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THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS Stars Remember the Late Wiliam J. Bell

By Chris Eades

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March 6 is the birthday of legendary television producer and daytime drama creator William J. Bell, and on what would have been his 91st birthday, the stars whose lives he changed during his epic career expressed their love and gratitude over social media. And as the creative force behind soaps like ANOTHER WORLD, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS, and THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL, there are plenty who owe him a lot.

“Happy Birthday, Dad!” shared his daughter, Lauralee Bell (Christine, Y&R) with a photo of him and one of his grandchildren. “You touched so many lives personally and professionally. I would’ve loved for our kids to have experienced your incredible positivity as we need more of that in today’s world. I know you’re near as we think of you today.”

Bell started his writing career on GUIDING LIGHT and then moved to AS THE WORLD TURNS, working under legendary soap creator Irna Phillips. He co-created ANOTHER WORLD with her in 1964 and the following year, co-created ATWT’s primetime spinoff OUR PRIVATE WORLD. He was then hired as the headwriter of DAYS OF OUR LIVES in 1966, but left to create Y&R, which premiered in 1973. And in 1987, he brought its sister soap, B&B, to the air. In 1992, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 19th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.

Kate Linder (Esther, Y&R) also shared a special birthday message to the late, great Bell, along with an old picture of them including his wife, Lee Phillip Bell. “Esther Valentine and I will always be grateful,” she wrote.

And Doug Davidson (Paul, Y&R) shared a snapshot of a caption in Soaps In Depth where he gushed about Bell’s talent and skill.

The daytime world would be a very different place without the contributions of Bell and his equally-talented family members. We join his friends and loved ones in remembering this entertainment icon on his birthday and every day we enjoy daytime drama.

For more Y&R news, keep reading the CBS edition of Soaps In Depth magazine.

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