What Happened To The Young And The Restless' Daniel Romalotti
Daniel Romalotti was making a splash on "The Young and the Restless" long before Michael Graziadei took over in 2004, per Soap Central. As the alleged love child between Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) and Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian), Daniel was involved in drama long before he was born. Not many characters can say they were in the midst of chaos before anyone played them. However, as the child of the scheming and conniving Phyllis, nothing is out of the question, per Soaps.com.
In Daniel's defense, he shouldn't be held responsible for his mother's nefarious actions. Surely, people shouldn't look down on him because of how tumultuous the early years of his life were. Plus, to be fair, Daniel's own adult life would come with its share of disappointing and morally corrupt moments. Daniel has ties to some of the most influential people in the fictional town of "Genoa City," and his roots extend far and wide. How Daniel's life started, though, is another story entirely. Being used as a pawn of manipulation early in life must've led to the many troubles in his life.
Daniel's early life was plagued with lies
The drama caused by his mother, Phyllis, plagued Daniel Romalotti's early life. Daniel never had a chance. He never had an opportunity to live an everyday, healthy life because Phyllis set him up for failure. Secrets and lies always come to light and nobody knows that better than Daniel and Phyllis. The mere circumstances around Daniel's alleged conception were shady and morally bankrupt. Phyllis was feigning to have a baby by Danny, so she drugged and took advantage of him. Danny wanted to do right by the mother of his child, so he stepped up and offered Phyllis his hand in marriage. However, he had no idea that he was playing into her hand and falling deeper into her web of lies, per Showbiz Cheat Sheet.
Eventually, the jig was up, and Daniel's true paternity came out. He wasn't Danny's son at all. Instead, he was the illegitimate child of Phyllis and a random man from her past. Naturally, Danny was furious, and he took the required steps to have Daniel removed from her custody. Daniel didn't return to town until many years later as a highly disgruntled teenager, per Soaps In Depth. Being a teenager is tricky enough with the added hormones, but adding mommy issues to the mix was the icing on the cake.
Daniel's teenage years were drama filled
Daniel's return to town stirred many emotions in Phyllis, who was desperate to reconnect with her estranged son. He was determined to make her work for it, going as far as to interfere with her relationship at the time with Damon Porter (Keith Hamilton Cobb). Slowly things got better between the mother and son, per Distractify. Still, Daniel's relationship with Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) tested their bond. The teen romance put Phyllis in the undesirable path of her rival, Drucilla Winters (Victoria Rowell).
Teenagers are going to do whatever they want to do. Though a forbidden romance, the two kept seeing each other. However, Cassie Newman (Camryn Grimes) developed an infatuation with the much older Daniel. Cassie was desperate to fit in and willing to risk it all to be close to Daniel. Unfortunately, that decision triggered a chain of events that cost Cassie her life, per Soaps In Depth.
At the time, Daniel and Lily weren't together anymore, so Cassie was ready to move in on him. She located Daniel at a party, but he was too drunk. With his alcohol levels through the roof, an underage Cassie took it upon herself to drive home which resulted in a crash that sent them flying out of the vehicle. Daniel escaped with minimal injuries, but Cassie died. Authorities initially blamed Daniel for the accident, but Cassie cleared his name by revealing she was behind the wheel before her death, per Soaps.com.
Cassie's death complicated Daniel's life in many ways
Cassie's death sent shock waves throughout Genoa City, and Daniel's life was in tatters. Despite Cassie's deathbed confession, Daniel faced vehicular manslaughter charges. It quickly became evident that Lily was assisting Daniel in hiding from authorities which caused even more stress on their parents. At this point, Lily was facing charges as well, but a deal kept her out of prison. Lily and Daniel were prohibited from seeing each other, but young love always finds a way. After being caught together several times, they eventually eloped in Las Vegas. Their marital bliss wouldn't be long-lasting thanks to Daniel developing an addiction to pornography, per Soaps.com.
Daniel's next two flings somehow topped the chaotic factor of his failed marriage to Lily. Amber Moore (Adrienne Frantz) was a solid match on the surface. However, her anxiety and paranoia got in the way of their marriage. She feared for her son's safety because of the psychotic and tormented Daisy Callahan (Yvonne Zima). Sadly, she drugged Daniel and became pregnant with his child, which was the final straw for Amber, per Soaps In Depth.
Daniel left town for good after reclaiming his daughter Lucy (after she was sold on the black market). He's only made sporadic appearances, with the most recent in 2016, per Soap Central. His mother, sister Summer Newman, and even Lily are still power players. Hence, the door is always open for his return.