Young & Restless’ Doug Davidson Finally Reveals the Real Reason He’s No Longer Playing Paul

Doug Davidson had been a Young & Restless cast member since 1978. But when he recently cleaned out his dressing room three years after Paul Williams was written off, “it was so much easier to say goodbye than I thought it was” going to be, he tells SoapHub. Here, at last, is the story of how he was let go — and why.

Given Notice

Davidson recalls that changes to the CBS soap began happening well before he was taken off contract in December 2018 — as far back as when co-creator William J. Bell stepped down as headwriter in 1998. Without naming former executive producer Charles Pratt Jr. by name — only referring to him as Jill Farren Phelps’ successor — the actor says, “I guess her replacement was doing what Sony [Pictures Television, which produces the show] had issued. He was the one that made the decision [to take me off contract].

“He had a history of cutting legendary characters from his shows,” he adds. “He made the claim that nobody has to know [I’d been let go].”

Back in the day, Paul and Nikki (then Erica Hope).

Credit: CBS screenshot

Of course, when Paul’s storyline evaporated, viewers were going to notice. “I was saying [to the producers], ‘If he doesn’t write for me, it’s going to raise a red flag,'” Davidson remembered. “‘I’m under my guarantee.’ I was told not to worry.'”

But worry, he should’ve.

A Missed Opportunity

As Young & Restless’ 50th anniversary rolled around, and one alum after another was brought home to Genoa City, the audience naturally wondered whether Davidson would be among them. And, in fact, “I was contacted about coming back. I had several Zoom meetings with Danielle [Unger, director of current at CBS]…. She was delightful, engaging, forthcoming, honest — everything you’d want to see.

“[Executive producer/headwriter] Josh [Griffith] was great,” too, he continues. “They said, ‘Well, we will set the ball [in motion]. I’m sure we can [find] a middle ground and have this taken care of.’ I contacted my lawyer. He contacted Sony, and it was like they had no clue about [my talks with Griffith and Unger]. I felt there was a total disregard to my legal representation. My answer was, ‘No, thanks.'”

More: Y&R’s Chris/Paul twist was cruel to fans

‘We Powered [the Show] to No. 1’

With Paul’s marriage to Christine kaput — and Michael Damian returning as her other old flame, Danny — it could be argued that the time is perfect to revisit the former private eye’s relationship with his ex-wife, Lauren. The website even asks why show isn’t. “They didn’t start in 1978 [like I did]… ” Davidson responds. “What really set the show to No. 1 was the Cassandra storyline. I had the No. 1 TV Q [which measures familiarity and appeal] in all of daytime. Bill handed me the ball, and we powered it to No. 1. I was in every day.”

In the end, Davidson says that material isn’t the issue. “There’s always story. There are plenty of story wheels that would work. But that’s not the reason [I’m not there]. Paul is more expensive than Danny. That’s what it’s all about.”

More: Paul Williams through the years [PHOTOS]

Since there was no closure to Paul and Christine’s relationship, at least not on screen, would Davidson visit Genoa City to provide that? “That’s something you’d need to talk to Sony about. Paul could do this or that [on the show]. That’s not the issue,” he says. “It’s the issue of [money].”

Later, Davidson backtracked on Twitter, saying, “It wasn’t about money, but respect.”

Check out the below photo gallery to find out why more soap stars really left their shows.