Matt is full of surprises on The Young and the Restless. The Newmans never know what to expect from Mr. Clark, who could have more secrets to be exposed.
Key Takeaways
- Matt Clark is a notorious villain who’s been part of Y&R since 1994.
- His return in 2025 has drawn lots of interest in the character.
- Matt shares the last name of another character.
Meet The Clarks
Matt (Roger Howarth) has been wreaking havoc on Nick (Joshua Morrow) and Sharon (Sharon Case) on and off since 1994. The Newmans thought they were done with Matt after his 2001 death. But in 2025, he returned, alive and well, ready to pick up where he left off.
Fans have enjoyed Matt’s storyline and getting acquainted with the villain. Although viewers know much about Matt’s history, there’s still some secrets in his closet. One of those secrets could have something to do with his family.
The last name Clark has been synonymous with other Genoa City characters, including Phyllis’ (Michelle Stafford) sister, Avery Bailey Clark (Jessica Collins). Avery was married to Joe Clark (Scott Elrod), but their union ended because of Joe’s abusive behavior.
Given Matt and Joe’s last name and their similar abusive history, speculation has emerged that they could be related. A fan theory about Matt’s family has been circulating on X.
”What do #MattClark and #AveryBaileyClark have in common…#JoeClark is Matt’s brother,” one poster wrote. Many fans are in favor of the possible family connection.
”I’m here for it! Would love to have Avery back. Soaps rewrite history all the time,” one user wrote.
”There’s a distinct possibility for this. Back when the character originated, they mentioned that Matt was being raised by his older brother, but never gave that brother a name,” one longtime viewer recalled.
Could Avery and Joe Return?
It’s been 11 years since Avery and Joe’s last appearances. When last seen, Joe was sent to prison for framing Cane (then-Daniel Goddard) for extortion, and Avery left town for a new start after her rape.
If Joe and Avery are connected to Matt, then now would be the time for them to return. Since Avery’s sister Phyllis has gotten involved in Matt’s story and seems to be falling for him, the redhead could find herself in trouble. Avery could return to help Phyllis out of her legal jam and also keep Matt out of prison.
Meanwhile, Joe should be out of prison by now, which means a Genoa City return is possible. If Joe and Matt are indeed brothers, Joe’s return could shed light on their childhood and how they turned out the way they did.
