‘The Young and the Restless’ star Brett Hadley dead at 92

Celebrities

By Adriana Diaz

June 16, 2023 | 1:34pm

“The Young and the Restless” star Brett Hadley died Wednesday at 92, his close friend said.

His cause of death was not revealed but his photographer pal Mary Ann Halpin confirmed his passing on Facebook.

The actor was best known for his longtime role on “The Young and the Restless” as Genoa City police detective and Williams family patriarch Carl Williams.

“It is with a heavy heart that I have to say goodbye to my sweet friend Brett Hadley,” Halpin wrote.

“We were in an acting class and were the bad kids in the class. We sat in the back and giggled. I remember us sitting in his coverable WV … I will miss his playful and deep conversation, his funny flirty giggle and twinkling eyes. He took his last bow and gracefully left us yesterday.”

Hadley was born on September 25, 1930, in Louisville, Kentucky. He went on to study drama at the University of New Mexico. 

He fulfilled his dreams and began working in television in the early 1970s, with guest roles on a long list of series including “The Name of the Game,” “Room 222,” “The F.B.I.,” “Ironside,” “Lucas Tanner,” “The Waltons” and “Kojak.”

Hadley eventually landed his first major recurring role on “Marcus Welby, M.D.” in 1970.

A decade later in 1980, he joined “The Young and the Restless” and starred on the daytime soap until 1991.

During his hiatus, his character Carl became an off-screen character who was always said to be “in the other room” or “had just gone to work.”

He re-emerged on the show in 1998 when it was revealed that Carl had been beaten nearly to death and suffered from amnesia.

Carl was said to have forgotten being Carl Williams and his family and taken on a new life as Jim Bradley. He last appeared on the show in 1999.

His friends and co-stars sent an outpouring of love and compliments in response to his passing.

“The passing of Brett Hadley is such sad news,” his “Young and the Restless” co-star Beth Maitland said, according to Soap Opera Digest. “He was a delight to work with and was an upbeat and happy presence in the halls and on the set. He was an old-fashioned guy. Always professional, but full of fun stories and laughs and was always happy to be on the stage. His memory speaks to a happy time, when soaps were in their heyday and the actors were legendary and larger than life. Rest well, old friend. You will be missed.”

“Brett had the best sense of humor ever and he and Doug [Davidson, Paul] were a lethal pair to attempt to do a scene with. He was a wonderful actor and a great part of YOUNG AND RESTLESS in those years. He will be very missed,” “The Young and the Restless” star Tracey E. Bregman commented.

“Brett was the sweetest guy. Biggest smile and the believability of he and Doug Davidson being father and son was like no other!” fellow “The Young and the Restless” star Lauralee Bell added.

“I was so sorry to hear of Brett Hadley’s passing. Although I did not share many scenes with him, I always found him to be a very kind and generous man. It’s always sad to lose one of our beloved castmates and he will be very missed,” series star Jess Walton said.

“Brett was an amazing actor. He definitely owned that role. I can still hear his voice. There will never be another Carl Williams. My heart goes out to his family and friends,” Kate Linder, who starred in “The Young and the Restless” since 1982, said.

Hadley’s last acting role was in 2015 when he starred in Anthony Lawrence’s comedy short Dreamcatchers.