Y&R/B&B Co-Creator Lee Phillip Bell, who celebrated her 90th birthday on June 10, has touched many lives over her long and illustrious career in daytime television. Here, a handful of her biggest fans weigh in on what makes her so great.
Lauralee Bell (Christine, Y&R): “I love Lee Phillip Bell for more reasons than I can list. I’ve been lucky enough to have a front-row seat to watch my mom work hard, listen, love, care for others and be strong. I try every day to be like my mom, and I appreciate her more than she’ll ever know. Happy Birthday!”
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Mother Load: Lauralee Bell (Christine, Y&R) thinks her mom is simply the best.
Tracey E. Bregman (Lauren, Y&R): “I love Lee Phillip Bell because she has always been kind and supportive of me. I love her strength, tenacity, smarts and the way she loves her family.”
Darin Brooks (Wyatt, B&B): “I love Lee Phillip Bell because she always has a smile on her face! Honestly, she’s one of the warmest, sweetest and most welcoming people.”
Eric Braeden (Victor, Y&R): “I love Lee Phillip Bell because she is the most charming and gracious lady I’ve ever met.”
Peter Bergman (Jack, Y&R): “I love Lee Phillip Bell because of her children; they are thoughtful, kind, polite and interesting people. What a legacy!”
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Teach Your Children: Peter Bergman (Jack, Y&R) gives Bell kudos for how she raised her kids.
Sharon Case (Sharon, Y&R): “I love Lee Phillip Bell because she is a class act and an inspiration to us all.”
Don Diamont (Bill, B&B; ex-Brad, Y&R): “I love Lee Phillip Bell because she is a shining example of womanhood; a dedicated mom and a brilliant professional at a time when being both wasn’t the norm. It’s been my absolute privilege to know Lee and work for her.”
Eileen Davidson (Ashley, Y&R): “I love Lee Phillip Bell because she epitomizes class.”
Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke, B&B): “I love Lee Phillip Bell because she is such an incredible woman in the work force, and with her family. She has been such an inspiration in her life to so many people. She always has a warm heart and a smile on her face.”
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Class Distinction: There’s lots to admire about the birthday girl, says B&B’s Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke) and
John McCook (Eric).
John McCook (Eric, B&B; ex-Lance, Y&R): “I love Lee Phillip Bell because she is so warm and kind. She is always asking about my family, even after 31 years! And she is enthusiastic about the storyline that’s happening. Lee stays involved on every level, both personally and professionally. She’s a true class act.”
Christian J. LeBlanc (Michael, Y&R): “I love Lee Bell because she hired me and changed my life. Lee was the grande dame of daytime to me. She had all these years in show business from her talk show in Chicago. ‘Oprah before OPRAH’ was how they described Lee’s talk show back in the day, and she was raising a family during that time. She wielded her power lightly. She had all of these accomplishments but yet she was never someone who bragged about it. She was the ideal mom, and she was very nurturing in the studio, as well.”
Jess Walton (Jill, Y&R): “I love Lee Phillip Bell because she is the epitome of what a real woman is to me. She is a wonderful wife, successful career woman, a loving mother and a gracious human being. I never see her in the halls at CBS without her holding out her arms, full of the warmth that is uniquely her.”
Joshua Morrow (Nick, Y&R): “I love Lee Phillip Bell because she personifies class and grace.”
Beth Maitland (Traci, Y&R): “I love Lee Phillip Bell because she embodies courageous, powerful women, and she inspires me with her quiet grace.”
Heather Tom (Katie, B&B): “I love Mrs. Bell because of her kindness. She always asks about my son and it’s always clear that she really cares.”
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Sharing Is Caring: Heather Tom (Katie, B&B) says Bell shows a genuine interest in her life.
Doug Davidson (Paul, Y&R): “I love Lee Phillip Bell because she is honestly one of the greatest women I’ve ever known.”
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Greatest Of All Time: Doug Davidson (Paul, Y&R) has high praise for Bell.
Scott Clifton (Liam, B&B): “There is something so ecclesiastic about Lee. Every time I’ve ever sat down and talked with her, she’s always so genuine and kind and sharp. She is like royalty. When you go to Monte Carlo and meet Prince Albert, you’re given instructions on what to call him and how to address him and what the protocol is, and even though nobody ever stands on ceremony like that with Lee, I feel like I’m missing something, like I should know how to address her, which is all in my head because she’s so approachable. She truly has a mythos about her because she shaped this world that I am living in. In some sense, she’s a god, because she did create this universe!”
Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki, Y&R): “I love Lee Phillip Bell because of her grace, elegance, generosity — I could go on and on here — and she is the most gifted conversationalist I’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying. She has the talent of making you feel like you are the only one in the room. She is truly a delight.”
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Can We Talk? Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki, Y&R) loves her chats with Bell.
Kate Linder (Esther, Y&R): “I love Lee Phillip Bell because she’s a groundbreaking career woman who brought social consciousness to Y&R. She’s a humanitarian, was an amazing wife, is an incredible mother and grandmother, and she is a wonderful friend to me. What a gift it is to have her in my life.”
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The Gifted: Kate Linder (Esther, Y&R) appreciates Bell’s accomplishments and friendship.
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