Michael Baldwin is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. The role is portrayed by Christian LeBlanc, originally from November 26, 1991, to July 7, 1993, and again since April 25, 1997. Michael has had relationships with Christine Blair (Lauralee Bell), and has had marriages to Hilary Lancaster and Lauren Fenmore (Tracey E. Bregman), with whom he has a son, Fenmore Baldwin (Max Ehrich).
Leblanc's performance has been met with critical acclaim, receiving thirteen Daytime Emmy Award nominations, including four for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and nine for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, winning in the latter category three times, in 2005, 2007, and 2009.
Contents
Casting and creation
Christian LeBlanc first appeared as Michael on November 26, 1991. He departed in 1993, and has been appearing regularly again since April 25, 1997. During a 2011 interview LeBlanc said everyday "you have this incredible challenge, which, as an actor, that's what I find, that’s what keeps it interesting. Michael Baldwin is not me. Every day I have to say 'This is a character I created,' and I have to find him again every day and commit every day, 12 months a year." In April 2005, the character of Michael briefly crossed over to another CBS soap opera, As the World Turns. He served as Keith Morrissey's (Kin Shriner) attorney.
Development
Characterization
On-Air On-Soaps described Michael as a "quirky legal eye" whose "past and family put the “D” in dysfunctional". Michael is a prominent lawyer in Genoa City and a partner at Baldwin, Blair and Associates. He is the son of River Baldwin (Michael Gross) and Gloria Bardwell (Judith Chapman), and the half brother of Kevin Fisher (Greg Rikaart) and Eden Baldwin (Jessica Heap). He's currently married to Lauren Fenmore (Tracey E. Bregman), with whom he has a son, Fenmore Baldwin. LeBlanc enjoys playing out scenes in the court room. Describing them as his "best moments", he stated: "I am the only one who loves court. I will swear to you now, I am the only one off set that lights up when there is a five page monologue. I have to tell you it was my first months on the show, and they gave me my first case, and it was about a black student who was suing the school system. I gave a speech, and I am telling you they had 12 on the jury and those extras cried, and that is all I cared about. That was like doing theatre."
In 2008, Michael's rough upbringing was visited. Michael Gross was introduced to the series as his father River Baldwin, a man Michael "thinks is a low-life, reprobate. A guy who refused to go to Vietnam and left Gloria to raise their son alone." LeBlanc thought it was a "great story", although it took a while to come to fruition. LeBlanc said that Michael's yearning to find his birth father stemmed from having his own son, Fen, explaining: "I think it all started when he had Fen. It keys it off for a lot of fathers. This is a man who went to prison. He went to therapy to change his dark ways. He was a violent man and he claimed he never had a family. Then his family shows up and then you find out why he denied his family for so long." Speaking of whether or not Michael could shift back to his "dark side", he said "I don’t know if it will be his downfall or not, because Lowell is such an unexpected character, and it certainly pushes all those buttons again".
Relationships and family
LeBlanc admires the friendship between Michael and Phyllis Summers played by Michelle Stafford, who he says is a "phenomenal actress". They were once involved romantically. LeBlanc explained that: "people are drawn to it. You know Michael and Phyllis were lovers once! You have this great relationship between two ex-lovers, and they are a man and woman. I don’t think you usually see that dynamic as much on other soaps."
Michael and Lauren have been described as one of the show's "most enduring couples". LeBlanc said "If it weren't for Lauren, Michael would have been off the deep end long before this." He further told TV Guide about the pairing, "What's great about Lauren and Michael is that these are people who are not saints, who were adults when they met and have pasts they are not proud of. And they found each other."
In 2010, speaking of what he wanted his son Fenmore to be like, LeBlanc said "I want Fenmore to be different. I want him to be a smart-ass because I play him that way. He would be Michael back to me, you know how children sometimes are, like little Michael and big Michael… really smart and verbal, which he is." In fact, two years later, Fen was aged to fifteen years old and Max Ehrich stepped into the role. Fen became "a chip off the old block", turning into a rebellious teen with attitude.
Storylines
1991–93
In 1991, Christine Blair went to work at a prestigious law firm, for hotshot lawyer Michael Baldwin. The charming Baldwin took her under his wing, guiding and training her. At first, Christine was appreciative, until he kissed her one day after a court victory. When Michael suggested a more friendly relationship in exchange for her moving up in the hierarchy, she began making inquiries at the firm about sexual harassment. Her promotion disappeared, and Chris filed a sexual harassment lawsuit. Christine also learned that Michael had done the same to several other women, including her neighbor Hilary Lancaster. To make himself look better, Michael wooed and married his old flame Hilary, but he still had his eye on Christine. When she and Danny Romalotti broke up, he asked her to accompany him on a business trip to Los Angeles. Once there, Michael made sexual advances. Chris (whose breakup with Danny was staged) caught his behavior on audio tape, he was fired, and Hilary left him.
Michael quickly got a job at another prestigious firm, but Christine went to their disciplinary committee, who agreed to hear a case against him. Michael wasn't going to go down without a fight. He claimed Chris had entrapped him by continuing to work at the firm after leaving his employ. He paid a woman named Rebecca to drug Danny's tea and get photos of her and Danny appearing to be having sex to show that Danny and Christine's marriage wasn't as happy as they claimed. Rebecca threatened to blackmail Michael, and he strangled her. Michael was never charged with this crime as he was never linked to it. Michael was found guilty of sexual harassment and lost his job, after which Hilary divorced him and left town, never to be heard from again.
Michael apologized to Christine, announcing his plans to leave town, but his real plans were much more sinister. While Danny was out of town performing, Michael bluffed his way into Hilary's empty apartment and got into Christine's apartment by frantically digging a hole in the wall where he hid in the closet, waiting to attack her. Fortunately when he made his move, Paul Williams raced in, and caught him on top of Christine in her bed. Michael turned, tried to shoot Paul and missed. Paul shot Michael, and he fell limp and bloody, pinning Christine to the bed. Michael was sent to prison, and even though he claimed insanity, stayed there for four more years.
1997—
Michael, now forced to work as a paralegal due in part to having his legal license revoked for his actions, returned to Genoa City four years later, determined to get revenge on Christine. He did this by representing Phyllis Summers, with whom he also had a brief affair, in the custody battle for her son, Daniel Romalotti. Phyllis, a computer expert, hacked into a computer and changed DNA tests so that it would appear Daniel was the father of Daniel Junior, when in fact he was not. Christine, who was representing Danny Romalotti, ultimately won the case. Michael and Phyllis still remain friends. Months later, Michael begged Christine to help him get his law license back. She agreed, but only after Michael donated a kidney to Danny.
Michael was released from jail and convinced Christine that he was a changed man, so she testified for him and his legal license was reinstated under Chris's watchful eye. The cocky and very successful Michael was a constant thorn in Christine's side, but somehow convinced her to join him in starting a law practice together, Baldwin, Blair & Associates (formerly Baldwin, Williams & Associates). The practice was so successful that she again put having a family on hold, causing a great rift in her marriage to Paul. In a desperate attempt to mend their marriage while still furthering her career, Christine took a case in Hong Kong which would mean moving there for several months. Paul first balked at the idea, but then decided to "do it for them", put his career on hold and move. But at the last minute, Paul backed out, so Christine lived in Hong Kong for months on her own with very little contact. Christine was offered a case in Australia when the Hong Kong case was finished, but she turned it down and was determined to go home to Genoa City and try to mend her shattered marriage. She arrived at the apartment only to find Paul in the arms of his new client, Isabella Braña, whom Michael had asked to come to Genoa City to break up Paul and Christine. Without a word to Paul, she accepted the case in Australia and filed for, and was soon granted, a divorce.
Isabella didn't want to tell Paul that she was pregnant with his child because she felt that he was too hung up on Chris. Isabella had a brief affair with Michael and told him that he was the father. Michael was outraged at first and even drew up legal papers for her to sign. But Isabella had something on Michael from the past, so he backed down and went along with her demands of rent, baby furniture, and everything she needed to live until the baby was born. Michael also arranged for a job for her in another town for afterward. Just as Michael was softening to the idea of a child and a future with Isabella, and Paul was getting involved with former wife Lauren Fenmore, Paul found out about the baby's paternity and wanted to be a father to the child. With this major lie, Isabella fell out of grace with both Michael and Mary, Paul's mother. Paul moved in with Isabella and she continued to use manipulating Paul to keep him under her thumb as tightly as possible. Mary went to great lengths to try to convince him that Isabella was wrong for him and would ruin his life, and to convince Isabella to go away to a home for unwed mothers. All despite the fact that Isabella was providing Mary with the grandchild, and Paul with the child, they both had always wanted. Mary even begged for help from unlikely sources in Lauren, Christine, and even Michael - all of whom she disapproves as well, but had had no luck at all. But Paul moved out on his own volition when Isabella started pressuring him to get married. Their baby boy, Ricardo, was born, but unlike Isabella's delusions, Paul was not willing to become a happy family with her. Complicating things was the sudden return of Christine, who rebuffed him for the baby's sake, although she still had feelings for Paul. Paul's response was to marry Isabella.
Reception
LeBlanc has won Daytime Emmy Awards for his portrayal of the role in 2005, 2007, and 2009; all for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. In 2022, Charlie Mason from Soaps She Knows placed Michael 19th on his list of the best 25 characters from The Young and the Restless, commenting "Is Christian Jules LeBlanc's character the delusional sicko who once burrowed through Christine's wall to attack her… or the devoted husband who's earned Lauren's devotion? He's both, actually, which is what makes him so fascinating." Karre Jacobs of Australian television magazine TV Week branded the character "deliciously deceptive, consistently cynical".