The Young and the Restless Alums Vivica A. Fox and Shemar Moore Return to Genoa City

The duo will reprise their roles as Malcolm Winters and Stephanie Simmons for a multi-episode run starting in April.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

The Young and the Restless (Y&R) alumni Vivica A. Fox and Shemar Moore are set to return to the fictional town of Genoa City for a multi-episode arc starting in April. The two actors will be reprising their roles as Malcolm Winters and Stephanie Simmons, characters they originally portrayed in the 1990s on the long-running CBS soap opera.

Why it matters

The return of these popular characters is sure to excite longtime Y&R fans, as both Moore and Fox had memorable runs on the show in the past. Their on-screen reunion could also potentially lead to the rekindling of the romantic relationship between their two characters, which was a popular storyline during their initial tenures.

The details

Moore's character Malcolm Winters is the younger brother of Neil Winters, played by the late Kristoff St. John. Malcolm was a series regular from 1994 to 2005, with Moore making brief returns in 2014, 2019, and 2023 for the show's 50th anniversary. Fox's character Dr. Stephanie Simmons was a colleague of Dr. Olivia Winters and had a shorter run on the show from 1994 to 1995. Stephanie and Malcolm were previously involved in a relationship that ended due to Stephanie's demanding career.

  • Moore and Fox began filming their Y&R scenes on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
  • Their multi-episode arc is set to begin airing in April 2026.

The players

Shemar Moore

An American actor best known for his roles on The Young and the Restless and the CBS drama S.W.A.T.

Vivica A. Fox

An American actress who has appeared in numerous films and television shows, including a previous stint on The Young and the Restless.

Malcolm Winters

A character on The Young and the Restless, originally portrayed by Shemar Moore from 1994 to 2005.

Stephanie Simmons

A character on The Young and the Restless, originally portrayed by Vivica A. Fox from 1994 to 1995.

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What’s next

Viewers will have to tune in to see what brings these two characters back to Genoa City and whether their past relationship will be rekindled.

The takeaway

The return of popular characters Malcolm Winters and Stephanie Simmons, played by Shemar Moore and Vivica A. Fox, is sure to generate excitement among longtime fans of The Young and the Restless. Their on-screen reunion could lead to the revival of their previous romantic storyline, adding drama and intrigue to the show.