Valarie Pettiford came on board as Amy Lewis on The Young and the Restless in October 2024. In October 2024, Amy surprised Nate Hastings with a shocking revelation: he had an older brother, Damian, born before she left town and married another man. Facing a leukemia diagnosis, Amy asked Nate to help locate Damian, who had been raised believing another man was his father.
After some tense moments and initial resistance, Damian finally came to Genoa City, where Amy revealed the truth about his parentage and her illness. Despite her struggles and past absences, Amy held onto hope that her son might one day forgive her. Unfortunately, Damian was murdered in July 2025. Pettiford was back on screen in October when Amy met with Lily (Christel Khalil) and Nate.
Key Takeaways
- Valarie Pettiford’s journey from Queens to Broadway stardom proves her talent knows no limits.
- She earned major theater honors, including NAACP and Garland Awards for The Wild Party and Show Boat.
- Valarie’s stage résumé includes standout turns in Sophisticated Ladies and Fosse, earning multiple prestigious nominations.
- Performing alongside Chita Rivera in Chicago and later honoring her at the Kennedy Center marked iconic moments in her career.
- Her lifelong dream came true with the release of her debut album, Hear My Soul.
- Pettiford lit up the stage in Babalu, a musical tribute created by Lucie and Desi Arnaz Jr., that wowed audiences in New York and Miami.
Born & Raised
Valarie Pettiford was born on July 8 in the borough of Queens, in New York City. She graduated from the High School of Performing Arts in 1978.
All That Jazz
Valarie’s impressive list of theater credits reads like a who’s who of stage excellence, showcasing her undeniable talent and dedication to her craft. She earned NAACP Theatre and Garland Awards for Best Actress in The Wild Party and received NAACP, Robby, and Reader’s Choice honors for her powerful work in Show Boat — with both performances garnering Ovation Award nominations. Valarie also originated roles in the celebrated productions of Sophisticated Ladies, where she understudied the legendary Judith Jamison, and Fosse, which earned her recognition from the Drama League and nominations for the Outer Critics Circle and Tony Awards. She starred alongside the legendary Chita Rivera in the West End debut of Chicago and later honored Rivera by performing All That Jazz at the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors.
A Dream Realized
Among her proudest accomplishments was fulfilling a lifelong dream by recording her debut album, Hear My Soul. A powerhouse performer, Valarie has brought her acclaimed one-woman shows to sold-out audiences across the country, wowing crowds with performances of Babalu: A Celebration of the Music of Desi Arnaz and His Orchestra, a musical tribute by Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. in both New York and Miami.
Soap Queen Valarie
Amy is actually Pettiford’s third soap role. From 1988-1990, she starred as Detective Courtney Walker on Another World. In 1990, she hopped over to One Life To Live, where she starred as Dr. Sheila Price, opposite Nathan Purdee (Nathan). She departed the show in 1994. She is currently nominated for a Daytime Emmy in the Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series category, which will be presented on October 17.
Together Again
Pettiford and Y&R co-star Thelma Hopkins (Denise) starred on the sitcom Half & Half together. Half & Half was a hit UPN sitcom that aired from 2002 to 2006, centering on two half-sisters with very different personalities who try to build a relationship as adults. Valarie Pettiford starred as Big Dee Dee Thorne, the glamorous and opinionated mother of Dee Dee, while Telma Hopkins played Phyllis Thorne, Mona’s down-to-earth and spirited mom, making their hilarious rivalry one of the show’s standout dynamics.
