What Happened to Malcolm on Young and Restless

Malcolm Winters has come and gone from Young and Restless multiple times over the years, so it’s understandable if viewers might need a bit of a refresher on the guy’s history in Genoa City. Shemar Moore portrayed the character from his introduction in May 1994 until the actor’s exit in February 2002, returning for another run that lasted from November 2004 through September 2005. When Malcolm returned to the canvas from December 2009 to October 2011, the role was recast with Darius McCrary. Moore reclaimed the role for a brief stint in September 2014, and returned to Y&R again in 2019 for special episodes paying tribute to the late Kristoff St. John and his character of Neil. Moore stepped back into Malcolm’s shoes in May 2023 as part of the soap’s 50th-anniversary celebration, and will be returning once more in April 2026 for a new story arc.

Malcolm arrived in Genoa City looking to get to know his estranged half brother, Neil Winters. Initially resistant, Neil eventually gave his rebellious younger brother a second chance, thanks largely due to the encouragement of his wife, Drucilla Winters, who helped Malcolm land a job at Blade Bladeson’s photography studio. Malcolm found himself attracted to Dru, and while Neil was away on a business trip and Dru was under the weather, he went to check on her. Dru was on so much cold medication that she was delirious and mistook Malcolm for Neil. The duo had sex, and the next morning, Malcolm was overwhelmed with guilt for taking advantage of her.

Dru’s sister, Olivia Barber, tried to set Malcolm up with Stephanie Simmons, a medical student who was her colleague. They dated briefly, but the romance never took off. Dru gave birth to a daughter, Lily Winters, and, having convinced herself that Neil was the father, forgave Malcolm, with the two making a pact never to tell Neil about their sexual encounter. Malcolm then fell in love with Keesha Monroe, and they were married shortly before she passed away from AIDS.

Malcolm next found himself drawn to Olivia and became attached to her son, Nate Hastings, Jr. Olivia became his wife, but when Malcolm’s ex, Callie Rogers, showed up in Genoa City, her extreme jealousy tore their marriage apart. Malcolm rebounded with Callie, but after they became engaged, she left town. Though divorced from Olivia, Malcolm continued to treat Nate like his son. Malcolm and Neil soon found themselves both interested in the same woman again — this time, attorney Alex Perez. She accepted Malcolm’s marriage proposal but nursed feelings for Neil. After catching her with his brother, Malcolm went on assignment in Kenya, where he was presumed dead in a bridge collapse.

Two years later, in 2004, Malcolm turned up alive and resented Neil for not doing enough to rescue him in Kenya. Eventually, the brothers made peace, and Malcolm had a fling with Adrienne Markham. He also demanded that Dru take a paternity test to determine who Lily’s real father is, but when the test proved Malcolm to be the babydaddy, he and Dru agreed to keep the truth from Neil. Still, after Malcolm left town, Neil found out anyway!

Malcolm returned to Genoa City in 2009, working undercover as a corporate spy for Tucker McCall. Learning Lily had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, he tried to support his daughter, but clashed with Neil. Thankfully, the siblings once again buried the hatchet. Malcolm took a job as a photographer for Restless Style magazine and hired his adopted nephew, Devon Hamilton, as his assistant. He’d mentioned he was engaged, and ultimately, his fiancée, Sofia Dupre, arrived in town to join him. When he broke it off with her due to her lies, Sofia found comfort — and sex — with Neil, winding up pregnant. When Neil was proven to be Baby Moses’ father, Malcolm was crushed and divorced Sofia before leaving town.

In 2014, Malcolm paid another visit to Genoa City to patch things up with Neil and help his brother cope with his blindness. And in 2019, he came home once more to say a final farewell to Neil, along with the rest of his family and loved ones, after his unexpected death.