The Dark History Behind Sharon’s Worst Nightmare
When The Young and the Restless first introduced Matt Clark in 1994, few could have predicted how deeply he would alter Sharon Collins’ (Sharon Case) life — and haunt her for decades.
Who Is Matt Clark On The Young And The Restless?
The Origins of Matt Clark
The character of Matt Clark was first brought to Genoa City by co-executive producer Edward J. Scott, husband of longtime Y&R icon Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman). Actor Eddie Cibrian (known later for Third Watch and CSI: Miami) originated the role in 1994 and played it until 1996.
In July 2000, under head writers Kay Alden, John F. Smith, and Jerry Birn, Matt returned — first portrayed by Russell Lawrence, and then replaced by Rick Hearst that October.
Matt’s Obsession with Sharon and Rivalry with Nick
Matt Clark began as Sharon’s charming high school boyfriend. But when Nicholas Newman (Joshua Morrow) won Sharon’s heart, Matt’s jealousy turned to cruelty. At a high school Polynesian dance, he exposed Sharon’s painful secret — that she wasn’t a virgin and had given up a baby for adoption at 16. Shortly after, Sharon revealed the truth that Matt had raped her, marking one of Y&R’s most harrowing storylines.
When Nick found Matt shot and bleeding, he was arrested and convicted, but Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) later uncovered the truth: Amy, another of Matt’s victims, had shot him in self-defense. Nick was acquitted, and Matt disappeared from Genoa City in 1996.
The Carter Mills Comeback
In 2000, Matt returned with a new face and a new identity — Carter Mills — after undergoing plastic surgery. He reentered Sharon’s life through the coffeehouse she co-owned with Nick, manipulating his way into her trust again. Carter’s obsession turned violent once more as he drugged Sharon and later attempted to assault her in a cabin. Victor intervened just in time, but in a dramatic twist, Tricia Dennison (Sabryn Genet) drove off a cliff with Carter in an attempt to kill them both. Tricia survived; Carter (Matt) was presumed dead.
2025 Twist: Matt Clark Lives!
In a shocking 2025 storyline, The Young and the Restless revealed that Matt Clark survived the crash and has been living in Los Angeles as Mitch Bacall, the owner of The Shadow Room nightclub. He’s now married to Sienna (Tamara Braun) and is running a lucrative business empire. While in London, Matt (as Mitch) met Noah Newman (Lucas Adams) — the son of his former victims, Nick and Sharon — unknowingly pulling another Newman into his orbit.
Final Thoughts
Matt Clark remains one of Y&R’s darkest and most unforgettable villains — a figure whose crimes still echo through Sharon’s storylines today. And now that he’s back under a new identity, Genoa City may once again feel the ripple effects of his deception.
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