What Happened to Michael on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS
![Y&R Michael](https://www.soapsindepth.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/08/YR-Michael.jpg?w=953)
Michael Baldwin is one of THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS’ top legal eagles, but newer viewers might not be aware that the edge he has today was much darker in the past! The character first appeared in November of 1991 and left in 1993, returning again in 1997 for a run that continues today. Michael has always been played by Christian LeBlanc, who has received multiple Daytime Emmy Award nominations over the years, taking home the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actor three times, in 2005, 2007, and 2009.
Michael first appeared as a hotshot attorney who took Christine Blair under his wing but then began making sexual advances on her. She filed sexual harassment charges and found out he had done this with other women as well. Michael tried to make himself look better by wooing and marrying one of those women, Hilary Lancaster, but when he took Christine on a business trip he tried to have sex with her and she caught it on tape. After being fired, Michael found work at another firm and claimed Christine had entrapped him. He also paid a woman, Rebecca, to interfere in Christine’s marriage to Danny, and when she threatened to blackmail him, Michael strangled her! Found guilty of sexual harassment, Michael lost his job and his wife, then left town. However, he secretly tunneled into Christine’s apartment and hid in her closet waiting to attack. Thankfully, Paul Williams was able to stop him in time, and Michael was sent to prison.
![The Young and The Restless Phyllis Michael](https://www.womansworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/08/yr-phyllis-michael.jpg)
After four years, Michael returned, looking to take revenge on Christine. He represented Phyllis Summers in the custody battle over her son, Daniel, and also had a brief affair with her. He claimed to be a changed man and not only did he convince Christine to help him get his license reinstated, they even started a law practice together. However, her focus on work over family caused a rift in her marriage to Paul. He had an affair with Isabella Braña, and so did Michael, so when she got pregnant, she told him he was the babydaddy. Michael eventually warmed to the idea of being a dad, but then Paul found out the child was really his.
Michael moved on by growing closer to Christine, and although they were haunted by their past, she ultimately accepted his marriage proposal. However, she dumped him when Michael confessed to hiring Isabella to come between her and Paul. He found Isabella murdered, and Christine was the prime suspect. But it turned out she was really alive, and tried to kill Christine herself! Michael managed to rescue Paul and Christine, then stepped aside so they could finally be together.
![The Young and The Restless Christine Michael Paul](https://www.womansworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/08/yr-christine-michael-paul.jpg)
The arrival of his brother, Kevin Fisher, turned Michael’s world upside down, and the family situation got even more complicated when their mother, Gloria, showed up, too! He fell in love with Victoria Newman, but she left town to get away from her family. Michael found new romance with Lauren Fenmore, and they tied the knot. A year later, they welcomed their son Fenmore “Fen” Baldwin. While dealing with defending plenty of folks in Genoa City, Michael also searched for and reunited with his father, River Baldwin. During this time he also met River’s daughter, his sister, Eden. Michael recused his wife from Sarah Smythe, Sheila Carter’s sister who had plastic surgery to look just like Lauren.
After being fired from Newman Enterprises, Michael became Genoa City’s new district attorney. Unfortunately, this meant he had to prosecute Fen after his son was accused of pushing Jamie Vernon off a roof (he was innocent — the kid had jumped). This also caused a strain in Lauren and Michael’s marriage, and she had a brief affair with Carmine Basco. After Carmine was found dead, Michael assumed Fen was guilty and covered for his son, landing himself in jail. Fen confessed to save his father, and Michael was able to discover Carmine was alive and in Witness Protection to help get Fen out of prison.
![The Young and The Restless Lauren Michael](https://www.womansworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/08/yr-michael-lauren-kiss.jpg)
Wondering why his sex drive was so low, Michael went to the doctor and was stunned to learn he had prostate cancer. Although Lauren stood by her husband’s side, he grew jealous of her growing closeness to Cane Ashby. He demanded a divorce, but they eventually reconciled, and Michael’s cancer went into remission. Since then, Michael has found himself wrapped up in various legal issues in Genoa City, most recently defending Nikki Newman and Victoria when they were charged with murdering J.T. Hellstrom and covering up the crime.
Learning that Kevin was working with Adam Newman, Michael then found himself mixed up with the guy as well trying to help his brother. After extricating himself from that situation, the attorney returned to representing the people of Genoa City again, like defending Billy when he was suspected of shooting Adam and offering Rey Rosales advice when he was poisoned and nearly killed! He also suspected Victor Newman of pulling strings to keep Chelsea out of prison after she attempted to kill Adam, but had to let it go. Michael did bring charges against Sutton Ames and won the case after convincing Amanda Sinclair to testify against her grandfather in court.
Michael eventually decided to retire from being an attorney and work privately for Victor. His first assignment was to investigate Ashland Locke which led him to Peru where he discovered that the businessman had been faking his cancer diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately, this also led to Michael going mysteriously missing! Once Michael had escaped from his kidnappers he returned to Genoa City to reunite with his family and help Victor find a legal loophole to oust Ashland from Newman. Lauren didn’t like Michael continuing to work for Victor, but he promised nothing like that would happen again. He was stunned when Diane resurfaced, very much not dead, and was one of the few people who was nice to her. He did agree to Nikki’s request to dig up something damaging from Diane’s time in Los Angeles but came up empty.
![Y&R Nikki Michael Lauren](https://www.soapsindepth.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/08/YR-Nikki-Michael-Lauren.jpg?w=1024)
Michael then enlisted Diane’s help to set up Ashland to get him out of Victoria’s life and the Newman family. When Tucker McCall returned to Genoa City, Michael uncovered the connection between him and Audra Charles. When Diane was accused of murdering Phyllis, Michael was reluctant to represent her but eventually, Jack persuaded him to take the case. This naturally caused friction in his relationship with Lauren, who didn’t think Diane deserved defending.
But after Michael got Diane out on bail and put on house arrest, it was revealed that Phyllis had faked her death! He was then surprised when Phyllis approached him and asked him to represent her because she had killed Jeremy Stark in self-defense after he wouldn’t let her back out of their plan to frame Diane. And again, he reluctantly agreed. However, after starting work on the case, he handed it over to Heather Stevens to handle while he flew to Singapore to help get Gloria out of a legal jam.
Keep watching Y&R to see how his story continues to unfold!