Young & Restless Alum Victoria Rowell Shares a Heartbreaking Loss
The passing of Showtime at the Apollo host Kiki Shepard on March 16 at 74 years old hit all of her fans hard. But for Young & Restless alum Victoria Rowell, the heartbreak was even closer to home. On Instagram, the actress said that she was “mourning the loss of one of best I’ve ever known!”
Rowell and Shepard had been “friends for life after auditioning 40 years ago as dancers for a Kashif music video… ” (Watch it below.) I marveled at her brilliant mind… with ease executing choreography and instantly reversing it for the cast!”
Their bond went further than that, as they were there for one another “supporting each other’s causes in sickle cell and fostercare.” In fact, below are Rowell and Shepard with Valarie Pettiford (now Amy on Young & Restless) at a 2005 Rowell Foster Children’s Positive Plan High Tea event. “Honored Kiki agreed to make guest star appearance in my Christmas movie [2022’s Blackjack Christmas].
“Oh, we had a good time reminiscing, laughing!” she added.
A charter member of the D.C. Repertory Dance Company, Shepard was even one of the performers at the 1977 Academy Awards. The Broadway vet later spent 16 years hosting Showtime at the Apollo.
In closing, Dru’s former portrayer offered a bit of sage advice to us all: “Reach out to old friends, check on them, let them know they matter.” She went on to send her “condolences to the family and all who keep her lifted in memory.”
