The Young and the Restless Star Christian LeBlanc Celebrates His Birthday

Michael Baldwin may be celebrating his newly-minted status as Genoa City’s new District Attorney, but actor Christian LeBlanc certainly has another reason to be excited.

That’s because he was born on August 25, 1958, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, meaning that he is turning 61 years old today! LeBlanc was a pre-med student at Tulane University, and literally soaking wet when a photographer spotted him swimming laps in the college’s pool and suggested that he look into modeling.

LeBlanc took the man’s advice and soon modeling led him into the acting world. LeBlanc’s first on-camera job was Kirk McColl on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns. McColl was an important player in the Oakdale teen scene and he shared many scenes opposite daytime legend Eileen Fulton who portrayed Kirk’s step-mother, Lisa.

LeBlanc stayed with the New York-based soap opera from 1982 until 1985. Three years later he joined the cast of the NBC primetime drama In the Heat of the Night as patrol officer Junior Abernathy. The role was short-lived and LeBlanc appeared in only eight episodes.

LeBlanc’s most memorable acting turn came in 1991 when he was cast in another soap opera, once again on CBS.

On The Young and the Restless, LeBlanc alternatively intrigued and terrified viewers as Michael Baldwin a talented trial lawyer who took to harassing his female co-worker Christine Blair. After his behavior resulted in his firing, Michael attempted to rape Christine and was eventually sentenced to prison.

LeBlanc’s initial tenure with Y&R was between 1991 and 1993 but the actor so impressed the show’s writers that a return was scripted in 1997 and LeBlanc has been with the series ever since.

The role of Michael has earned LeBlanc seven Daytime Emmy nominations and he won three statuettes in the Outstanding Lead Actor category in 2005, ’07 and ’09.

Soap Hub would like to wish Christian LeBlanc a very happy birthday and you can too by clicking on the twitter link below. The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes.