Shemar Moore and Vivica A. Fox is set to return as Malcolm Winters and Dr. Stephanie Simmons, respectively, on The Young and the Restless this April. In 1994, the two characters had a brief romantic relationship that was set up by Malcolm’s sister-in-law, Olivia. However, their romance faded in 1995. This happened shortly after Malcolm became infatuated with brother’s wife, Drucilla, and slept with her while she was under the influence of cold medication. With the duo’s surprising return this year, curiosity has piqued about how they’ll be contributing to the ongoing storylines.
Vivica A. Fox and Shemar Moore return for new story arc on The Young and the Restless
Fox and Moore have begun to film their sequences on The Young and the Restless from February 17, 2026. The episodes featuring their storyline will come out sometime in April. Although not many details are known about their upcoming storylines, a press release did give a hint at what fans can expect. It read, “In the episodes, Malcolm Winters (Moore) and Dr. Stephanie Simmons’ (Fox) surprising return has shocking and lasting implications for the residents of Genoa City.”
Malcolm Winters has been a recurring character, played mainly by Moore in the years 1994–2005, 2014, 2019, and 2023. Only for the (2009–2011) stint, he was replaced by Darius McCrary. However, in 2024, in conversation with First For Women, Moore was asked whether he would like to return to soaps. He replied, “If The Young and the Restless called me today, I would go, because you never forget where you came from. It sounds cliché and maybe cheesy, but it’s also true.”
Before joining Y&R, Fox was an experienced daytime actor, having worked on Days of Our Lives and Generations. She only had a brief stint on Y&R, which lasted from 1994 to 1995. During her time, she was romantically associated with Malcolm Winters, with fans loving their striking chemistry. However, their romance ended due to their different lifestyles and professional lives’ demands.
