Vivica A. Fox is returning to The Young and the Restless as Stephanie Simmons, and the comeback gives a clear answer to a question longtime viewers may have had: where has Stephanie been for the past three decades? Fox says the character has not disappeared from the story world, but has built a full life as a highly accomplished doctor in Manhattan.
Fox will appear on Tuesday, April 7, and her return brings back a role she first played in the mid-1990s. In an exclusive interview, she said the comeback was unexpected, but the timing felt right once CBS and the creative team reached out.
A surprise call led to the return
Fox said the offer came after she had just signed with a new agency and was at home when her representatives told her The Young and the Restless wanted her back. She said the idea immediately caught her off guard because she had not been planning a daytime return.
The surprise grew when she learned that Shemar Moore would also be part of the storyline. Moore previously played Malcolm Winters, Stephanie’s former love interest, and their reunion became a major reason Fox agreed to return.
Fox said she told the production team that she was open to coming back if the story made sense. Executive producer and head writer Josh Griffith then explained that Malcolm would contact Stephanie because he needed help, which would set the plot in motion.
Where Stephanie has been since Fox last played her
Fox gave a direct update on Stephanie’s life away from Genoa City. She said Stephanie became an accomplished doctor and now lives in Manhattan, where her career has thrived.
According to Fox, the character also experienced loss and is now widowed. That detail keeps Stephanie grounded in her work while leaving space for Malcolm’s return to stir up new tension.
- Stephanie built a successful medical career.
- She moved to Manhattan.
- She lost her husband.
- Malcolm’s return reopens unfinished business.
Back on set after 30 years
Fox said stepping back into the soap was easier than expected because familiar faces were still on set. She noted that some cast members from her original run remained with the show, which made the experience feel like a homecoming.
She also said seeing Melody Thomas Scott, who plays Nikki Newman, made a strong impression. Fox described the return as personal and emotional, especially because so many creative and cast relationships had lasted for years.
At the same time, she acknowledged the pace of daytime television was intense. Fox compared the first week to boot camp, saying the schedule felt like shooting a mini-movie every week, though her work in Lifetime films helped her adjust quickly.
Memories of Kristoff St. John
The return also brought back memories of late actor Kristoff St. John, who played Neil Winters. Fox said she saw a large portrait of him in the producers’ offices and became emotional.
She said she and St. John started on Generations together and later worked on a Lifetime film, A Christmas Cruise. Fox said they had planned a sequel before his death in 2019, and she described him as a first love in her professional life whose memory still matters deeply.
The production team, she said, understood the moment and let her take the time she needed before moving forward with the work. That emotional thread adds another layer to Stephanie’s return, since the character’s past is tied to people who helped shape Fox’s early career.
Why the comeback matters for Fox
Fox said The Young and the Restless played a key role in launching her broader career. She pointed out that the soap helped lead her to Independence Day, which opened the door to a long Hollywood run that now includes more than 270 credits.
Her return also reconnects her with Moore, with whom she has worked before on both The Young and the Restless and the 2004 film Motives. Fox said the two actors quickly fell back into an easy rhythm, with no need to rebuild the chemistry that made their earlier scenes memorable.
She also said Moore’s success in television and his role as a father made the reunion even more meaningful. Fox added that both actors have grown professionally, but their off-screen comfort helped the on-screen dynamic feel natural again.
How the storyline could play out
Fox said the new material is already building suspense, and she expects viewers to see a mix of secrets, history, and unresolved feelings. She said Stephanie and Malcolm are coming back with unfinished business, and that the story will unfold through the help Malcolm seeks from her.
The actress also connected her return to the broader daytime landscape, noting that she had originally tried to join Beyond the Gates after introducing key people behind the project. Even so, she said The Young and the Restless was the right fit at the right time, especially since the show helped shape her path from daytime television to mainstream film and back again.
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