What Happened to Fen on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS
Fenmore Baldwin on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS has come and gone from Genoa City so many times over the years that it’s understandable if fans don’t remember the young man’s history. But don’t worry — we’ve got you covered! After his birth in October of 2006, Fen was played by a series of child actors until being aged into a teenager and recast with Max Ehrich. After earning four consecutive Daytime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Younger Actor, Ehrich left the soap in 2015 and Y&R briefly recast again with Zach Tinker taking over as Fen in December of 2018. He was written out again in February of 2019 but has popped back for brief visits since, most recently in January 2023.
Fenmore was born prematurely to Lauren Fenmore and Michael Baldwin, and shortly after his birth was kidnapped by Sheila Carter, who had surgically altered her face to resemble Phyllis Summers. Then, as a child, Lauren was kidnapped and replaced by Sheila’s sister, Sara Smythe, who had surgery to look like Lauren. But Fen could tell something was up with his mother and Sara’s plan was soon thwarted. Fearing Sheila’s daughter, Daisy, might harm their son, Lauren and Michael sent Fen to stay with his brother, Scotty Grainger, in Canada.
In June of 2012, Fen returned home to Genoa City and became close with Summer Newman, a relationship his folks were not super happy about. Fen and Summer cyber-bullied Jamie Vernon, and although she backed off, Fen continued and a physical altercation nearly led to Jamie’s death. A troubled Fen turned to drugs and found out his mother was having an affair with Carmine Basco. When the affair was exposed and Carmine was found dead, Michael feared Fen had killed him and confessed to the crime to protect his son. Fearing he may have been guilty, Fen tried to confess but nobody would listen. So he got arrested for drug possession and went to prison. After a lot of back and forth, Fen was finally free of his guilt when it was revealed Carmine was actually alive and in witness protection.
Fen announced he wanted to become a lawyer like his dad and left for college. While home for Christmas break, Fen was stunned to learn that Michael was battling cancer. Next, Fen found himself mixed up with the rest of Genoa City’s younger set in the mystery surrounding Austin Travers’ murder. He later confessed that he’d drugged everyone at the party because he’d been blackmailed into it. Fen was failing in school and hacked into the university’s computer to change his grade. After he came clean to Paul Williams, they were able to trace the anonymous blackmailer to discover the real killer.
Fen was allowed back into college, but came home in December of 2018 to inform his parents he was quitting law school to become a musician! He got a job at the Genoa City Athletic Club and tried to slip Devon Hamilton a copy of his demo. Devon refused to listen to it, but his sister, Ana Hamilton, did and liked it enough to arrange and produce a song for Fen to perform. Once the song was a hit, Devon changed his tune and even Lauren and Michael came around to supporting their son’s new endeavor. Devon set up a showcase for Fen, but when the musician flaked and didn’t show up, Devon was furious. Summer explained Fen had missed the performance because he was comforting her and Devon agreed to give him another chance, sending him on the road as an opening act to get some real-world experience.
Fen’s name came up when Adam blackmailed Michael into doing his bidding by threatening to release incriminating photos of Fen dealing drugs again. And then the young man arrived in Genoa City in person to celebrate the holidays with his family in 2019. Fen revealed to his parents that his relapse was bad, but he got help and had moved into a halfway house. He also gifted them with a compass to symbolize how they guided him to the right path and saved his life. He turned down a chance to go on tour to move back to Nashville and continue getting his life back on track.
When Fen returned to Genoa City in January 2023 to help celebrate his mother winning a lifetime achievement award, he happily introduced his family to his new boyfriend, Trey, and they were pleased to finally meet him.
Stay tuned to find out if Fen comes back for more drama!
