshaped the show’s power dynamics heading into the second half of 2025.
3. Colleen Zenk：Jordan’s Poisonous Tea Farewell, The Villainess Queen’s Final Battle
In the show: Scheming antagonist and Victor Newman’s nemesis
Farewell Date: January 24, 2025
Exit Type: Poisoned suicide — powerful scripted death
Soap veteran Colleen Zenk, best known for her decades on As the World Turns, joined Y&R in late 2023 as the villainous Jordan Howard. Cold, calculating, and electric on screen, Jordan quickly became a central threat to the Newman family — one that even Victor himself struggled to contain.
Her exit was theatrical and unforgettable: trapped at the Newman Ranch, Jordan calmly drank poisoned tea and declared, “I’d rather die than let you define my ending.” The moment went viral, with fans across Reddit and X (Twitter) calling it “a masterclass in soap villainy” and “one of the most poetic deaths in recent memory.”
Zenk later shared in an interview that she knew from the start this would be Jordan’s fate: “She was never meant to go quietly.
Her death had to be her own choice — with power and intent.”
4. Allison Lanier：Summer quietly exits, the actor chooses to turn and grow
In the show: Daughter of Nick and Phyllis; part of the show’s next generation
Farewell Date: May 2, 2025
Exit Type: Actor departure, character left open-ended
Allison Lanier joined Y&R in 2022 as Summer Newman and quickly made the role her own, earning a 2024 Daytime Emmy nomination. But in May 2025, Lanier announced her decision to leave the series, writing: “It’s time for me to grow in a new direction.”
This wasn’t a writing decision — Lanier made the choice independently, and producers left the door open for Summer’s future return.
Fans were saddened, but understanding, and many praised her portrayal as “the most grounded and relatable version of Summer yet.”
In her farewell interview, Lanier said, “I’ve grown so much here — personally and professionally. But growth also means knowing when to step away.” Her honesty and grace won her even more admiration from the Y&R audience.
5. Ray Wise：Ian Ward was killed, marking the end of a decade-long villain.
In the show: Cult leader and legacy villain
Farewell Date: Late 2024
Exit Type: Shot by Victor Newman during a final standoff
Ian Ward, played by Ray Wise, has been one of Y&R’s most chilling and manipulative villains since his 2014 debut. A master of psychological control and founder of a dark cult, Ian’s return in 2024 was meant to disrupt the balance — and it did.
In a climactic standoff at the Newman Ranch, Victor shot Ian point-blank. Ian was declared dead en route to the hospital, ending years of torment — and finally closing a chapter many fans had waited a decade to resolve.
Wise, a prolific character actor with a cult following, did not issue a public farewell. However, cast and crew revealed he was “deeply intentional” about giving Ian a definitive ending.
As one crew member shared, “He gave us a villain who never needed redemption — just resolution.”
Epilogue：They call the curtain call, and the memory will last forever
Their departure is not only a change of actor or plot advancement, but also a letting go and commemoration of the audience’s long-term emotional investment.
Every farewell is a pause in the heartbeat; The exit of each character is the end of a chapter in Y&R’s history.
These curtain calls remind us that no matter how long the story is, there will be a day when it ends, but that glance, every word, a dialogue, and a melody will be in our hearts and will never end.
