Victoria Rowell Honors Bryton James on His 17 Years at Young and the Restless

Bryton James recently celebrated 17 years playing Devon Hamilton on The Young and the Restless. His former TV mother, Victoria Rowell, congratulated the Daytime Emmy-winner on his anniversary.

Victoria Rowell and Bryton James Reminisce on the Past

“Thank you all so much for the anniversary wishes!!” James tweeted. “I was 17 when I started #YR .. And these last 17 years don’t happen without the Love and Support of YOU!!!” As viewers recall, Drucilla (played by Rowell) and Neil (Kristoff St. John) took Devon, who was living in the foster care system, into their home and later, adopted him.

“Congrats! I am so PROUD of you @BrytonEjames & your ability to breathe life in the #DaysFerryProductions #fostercare #adoption storyline I pitched to #JackSmith [former head writer/co-executive producer] @ViacomCBS 18yrs ago!” Rowell tweeted. “#DevonWinters storyline affected over a dozen #sagaftra contracts & remains a premier character.”

Devon met Lily (Christel Khalil) and Dru at a recreation center. Dru learned that Devon was in foster care and was going to have to move to a facility as there was no one interested in taking him into their home. Dru wanted to repay the kindness that the late Nathan (Nathan Purdee) had shown her when she was living on the streets. Initially, Neil hesitated, but he later decided that he wanted to give Devon a home.

Later, Devon was reunited with his mother Yolanda/Harmony (Chene Lawson; Debbi Morgan), and his father Tucker McCall (Stephen Nichols), the son of the late Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper). Upon Katherine’s death, Devon inherited much of his grandmother’s wealth, becoming one of Genoa City’s richest citizens.

While Devon has come into great wealth, he’s also experienced incredible sadness. First, Dru was presumed dead after falling off a cliff. Then, Devon’s wife Hilary (Mishael Morgan) and their unborn child died after suffering injuries in a car wreck. Additional tragedy followed when Neil passed away. Recently, Devon, Lily, and their brother Moses (Jacob Aaron Gaines) honored Neil in a special episode.

James has been reunited with his Family Matters TV mom Telma Hopkins, who has joined the show as Denise Tolliver, a woman who has information on Devon’s sister-in-law Amanda Sinclair (Mishael Morgan). Soap Hub congratulates James on his 17 years on YR. The Young and the Restless (YR) airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes.