J. T. Hellstrom is a fictional character from The Young and the Restless, an American soap opera on the CBS network. The role was portrayed by actor Thad Luckinbill from August 27, 1999, to November 5, 2010. Luckinbill originally appeared on a recurring basis until he was put on contract in November 2002. On November 3, 2017, it was announced that Luckinbill would reprise the role of J.T., beginning December 12, 2017. Luckinbill exited on April 16, 2018, when the character was presumed dead. In February 2019, it was reported that Luckinbill will once again be returning to the show. He returned during the final moments of the March 19, 2019, episode to reveal he had not died. He later departed on March 28, 2019.
J. T. Hellstrom is introduced as a high school friend of Billy Abbott, Raul Guittierez, Mackenzie Browning, Brittany Hodges and Rianna Miner. He has a reputation as a ladies' man. He is best known for his controversial relationship with Colleen Carlton, as well as his relationships with Mackenzie and Victoria Newman.
Storylines
J. T. Hellstrom first dates Rianna, who he treats poorly and cheats on with Brittany. They break up and Rianna moves on with Raul. J. T. then begins a relationship with Billy's niece, Colleen Carlton. Colleen is heartbroken when J. T. has a one night stand with Brittany's mother, Anita, but they eventually reconcile. When Colleen feels she is getting in the way of J. T.'s budding music career, she leaves Genoa City and a heartbroken J. T.
J. T. develops unrequited feelings for Brittany. After she marries, he begins dating Mackenzie. Though he falls in love with her, he pretends to be the father of Brittany's baby in order to protect Brittany from her husband's enemies. The truth comes out, and he reunites with Mackenzie. Colleen returns to town wanting to reconcile with J. T. He is not interested in her because he is still devoted to Mac. He finds out Mac became pregnant with his baby, yet she did not tell him until she miscarried. He is angry that she confided in Kevin Fisher instead. Angry, he cheats on Mac with Victoria Newman. A broken-hearted Mac leaves town when he tells her. Colleen romantically pursues J. T. and is angry when she finds out he had sex with Victoria, who had recently become Colleen's stepmother. J. T. soon reconciles with Colleen. Their relationship is strained when his work as a private investigator forces him to keep secrets from her. J. T. breaks up with her after she has an affair with Adrian Korbel. He still harbors affection toward Colleen and investigates her disappearance, including breaking into Korbel's apartment where he finds one of Colleen's earrings. J. T. and Korbel save Colleen from a fire, which they falsely believe was started by Kevin Fisher, who previously tried to kill Colleen. They refuse to believe Kevin when he says the fire was started by Jana, his ex-girlfriend, who set him up. Colleen is put on a respirator due to her oxygen level, and J. T. sits with her many times, admitting to her how much he loves her and how he will never stop.
He becomes engaged to Victoria. At the time, Victoria was expecting a baby that may be either J. T.'s child or the child of her estranged husband, and Colleen's father, Brad Carlton. J. T. assures her that the paternity of Victoria's child will make no difference for him and his plans for their life together. When Victoria is hit by a fallen rock during the Clear Springs explosion, she is left comatose. The doctors suggest that they do an emergency C-section to save Victoria, leaving the baby's chances slim. Victor wants to save Victoria and her mother Nikki Newman wants to save the baby. J. T. is left frustrated, as he does not have a say in what happens to his fiance or "his" son. The decision is made after Victoria's condition takes a turn for the worse, and the baby is delivered via C-section while she is still comatose. A paternity test done when blood is removed for medical tests proved that J. T. is the father of Victoria's son. With Victoria still comatose, J. T. decides that their son needs a name. He names the baby Reed, after Victoria's mother's maiden name, and because a reed is strong and bends with the wind.