The Young and the Restless Star Bryton James Celebrates An Amazing Milestone

He’s got very little to cheer about onscreen these days as his character on The Young and the Restless, but off-screen Bryton James has much to celebrate! It’s his birthday today.

James, who plays Devon Hamilton, is mourning the loss of his wife (Hilary, played by Mishael Morgan) and their baby on-camera, but it’s given the Emmy-winning actor incredibly powerful material to play!

James was born on August 17, 1986, is also a singer and California native who was exposed to the music industry at an early age by his late father.

He began doing commercials and print work when he was a mere 2-years-old, appearing in one ad alongside late legendary performer Michael Jackson!

His big break came after landing the role of Richie Crawford on Family Matters; James was in over 200 episodes of the beloved sitcom, which ended in 1997.

James started playing Devon, a foster child, in 2004, earning the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Younger Leading Actor in 2007. He won the Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series in 2009.

In 1996, James founded the charity RADD (Recording Artists, Actors and Athletes against Drunk Driving) Kids.

Over the years, Devon has gone from foster child to a wealthy businessman, one of the heirs of the late Katherine Chancellor, Devon’s grandmother, played by the late Jeanne Cooper.

Devon and Lily (Christel Khalil) are at deep emotional odds over Lily’s role in the death of Hilary and her unborn child, but off-screen the two are quite close; James is the godfather of Khalil’s son, Michael Jaden, and the godfather to co-star Daniel Goddard’s (Cane) son, Ford.

Soap Hub wishes James the happiest of birthdays and you can too with the tweet link below.

The Young and the Restless (YR) airs weekdays on CBS. Check local listings for airtimes.