Savvy fans of The Bold and the Beautiful know that the exteriors shown for Eric and Quinn’s mansion don’t belong to just any home. Late BB creators William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell resided in the lavish dwelling that doubled on-screen for the outside shots of the Forrester estate. Now, that home is for sale.
The Bell Mansion For Sale
Variety reports that the Bell mansion in Beverly Hills is for sale and is being listed for $39 million. Previous owners and/or occupants of the property include actor Charles Boyer (Gaslight), business magnate and philanthropist Howard Hughes, and Oscar-winning actress Katharine Hepburn (On Golden Pond).
The estate is described as having “2.5 acres of hilltop land in the prime lower Benedict Canyon area of Los Angeles” and offers “views to the Century City and Downtown L.A. skylines.”
In 1986, the Bells purchased the property for a reported $2.9 million. Over the years, Bill Bell (Jr), Bradley Bell (executive producer/head writer, BB), and Lauralee Bell (Christine, The Young and the Restless) moved off the property into their own homes. Bill Sr. resided there until his death in 2005. Lee Bell lived there until her passing earlier this year.
The property contains a main house, two detached guest houses, and a pool house along with a tennis court and a viewing pavilion. The Bold and the Beautiful has shot there numerous times over the decades for location shoots including in 1988 when Thorne (Clayton Norcross), zonked out on booze and pills, shot Ridge (then-Ronn Moss) in the head after learning that Ridge had slept with Thorne’s wife, Caroline (Joanna Johnson). In 2012, the Bell’s real-life swimming pool doubled for one that Hope (then-Kim Matula) fell into while on pills.
Over the years, the Bells hosted holiday parties for cast and production personnel from both soaps at their home. The late Kristoff St. John (ex-Neil) recounted in The Young and Restless Life of William J. Bell that Bill and Lee made people feel like family by welcoming them into their home.
“We’d all go up the driveway, and Bill and Lee were there to warmly greet you,” St. John said. “There would be a big feast and they’d give you a poinsettia on the way out.” The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays on CBS. Check local listings for air times.
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