The Young and the Restless alum makes history

On The Young and the Restless, Steven Ford played Andy Richards for years. But in real life, Ford was better known as the youngest son of the 38th President of the United States, Gerald Ford.

The Young and the Restless alum makes history

On The Young and the Restless, Andy Richards (Steven Ford) was Paul Williams’ (Doug Davidson) friend and partner, and the two private eyes solved mysteries and brought down criminals. With Amy Lewis (then Stephanie Williams) running the office and some help from Nathan Hastings, Sr. (then Nathan Purdee), the Williams & Richards Detective Agency was, for many years, the go-to of Genoa City when a crime had been committed.

Off camera, Steven Ford had completely different public recognition as his father was President Gerald Ford. In 1976, Jimmy Carter won the election to be the next president, beating out Ford. However, the two remained friends. President Ford passed in 2006, but at President Carter’s funeral yesterday, his son Steven gave a posthumous eulogy on behalf of his father at Washington National Cathedral.

Ford explained, “In the twilight of my dad’s life, Dad and President Carter spoke by phone and Dad asked President Carter if he would do a eulogy at Dad’s funeral. President Carter graciously agreed — and then he also asked if Dad would deliver a eulogy at President Carter’s funeral.”

Ford shared that his father was thrilled to agree. “After that call, as you can imagine, both of them got off the phone, had a pretty good chuckle, considering which one of them would return in person to deliver that second eulogy. As you know, Dad died in 2006 and President Carter’s eulogy continues to bring comfort, smile, laughter, joy, pride to our family. And thus, on behalf of my dad, it’s an honor to share Dad’s eulogy to his old friend,” Ford began before reading his father’s written words.

I can just see my dad getting his yellow legal pad out with his pen and writing this for his beloved friend. — Steve Ford

Steven Ford on The Young and the Restless

In 1981, Steven Ford was introduced on The Young and the Restless as private investigator Andy Richards. He remained a cast member from until 1987 and returned briefly in 2002. Andy was last seen in Genoa City in 2003.

Ford also appeared in other TV series and can be seen starring in films such as Escape from New York, Armageddon, Black Hawk Down, Starship Troopers, When Harry Met Sally, Transformers, Babylon 5: In the Beginning, and Transformers.

To read the full version of President Ford’s eulogy for President Carter, click here. You can watch full episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS or stream on Paramount Plus.