40 years is a long time to have a job, particularly for actors. But The Bold and the Beautiful’s Don Diamont has done it, though he didn’t start on that show. He began on The Young and the Restless in 1985, playing Brad Carlton until exiting in 2021. But now, as the ruthless “Dollar” Bill Spencer on B&B, he’s got some tough times ahead as his son Liam has a fatal brain tumor. Diamont opened up about all the fun times he’s had in the past four decades.
He Was Incredibly Green
Diamont recently celebrated 16 years on B&B, and now discussed his 40 years on CBS soaps with TV Insider. He explained that his soap career began when he played Carlo Forenza on Days of Our Lives in 1984, but the stint didn’t last long because “I was just so incredibly green.” So much so that a director scolded him in front of the cast for not having enough energy.
Fortunately, “Bill [Bell, creator/head writer of Y&R] had seen me on Days, and wanted me to screen-test for Brad Carlton.” So, he hired an acting coach to teach him how to be more professional in the job, and “to learn what the hell I was doing.” He landed the gig, and after his first day there, then-executive producer Wes Kenney came up to him and praised him for a job well done, which helped embolden his resolve to continue.
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He’s Thankful for the Opportunities
As Brad, he went from being just a guy showing off his muscles to a powerhouse businessman. Diamont was happy that his father got to see this transition, and remarked that his dad once told him, “‘You know, when you started, you weren’t very good, and you’re really good now. I’m really proud of you. You learned a lot.’ ” He added, “That meant a lot to me.”
But Bell had passed away, and new producers took over, pushing Diamont out. However, Brad Bell was the showrunner for B&B and created Bill Spencer Jr. for him. “And the rest is history,” he enthusiastically remarked. He then reflected on his 40 years at CBS, noting, “That’s pretty crazy.” He explained that he feels lucky and is thankful for the opportunities presented to him.
