The Young and the Restless is bringing a familiar face to soap fans to play the role of Jill Foster Abbott. Lauren Koslow, best known to daytime drama devotees as Kate Roberts on Days of our Lives, is stepping into the role of Billy’s mom.
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TV Insider first reported that Koslow will be playing Jill, temporarily, as Jess Walton, Jill’s portrayer since 1987, was unavailable due to a scheduling conflict. “We’re extremely grateful to Lauren Koslow for returning to her Y&R roots and temporarily stepping into the role of Jill,” read a joint statement by Sally McDonald, executive producer, and Josh Griffith, head writer.
“We want to extend our sincere thanks to [executive producer] Ken Corday [executive producer] and Noel Maxam [co-executive producer] at Days of Our Lives and Peacock,” continued the statement. “Their support embodies the collaborative spirit of the daytime television community.”
While Koslow has been playing Kate since the first Jim Reilly-era on DAYS, she’s also no stranger to TV City, Y&R’s home. The actress began her daytime career on Y&R, playing scheming Lindsey Wells, who fell for bad boy Jack Abbott (then, Terry Lester; now, Peter Bergman).
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After a two-year stint in the mid-1980s, Koslow moved across the hall to become an original cast member of The Bold and the Beautiful. She was cast as Margo Lynley, Eric Forrester’s (John McCook) right arm at Forrester Creations.
Margo had also had a dalliance with Ridge (then, Ronn Moss; now, Thorsten Kaye). Margo had a fling with Clarke Garrison (Dan McVictor), which resulted in the birth of their son, Mark (Michael Dietz). The fashion designer wed Bill Spencer (Jim Storm), but after a few years, Margoleft town. She returned briefly, years later, to help introduce an adult Mark to the canvas.
Y&R added in its statement that Walton is still a vital part of the show’s future: “Jess Walton is an enduring cornerstone of Y&R. We look forward to welcoming her back to Genoa City as her schedule permits and celebrating her extraordinary 40th anniversary as the iconic Jill Abbott.”
Walton made her debut on Y&R in 1987, taking over for Brenda Dickson, who originated the role, and returned to the part after it had been played by Deborah Adair, who, ironically, was Koslow’s predecessor as Kate on DAYS!
Jill and the late Katherine (Jeanne Cooper) are one of the greatest feuds in daytime television history, not just Y&R’s. Jill fell in love with Katherine’s estranged husband, Phillip Chancellor II (Donnelly Rhodes), and became pregnant with his son, Phillip III (Thom Bierdz).
Katherine crashed her car after driving drunk one night; she survived, but her passenger, Phillip II, did not. Katherine made sure that Jill and Phillip’s marriage was annulled. Years later, Jill was awarded half of the Chancellor Mansion by a judge.
Watch for Koslow to make her debut as Jill on Thursday, June 25.
Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramont Plus.
Edited by Michael Maloney