William J. Bell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William J. Bell
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William J. Bell in 2003
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| Born |
William Joseph Bell
March 6, 1927 |
| Died | April 29, 2005 (aged 78) |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Occupation | Writer, producer |
| Years active | 1956–1998 (as a writer) 1973–2005 (as a producer) |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 3, including Bradley Phillip Bell and Lauralee Bell Martin |
William Joseph Bell (born March 6, 1927, died April 29, 2005) was a famous American writer and producer for television. He is best known for creating popular TV shows called soap operas. Some of his most famous creations include Another World, The Young and the Restless, and The Bold and the Beautiful.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Bell grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He was an only child for many years. His father worked as an accountant. His mother was a homemaker and also worked part-time.
Young William loved listening to radio soap operas. He would listen when he came home for lunch or late at night. As a child during the Great Depression, he took on many small jobs. He did this on weekends to help his family. He also joined the ROTC in high school. After serving in the Navy, he went to the University of Michigan.
Starting a Career in Writing
Writing for Radio
At 21, William Bell started working at WJJD radio. He wrote for two shows that focused on problems faced by teenagers. This work helped him get a job at WBBM radio. There, he wrote comedy shows. He focused on creating funny characters. He worked there for about three years.
Working in Advertising
After radio, Bell joined McCann Erickson, a large advertising company. He wrote commercials for radio and TV. His main client was Standard Oil of Indiana. He was later promoted to manage several smaller accounts. After three years, he moved to another advertising company.
Writing for Soap Operas
While working in radio, Bell wanted to write for Irna Phillips. She was a very famous soap opera creator. He later met her niece, who reminded Phillips about him. Phillips also knew Bell's wife, who was a local TV celebrity.
Bell began his soap opera writing career on Guiding Light. He then moved to As the World Turns. He worked with Irna Phillips, who was his mentor. In 1964, he and Phillips created Another World. They also created Our Private World, a spin-off of As the World Turns, in 1965.
Creating Popular TV Shows
Days of Our Lives
In 1966, Bell became the head writer for Days of Our Lives. This show was not doing very well at the time. Bell helped make it much more popular. He planned to leave the show in 1972 to create his own series. However, the show's owners asked him to stay. He agreed to help plan future stories. He remained the head writer until 1975.
The Young and the Restless
In 1972, the TV network CBS wanted a new daytime show for young people. William Bell and his wife, Lee Phillip Bell, created The Young and the Restless. They first called it The Innocent Years. But they changed the name before the show started. Bell explained that young people in America had lost some of their innocence. So, they chose The Young and the Restless. This name showed the energy and mood of the 1970s.
The Young and the Restless first aired on March 26, 1973. At first, it was not very popular. Bell even asked CBS to cancel it. But CBS believed in the show and gave it more time. The show brought new energy to daytime TV. It was bright, funny, and had exciting stories. Bell was the head writer for The Young and the Restless from 1973 to 1998. This was the longest time anyone had been a head writer for a soap opera. Since 1988, The Young and the Restless has been the most-watched soap opera.
The Bold and the Beautiful
In 1986, Bell started working on another soap opera for CBS. Plans were paused until CBS decided to cancel another show called Capitol. They needed a new show to replace it. Bell then created The Bold and the Beautiful. It first aired on March 23, 1987. This show is known for its glamorous look. It is set in the fashion world. Like The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful became very successful.
Personal Life and Family
William Bell was married to Lee Phillip Bell. She was a TV talk show host. She also helped him create The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful. They had three children: William James Bell, Bradley Phillip Bell, and Lauralee Bell Martin. His daughter-in-law, Maria Arena Bell, also worked on their family's shows.
William Bell passed away on April 29, 2005, at age 78. He had complications from Alzheimer's disease. He is buried in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles. In 1991, Bell bought a house in Bel Air, Los Angeles. It was designed by the famous architect Wallace Neff.
Awards and Recognition
In 1992, William Bell received a special award. It was the Lifetime Achievement Award. He received it at the 19th annual Daytime Emmy Awards. This award honored his long and successful career.
Legacy of Characters
William Bell created many characters for his soap operas. As of 2020, more than 25 of his characters were still appearing on TV. These characters are on The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, or Days of Our Lives. Some of these long-lasting characters include:
- Jill Foster Abbott (The Young and the Restless)
- Maggie Horton (Days of Our Lives)
- Paul Williams (The Young and the Restless)
- Nikki Newman (The Young and the Restless)
- Victor Newman (The Young and the Restless)
- Jack Abbott (The Young and the Restless)
- Eric Forrester (The Bold and the Beautiful)
- Brooke Logan (The Bold and the Beautiful)
Images for kids
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William J. Bell's grave
