The Bold and the Beautiful Stars John McCook and Victor Saint-Lawrence Pay Tribute to Lee Bell

The hosannas to late co-creator of The Bold and the Beautiful Lee Phillip Bell continue. Two stars of BB recently shared their thoughts on the half-hour serial’s late matriarch.

Honoring Lee Bell

Lawrence Saint-Victor (Carter) took to Instagram and posted a visual from a recent memorial for Lee, who had been wed to William J. Bell for 50 years. “Yesterday we celebrated the life of Lee Phillip Bell,” Saint-Victor wrote. “She was a wonderful, creative, powerhouse of a woman. She was always sweet and kind. Much love and prayers go out to the Bell family. Rest In Paradise. #rip #royalty.”

Additionally, original cast member John McCook (Eric) told Variety about Bill and Lee Bell’s contributions and legacy. “Think of Bill and Lee as yin and yang,” McCook said. “Different sides of the same coin. He was the writer and the guy who drove the show. She was the one who wanted the shows to be different. They were a wonderful, beautiful couple in those years.”

Variety reported that following Bill’s passing in 2005, Lee continued to come into the office and that she knew not only the names of all the cast and crew but also the names of their families. “I think it was what she’d learned from being on television [as host of The Lee Phillip Show in Chicago] all those years,” McCook adds. “She was always the gracious host.”

Bill and Lee’s greatest legacy is not BB and The Young and the Restless, their co-creation which debuted in 1973, but rather their three children: Bill (who handles the business end), Bradley, executive producer/head writer of BB, and Lauralee (Christine, YR). “It’s unique in this world that shows like this would be run by one family,” says McCook “The beauty of it is, the children learned the qualities that they need to keep it going from their parents.” The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays on CBS. Check local listings for air times.