The Young and the Restless star Melissa Ordway has been enjoying some frontburner story as Abby lately, thanks to Mariah making off with little Dominic. Now, Ordway is celebrating something enjoyable in her personal life – her birthday!
The Young and the Restless, Happy birthday, Melissa Ordway
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 31, Ordway began her acting career doing community theater. She starred in stage performances in high school in Beauty and the Beast, The Women, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She attended Georgia State University. During her time there, she was cast in a reality show on MTV titled The Assistant. Next, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue both modeling and acting.
Ordway’s pre-Y&R credits include guest spots on Entourage, How I Met Your Mother, and Melrose Place. She appeared on the big screen in Ted, which was directed by Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy).
After appearing in the series Privileged, Hollywood Heights (as Chloe Carter), Ordway was cast as Abby Newman Carlton on Y&R after Emme Rylan vacated the part to take on the role of Lulu on General Hospital.
Ordway’s work on Y&R earned her a 2022 Daytime Emmy nomination in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Ordway has been married to actor Justin Gaston (ex-Ben, Days of our Lives) since 2012. Gaston added Y&R to his resume when he stepped in to play the role of Chance for episodes in which Abby and Chance tied the knot. The couple has two daughters, Olivia Christine, 9, and Sophie Jolie, 8.
Dear Abby
Abby’s had quite the love life since Ordway stepped into the role. Her love interests and/or husbands have included Tyler Michaelson (Redaric Williams), Scotty Grainger (Daniel Hall), and Ben “Stitch” Rayburn (Sean Carrigan).
Abby split from husband Chance (Conner Floyd) and then wed Devon Winters (Bryton James). Abby is unique in that she’s biologically related to both the Abbott clan (her mother is Ashley Abbott, played by Eileen Davidson) and to the Newman family, as her father is Victor Newman (Eric Braeden).
Curiously, Abby is often absent from the Newman/Abbott wars, which is ironic as she could probably serve as a successful mediator between the two clans. She not only represents both families, but she is level-headed and fair.
Recently, Ordway shone as Abby became a fierce, protective mama bear after Mariah (Camryn Grimes) made off with her son, Dominic (Ethan Ray Clark). Read our write-up of Ordway’s tour de force in our Performer of the Week for Y&R here.
Soap Central wishes Ordway a happy birthday and many happy returns!
Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus
Edited by Michael Maloney