She was supposed to be a short-term guest on The Young and the Restless. Instead, Michelle Stafford turned scheming Phyllis Summers into one of daytime TV’s most unforgettable characters.
Then came a frightening diagnosis at 19, shocking exits, a bombshell on-set allegation, and a surprise new identity on a rival soap. Along the way, she became a single mom and built a business of her own.
This is the remarkable story of Michelle Stafford.
#1: Michelle Stafford Grows Up in California in the 1960s
Michelle Stafford was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 14, 1965. Her family moved to California while she was still a baby, and she grew up in Montrose with her older sister, Janine. Although Chicago was her birthplace, California became the setting for her childhood and the start of her adult life.
She later spoke warmly about her supportive parents and family. Her first career plans, however, would take her far beyond home. After finishing high school, she pursued modeling, beginning a chapter that brought overseas travel and eventually led her toward a different profession.