<P> The Young and the Restless is an American television soap opera , created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS . It first aired on March 26 , 1973 . The longest - running current cast member is Doug Davidson , who has portrayed private investigator Paul Williams since May 23 , 1978 . Jeanne Cooper , who portrayed the soap opera 's matriarch Katherine Chancellor , holds the record for the series ' longest - running cast member , airing from November 1973 until her death in May 2013 . Melody Thomas Scott and Eric Braeden , who portray Nikki and Victor Newman , are the second and third longest - running cast members , having joined in February 1979 and February 1980 , respectively . Kate Linder has portrayed Esther Valentine since April 1982 , and rounds out the series ' top four longest - running cast members . The following list is of cast members who are currently on the show : both main and recurring members , as well as those who are debuting , departing or returning from the series . </P>
<P> The Young and the Restless is an American television soap opera , created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS . It first aired on March 26 , 1973 . The longest - running current cast member is Doug Davidson , who has portrayed private investigator Paul Williams since May 23 , 1978 . Jeanne Cooper , who portrayed the soap opera 's matriarch Katherine Chancellor , holds the record for the series ' longest - running cast member , airing from November 1973 until her death in May 2013 . Melody Thomas Scott and Eric Braeden , who portray Nikki and Victor Newman , are the second and third longest - running cast members , having joined in February 1979 and February 1980 , respectively . Kate Linder has portrayed Esther Valentine since April 1982 , and rounds out the series ' top four longest - running cast members . The following list is of cast members who are currently on the show : both main and recurring members , as well as those who are debuting , departing or returning from the series . </P>
who is the longest running actor on the young and the restless
who is the longest running actor on the young and the restless
Doug Davidson
Doug Davidson