Young and the Restless Spoilers: Christel Khalil and Bryton James Honor Kristoff St. John Through Lily and Devon’s Intense Scenes

The Young and the Restless spoilers tease that Christel Khalil (Lily Ashby) and Bryton James’ (Devon Hamilton) performances in the upcoming episodes that honor the life of their friend, colleague, and on-screen father will rank with, if not top, the greatest of their careers. The passing of Kristoff St. John (Neil Winters), from hypertrophic heart disease in February, led to a series of episodes that addresses his character’s death, along with a special behind-the-scenes tribute show on April 29.

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Devon will find Neil in the penthouse, where his grandchildren, Charlie Ashby (Noah Alexander Gerry) and Mattie Ashby (Lexie Stevenson) last saw him before heading to Society. James’ character will then inform Lily.

Y&R faced a decision in how to handle the real life passing of one of its cast members. A recast was ruled out, which was right, as that allows the only person to have ever played Neil, St. John, to forever be fondly remembered in that role.

Khalil voluntarily requested a reduction from regular to recurring contract status last year. That combined with Mishael Morgan’s (Hilary Hamilton) voluntary choice to exit the cast created the dramatic death of Hilary, which occurred after Lily accidentally drove through a red light with Morgan’s alter ego and Charlie as passengers in her car.

Lily was then, seemingly unjustly, remanded to a state prison. Mrs. Ashby wasn’t treated well at that facility, so she was moved to another which was many hours away from home. St. John’s absence from the cast in the months leading up to his passing was explained as Neil having moved to be near his daughter.

Devon’s relationship with Lily has been strained every since Hilary died. While some progress has been made on healing, Neil’s two oldest children haven’t fully reconciled.

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As longtime fans know, Neil and Drucilla Winters (Victoria Rowell, who takes part in St. John’s tribute episode next week) adopted Devon many years after having Lily. The deeper Winters’ backstory revealed that Lily was the biological child of Malcom Winters (Shemar Moore, who is reprising his role for these special episodes), who is Neil’s brother.

As Y&R’s loyal viewers will see, the lines between acting and the actor’s genuine emotions will be blurred. The special episodes allowed those who knew and worked with St. John to send a heartfelt, collective message to the fans regarding their love for their friend and them.

When viewed, all who knew St. John during the many years he entertained them with his entire heart and soul, will be able to grieve his loss and affirm Neil’s place in Genoa City.

Celebrating The Soaps is a leading source for everything linked to The Young and the Restless. Check back regularly for Y&R spoilers and news!

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  • Guest

    They were doing OK until that final ‘song’ by Lesbian Tessa. She is a bigger yowler than Ana.
    If Tessa and Ana sang a duet, it could lead to the earth exploding out of disgust..
    Neil was not Davon’s biological father. Neil adopted Davon.
    Neil was not Lily’s father. Drucilla had been prescribed powerful cold medicine, by her sister, Olivia. Malcolm showed up at Drucilla’s apartment, and in her drug-induced haze, she thought Malcolm was Neil.
    They had coitus, Malcolm impregnated Drucilla, and thus came Lily.
    Neil. ever gracious, accepted Lily as his own daughter.

  • Guest

    saying goodbye to Neil was so heartbreaking again when he died in real life but today, omg. I have cried real tears because it was so real like when Catherine died. Such great actors and actress. God bless them. They are surely missed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Guest

    While I feel bad for Character Neil and the man Kristoff, this story is getting old. It is past time to wrap this up. I am sorry that the man died. Maybe the writers can look back and see that the Man was working under stress long before he died. He was not as well dressed as usual on the show. He was grieving for his son and it showed in his apperance.