The Bold and the Beautiful Wayback: Remember Caroline

It was déjà vu all over again for longtime fans of The Bold and the Beautiful when Caroline Spencer, Karen’s daughter, died this year. Viewers of old will recall Caroline’s namesake, played by original cast member Joanna Johnson, who also had a life cut short.

The original Caroline had an incredible spirit and was beloved by many — but that doesn’t mean she led a charmed life. Here are some facts folks may have forgotten about Caroline on The Bold and the Beautiful.

Daddy’s Girl
While Caroline had two siblings — a missing twin, Karen, and a brother, Bill, — viewers never saw them. Karen had been kidnapped at birth and Bill Jr. was out of the picture when BB began. Bill Sr. acted as if Caroline was his only child.

Social Issue
Caroline, after splitting from ex-fiancé Ridge, was date-raped by a scumbag named Ron Deacon. Ron was brought to trial, and the whole experience was horrible for Caroline as Ron’s lawyer tried to make it sound like she had consented to the sex. Ridge testified that Caroline wanted to wait until marriage for sex. Luckily, Ron was found guilty.

The Letter
Ridge wrote a letter to Caroline, hoping to re-win her heart, but Caroline had accepted the marriage proposal of his brother Thorne. Brooke withheld the note from her “friend,” wanting to keep Ridge for herself. Stephanie made sure Caroline saw the letter, but it was too close to the ceremony to make a difference.

Mistaken Identity?
As a “prank,” Ridge hopped into his sister-in-law’s bed following a night of partying. Before Ridge could stop her, Caroline made the moves on her ex and the two had sex! Whether an inebriated Caroline knew she was really with Ridge or not became the subject of great debate.

Love Story
Ridge and Caroline finally wed, but their happiness was cut short after the bride was diagnosed with a terminal disease. Ridge presented his new wife with a number of charms for her bracelet.

It was a heartbreaking moment when Caroline realized that was Ridge’s way of letting her know that he knew she wouldn’t live long enough to be given the gifts one by one. Soon after, she died in his arms. The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays.