The Young and the Restless Star Robert Parucha Reflects On His Return

Victor Newman (born Christian Miller) and Matt Miller didn’t grow up together, but that hasn’t stopped the brothers from touching base during important life events. The Young and the Restless reached out to Matt’s original portrayer, Robert Parucha, to see if he’d be available to appear in the Newman Enterprises 50th-anniversary episodes.

The Young and the Restless Revisited

The actor’s answer was a resounding yes — especially since the Newman gala ties in with the 40th anniversary of Eric Braeden’s (Victor) tenure with YR! “It was an amazing day being back at the studio,” Parucha told TV Insider. “I was a little nervous and a little excited. It all went very well.”

The last time Parucha came back to Genoa City was in 2003 to alert Victor that their father, Albert (George Kennedy), was near death and if he wanted to go to see him that now would be the time.

For this visit, Parucha says, “I came down to the set a little earlier just to get a feel for it. I met some of the other actors whom I didn’t know yet. Everyone was very encouraging to me, saying it was good to see me back.

“After I finished the scenes I was in, Eric [Braeden, Victor] and Melody [Thomas Scott, Nikki] both had some nice things to say, which I very much appreciated.”

This return is a limited run, but Parucha says he’d be open for additional visits should there be interest on YR’s part. “I run my own business so, schedule-wise, I can make it work,” he says. “This return has really lit the fuse for me again.

“It’s a tough thing in our business. Finding work is something that can be out of your control. My attitude now is when I work, I work, and when I don’t, I don’t. I think it’s great to be back here 35 years later.” The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS. Check local listings for air times.