Don Diamont Gets Emotional Remembering the Stars Who Embraced Him After He Was Fired from ‘The Young and the Restless’

Don Diamont is recounting the kind gesture his fellow soap opera veteran Heather Tom made after he was fired from CBS’ ‘The Young and the Restless.’

Brianna Bryson/Getty (2)

NEED TO KNOW

Don Diamont credits Heather Tom for helping him land his role on The Bold and the Beautiful after being fired from The Young and the Restless

Diamont described Tom as a talented actress and close friend who advocated for him behind the scenes

In 2025, the actor celebrated his 40th anniversary at CBS with a private event attended by family and former costars

Don Diamont is recounting the kind gesture his fellow soap opera veteran Heather Tom made after he was fired from CBS’ The Young and the Restless.

In a recent appearance on the Soapy podcast, Diamont, 63, said “it makes me emotional,” when asked to reflect on his friendship with Tom, 50.

“The greatest blessing of my professional life,” Diamont said of working with Tom.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Diamont first joined Y&R in 1985 before he left the show in 1996, eventually returning two years later and remaining on the cast until he was killed off in early 2009.

Shortly after, CBS announced that the actor would be joining B&B as Bill Spencer Jr. the same year. It was Tom, Diamont says, who helped get him the gig on B&B.

After being “all of a sudden, out of nowhere, fired from Y&R,” Diamont recounted, Tom urged producers to cast him on The Bold and the Beautiful.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

“And she is somewhere where she couldn’t — she had to reach under the table and type, ‘I want Don Diamont,’” Diamont recounted. “So that, to me, is an Emmy. That, to me — that Heather Tom, that I call THE Heather Tom, wanting to work with me — that was enormously flattering.”

He added: “It is just such a gift ... she’s the best person. The finest actress. Just fun, and funny, and so talented, and just amazing. And it has just been my great privilege and joy to work opposite her all these years.”

Tom played Victoria Newman on The Young and the Restless from 1990 to 2003 and has played Katie Logan on The Bold and the Beautiful since 2007.

Related Stories

The actor played Brad Carlton on Y&R and plays Bill Spencer Jr. on B&B.

In May 2025, Diamont celebrated his 40th anniversary at CBS in a private event attended by his former costars, friends and family, marking the occasion in a series of photos posted to Instagram.

“Hard to express the depth of my gratitude for the last 40 years of my career in general, and for the beautiful event a few days ago celebrating my 40th Anniversary on CBS specifically,” he wrote in the caption. “The sentiments expressed by ALL touched my soul, and I was blessed to have my family in attendance.”

Entertainment

TV

Soap Operas