When people think of the legendary families in Genoa City, the Newmans and the Abbotts usually hog the spotlight. It’s all corporate takeovers and ranch drama these days. But if you look back at the very beginning of the show, the foundation was actually built on the Fosters. Specifically, a young, idealistic law student named Greg.
Basically, The Young and the Restless Greg Foster was the show's original moral compass. He wasn't some billionaire with a hidden agenda; he was a guy from the "wrong side of the tracks" trying to make something of himself. Honestly, without Greg, we might never have seen the rise of Nikki Newman as we know her today.
The Face of Greg Foster: A History of Recasts
If you’ve been watching soaps for a while, you know the "recast" game is strong. Greg Foster was no exception. Four different actors stepped into those shoes during the character's primary run, and each brought something a little different to the table.
James Houghton was the OG. He started with the show’s premiere on March 26, 1973. He played Greg as the studious, serious brother who worked his way through Yale Law School. Interestingly, Houghton didn't just act; he later became a massive force behind the scenes as a writer for both Y&R and The Bold and the Beautiful, winning multiple Daytime Emmys. Sadly, the industry lost Houghton in August 2024.
Then came Brian Kerwin (1976–1977), who had a shorter stint, followed by the most recognizable Greg for many longtime fans: Wings Hauser.
Hauser played Greg from 1977 to 1981. He brought a certain grit to the role that fit the era's shift toward more dramatic, soapier storylines. If that name sounds familiar to your kids, it’s probably because his son is Cole Hauser—Rip Wheeler from Yellowstone.
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The final actor in the original run was Howard McGillin (1981–1982), who eventually traded the soap world for Broadway fame.
The Lawyer, the Priestess, and the Prostitute
Greg's love life was... complicated. He started out pining for Chris Brooks, his brother Snapper’s girlfriend. Typical soap stuff. But then things got weirdly intense.
He fell for a woman named Gwen Sherman. Just as they were planning to get hitched, Greg found out Gwen was a prostitute. Instead of running for the hills, he tried to "save" her. It’s a classic trope, but it was groundbreaking for 1970s television.
The kicker? After he successfully helped her leave that life behind, Gwen didn't run into his arms. She had a spiritual awakening and became a nun. You can't make this stuff up. Greg was left standing at the altar of life, essentially dumped for God.
The Nikki Reed Connection
This is the part of history most modern viewers forget. Before she was the Grand Dame of Genoa City, Nikki Reed was a girl from the docks with a very messy past. The Young and the Restless Greg Foster was actually Nikki’s first husband.
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They met while Greg was working at a legal aid clinic. At the time, Nikki was a mess—she’d just accidentally killed her father (in self-defense, but still). Greg saw something in her. He protected her, taught her "class," and they eventually married in 1979.
But Greg was "boring." He wanted a quiet life with a law-abiding wife. Nikki? She wanted excitement. She eventually took a job as a "model" that turned out to be a front for... you guessed it, more prostitution. When Greg found out his wife was involved in a murder case at her "workplace," that was the end of the line. They divorced in 1981, clearing the path for a certain tycoon named Victor Newman to enter her life.
Why He Disappeared (And Came Back)
By 1982, the show was changing. The Foster and Brooks families were being phased out to make room for the Abbotts and Newmans. Greg moved to Chicago to practice law, effectively ending the Fosters' reign as the central family.
He didn't vanish forever, though. We saw him pop up for short stints in 2003 and 2010. These weren't major storyline drivers; they were more about family duty. He returned when his mother, Liz Foster, was facing health crises.
His last appearance in June 2010 was particularly somber. Wings Hauser returned to the role for a few episodes as the family gathered to say goodbye to Liz. It was a rare moment of closure for one of the show's founding families.
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The Legacy of the Fosters
It’s easy to dismiss Greg as a "boring lawyer," but he represented the show's original DNA. The Young and the Restless was originally about the class struggle between the wealthy Brooks family and the struggling Fosters.
Greg was the bridge between those worlds. He was the kid from the factory-worker household who made it to the Ivy League. He proved that Genoa City wasn't just a place for the rich to fight over companies—it was a place where people tried to better themselves.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the "Golden Age" of Genoa City or keep up with the legacy of the Fosters, here is what you should do:
- Check out the Vault: Watch the "Classic Episodes" segments often released on Paramount+ or the official Y&R YouTube channel. Look specifically for the 1979-1980 era to see the Greg/Nikki/Victor transition.
- Follow the Survivors: While the Fosters are mostly gone, Jill Abbott (played by Jess Walton) is Greg’s sister. Every time Jill mentions her "humble beginnings" or her mother Liz, she’s talking about the world Greg lived in. Pay attention to those scripts; they are the only remaining threads of the show’s first decade.
- Research the Actors: If you like Wings Hauser’s vibe, his 1980s film work (like Vice Squad) is a total 180 from the "good boy" Greg Foster. It shows the incredible range the show used to cast back in the day.
The character of Greg Foster might not be walking through the doors of Crimson Lights today, but his impact on the show's history—and specifically on the character development of Nikki Newman—is permanent. He was the man who tried to save everyone, even if they didn't always want to be saved.