The Young and the Restless' Fans are Comforted Seeing Kristoff St. John Again in Classic Episodes

The Young and the Restless is one of the most popular and longest-running soap operas of all-time. Set in the fictional town of Genoa City, Wisconsin, the show has followed the lives of many characters and family dynamics over its 47 season run. One of the most popular, yet underrepresented, families on the show is the Winters family. Many fans of the show love the family and have expressed their hope for a larger focus for them on the show. The decades-long love affair with the Winters family began with the introduction of Neil Winters (Kristoff St. John) in February 1991. CBS has recently featured Neil and his family in a special Winters Week. So who is The Young and the Restless star Kristoff St. John, and what was the popular Winters Week that celebrated him and his fellow Winters? 

Who is Kristoff St. John? 

Most notably known for his role as Neil Winters in The Young and the Restless, St. John also made many television appearances in his long career. The actor began his career in the entertainment industry at the age of 10, with appearances in That’s My Mama, and Big John, Little John. St. John continued his television career with roles in Charlie & Co., Generations, Family Matters, and Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper among many others. St. John’s long run as Adam Marshall on the soap opera Generations set the stage for his role in The Young and the Restless. St. John first appeared as Neil Winters on The Young and the Restless in February 1991. He was introduced as a charismatic and self-assured executive at Jabot Cosmetics. The soap opera star’s last appearance on the show was in February 2019, which results in 28 years straight on the show. The nearly three decades St. John spent as Winters makes him the longest-running black character in the show to this day. 

St. John’s character on The Young and the Restless

Neil’s main storyline on The Young and the Restless involved his romantic relationship with Drucilla Barber-Winters (Victoria Rowell). The pair’s multiple marriages resulted in many classic episodes and helped grow the Winters family. St. John’s portrayal earned him two Daytime Emmy Awards and eleven nominations. He also earned eight NAACP Image Awards for work on The Young and the Restless. The portrayal of Neil, and his fellow family members, is frequently praised as one of the few strong representations of black families in soap operas. The genre is mostly dominated by white faces, so Neil and the Winters were a welcome change of pace. St. John tragically passed away in 2019 and was still a featured part of The Young and the Restless up to his death. Neil Winters’ legacy lives on in the show, as his characters’ children are still a major part of the series. The Young and the Restless had a funeral to celebrate the legendary character, which included the return of Neil’s brother in the show, Malcolm (Shemar Moore). 

Fan reaction to seeing St. John again during ‘Winters Week’ 

RELATED: ‘The Young and the Restless’ Fans Love the Winters Family So Much They Want Them Front-and-Center

Due to the production stoppage that is a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) precautions, The Young and the Restless has shown classic throwback episodes. These replays have been sorted into special weeks, including iconic love stories, as well as a whole week celebrating the great Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper). One of the most popular weeks was dedicated to celebrating the iconic Winters family.  Fans have rejoiced in seeing the Winters family’s best moments, many of which include St. John’s character Neil. These viewers have particularly enjoyed seeing Neil in his prime, as well as seeing him and his family grow. These fans have enjoyed seeing the family so much, they have called for the Winters to be a more prominent part of the show once normal shooting resumes. 

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