Y&R's anniversary casting expands to include David Lago and Kelly Kruger

David Lago and Kelly Kruger as Raul and Mackenzie on The Young and the Restless in 2003
Y&R's anniversary casting expands to include David Lago and Kelly Kruger

Many happy returns: The Young and the Restless is continuing its forty-fifth anniversary casting bonanza with the announced returns of David Lago (Raul Guittierez) Kelly Kruger (Mackenzie Browning).

Hot on the heels of the news that The Young and the Restless is bringing back blast-from-the-past characters Lorie Brooks (Jaime Lyn Bauer), Leslie Brooks (Janice Lynde) and Julia Newman (Meg Bennett) for its upcoming forty-fifth anniversary comes word that the CBS soap opera has also asked David Scott Lago and Kelly Kruger to return as Raul Guittierez and Mackenzie "Mac" Browning, respectively.

While the storyline details that prompt the characters' returns are being kept under wraps, it's highly likely the drama will center around J.T. (Thad Luckinbill). After all, Raul is J.T.'s buddy, and Mac is his ex-wife. And just because soap operas like to keep things interesting, Raul and Mac are exes themselves -- which could keep fans guessing how their return will (or will not?) play into J.T.'s Genoa City love life.

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Lago originated the role of Cuban character Raul in 1999 and played him until 2004, after which he returned to the soap opera for a short stint in 2009. In 2005, Lago took home the Outstanding Younger Actor trophy at the Daytime Emmys.

Kruger -- who most recently played The Bold and the Beautiful's Eva -- played Mac from 2002 to 2003. She took to Instagram to break the news of her return. "Guess who's headed back to Genoa city?!!?????? I'm so excited to announce that I'll be hanging with my og family @youngandrestlesscbs," Kruger wrote along with a photo of herself at the Y&R studio.

Soap Opera Digest reports that in addition to Lago and Kruger, Y&R has plenty more surprises in store leading up to its anniversary on Monday, March 26.

Created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell, Y&R made its debut on March 26, 1973, and has remained in the position of America's number one daytime drama for the past twenty-eight years. The CBS soap's stories revolve around the rivalries, romances, hopes, and fears of the residents of the fictional Genoa City -- a Midwestern metropolis dominated by the Newman, Abbott, Baldwin, and Winters families.

UPDATE (February 22, 2018): Lauren Woodland is also headed back to Genoa City as Brittany.

What do you think about Y&R bringing back Lago and Kruger? How do you think they'll tie in to the show's anniversary story? What other former characters would you love to see return? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.

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Edited by SC Desk