7 Things to Know about The Young and the Restless’s Robert Newman

The surprise move to recast Ashland Locke on The Young and the Restless has brought veteran actor Robert Newman back to the daytime medium.

A Closer Look At Robert Newman

Long remembered as Reva’s (Kim Zimmer) soulmate, Joshua Lewis, on Guiding Light, Newman also portrayed Kirk Cranston on Santa Barbara – another role he took over when Joseph Bottoms chose to exit the soap. The actor has also guested on primetime hits like House of Cards, Chicago Fire, and NCIS, appeared in the films Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Dracano and amassed quite a successful career in theater.

Getting To Know Him: Seven Fast Facts

Want to know more about the actor? Check out these seven facts about him:

1. Newman has been married to actress Britt Helfer (ex-Lily Slater, Loving) since 1986. The couple has two children, son, Connor, and daughter, Kendal; and just welcomed their first grandson, Leo Robert.

2. During his 28-year run as GL’s Joshua Lewis, Newman garnered two Daytime Emmy nomina­tions for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He lost to Peter Bergman (Jack, Y&R) in 2002 and to Anthony Geary (Luke, General Hospital) in 2006.

3. Robert Newman’s work in the short film, Deadline, earned him the Best Actor award at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival in 2014. He portrayed Ted Warner, the volatile host of The Final Word, America’s most popular contentious news opinion talk show.

4. Newman had to shave his head for his run as Daddy Warbucks in Annie at the Ogunquit Playhouse in 2019. But it was well worth it as he adored the show’s cast, which included Sally Struthers (All in the Family) as Hannigan.

5. Before joining Y&R, Newman had been a fan of Rat Patrol, which stars his current co-star, Eric Braeden (Victor). He and Braeden had previously met and chatted at the Daytime Emmys.

6. Newman has long been friends with Peter Bergman, who portrays Jack on Y&R. They met doing personal appearances and bonded when the SAG and AFTRA unions merged and Newman was on the Board of Directors.

7. During his acting breaks, Newman has kept busy working for his wife’s interior design company, BNDC. Not only has he done the bookkeeping, but he’s also put his handyman skills to work putting together furniture, window treatments, and lighting fixtures.

The Young and the Restless (YR) airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Genoa City, check out all the latest that’s been posted on Y&R spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.