William J. Bell, the co-creator of YOUNG AND RESTLESS (the No. 1 soap for more than 16 years) and BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL (the most watched serial in the world) died on April 29 in Los Angeles from complications of Alzheimer’s at the age of 78. A writing legend whose career in television spans more than four decades, Bell has written for GUIDING LIGHT, AS THE WORLD TURNS, ANOTHER WORLD (another co-creation) and DAYS OF OUR LIVES (which he helped save from cancellation).
In 1992, CBS dedicated Studio 43 at CBS Television City in L.A. to both Bell and Y&R, marking the first time in the history of the network that a studio had been dedicated to an individual and a series.
The multi-Emmy winning Bell is survived by his wife of 50 years, Lee Phillip Bell (who helped create Y&R and B&B with her husband), their three children Bill (the president of Bell Dramatic Serial Company and Bell-Phillip Television Productions, Inc.), Bradley (current Head Writer /executive producer of B&B) and Lauralee (Christine, Y&R), as well as grandchildren Liam, Sabrina, Chasen, Caroline, Charlotte and Oliver Bell, and Christian and Samantha Martin.
