2025 has been the year of goodbyes for The Young and the Restless fans! From shocking deaths to fired actors and unexpected exits, the drama behind the scenes is almost as wild as what we see on-screen. Who left? Who made a shocking return? And which exit broke fans’ hearts the most? Find out all the details in this emotional round-up!

2025 has been a year of shocking exits, firings, and heartbreaking deaths on The Young and the Restless (Y&R). As fans continue to grapple with the emotional rollercoaster that is the Genoa City universe, here’s a look at some of the biggest departures from the show.

The year kicked off with Colleen Zank, who played the chaotic Aunt Jordan, making her dramatic exit on January 24th, 2025. Known for causing havoc with storylines involving Claire’s kidnapping and pushing Nikki off her sobriety, Aunt Jordan’s reign of terror finally ended when she fell victim to poisoned tea. Colleen Zank’s portrayal of this tumultuous character made her exit unforgettable.

Next came the surprising departure of Lyndon Ashby, who returned to Y&R in 2023 as Cameron Kirsten after a 20-year hiatus. Though Cameron’s return brought a mix of suspense and chills, his storyline was wrapped up on January 27th, 2025 after being written off once and for all. Cameron’s haunting return as a hallucination added to the drama, but it was time for Ashby to bid farewell to the show.

Then, in one of the most jaw-dropping moments of 2025, Ray Wise (the cult leader Ian Ward) made his final appearance on January 30th. Although fans initially believed Ian had died, a twist revealed he was still alive for a brief moment before vanishing once again, leaving fans uncertain about his future on the show.

In the real-life loss category, Wings Hauser, who played Greg Foster on Y&R from 1977 to 2010, tragically passed away on March 15th, 2025. His death sent shockwaves through the industry, leaving a deep void in the hearts of longtime fans.

Adding to the heartache, Pamela Bach—known for her role as Marie Joe Mason in the mid-90s—sadly passed away on March 23rd, 2025 at the age of 61 from suicide. Pamela’s departure was a devastating blow to the Y&R family.

Then came Christopher Cousins, who portrayed Dr. Alan Laurent and evil twin Martin. After years of manipulating the residents of Genoa City, Martin’s final moments were sealed when he was sent off to prison following the reveal of his true identity. Cousins’ exit as Martin was officially marked on April 10th, 2025.

Not all exits were met with sad farewells—Daniel Goddard, best known for his role as Cain Ashby, made headlines with his official departure from Y&R after being off-screen since 2019. Goddard confirmed he was joining General Hospital as Professor Dalton, signaling the end of his run as Cain on Y&R.

Allison Laneir, who played Summer Newman since 2022, announced her departure on May 2nd, sharing her gratitude for the journey but expressing her desire to grow in a different direction. Shortly after, Rory Gibson also confirmed his exit as Noah Newman on May 21st, joining General Hospital as Michael Corinthos.

The year saw more painful exits, including Pamela Peter Solo, who passed away on June 4th, 2025 at the age of 75. Fans were also stunned by the unexpected death of Colin Atkinson (played by Tristan Rogers) on June 23rd, with his character being written off after a long absence.

Even more exits followed, including Connor Floyd, who portrayed Chance Chancellor for almost four years before moving to Days of Our Lives as Chad DiMera. J. Eddie Pek’s character Cole Howard also met a tragic end after dying from Legionnaire’s disease on July 3rd.

In another shocking exit, Germaine Rivers’s character Damien Ka was killed off in a dramatic scene on July 14th, leaving fans reeling from the unexpected death just as his romance with Lily was heating up.

The final blow came with Melissa Ordway, who announced that her appearance in the French Riviera storyline would be her last. Ordway, who was demoted from a regular to a recurring role in November 2024, confirmed that after filming in May 2025, she hadn’t been called back for future episodes.

2025 has certainly been a year of change for The Young and the Restless, leaving fans in shock over these many exits, firings, and deaths. Whether these departures were due to personal decisions or plot twists, one thing’s for sure: Y&R will never be the same.

Which exit or death shocked you the most? Let us know in the comments!