VIDEO FLASHBACK: Caroline Learns She’s Dying!

Joanna Johnson was a breakout star on The Bold and the Beautiful, earning a fan following and critical acclaim as the show’s fragile ingenue. In fact, in Greece, one of the show’s first big international markets, the program name was changed for a while to simply “Caroline”.

In her first few years on the show, Johnson’s Caroline Spencer dealt with an unfaithful fiance, a date rape attack, and an unhappy marriage.

Like all good soap heroines, she rose and met her challenges, eventually winning the man of her dreams — Ridge Forrester (then Ronn Moss).

Alas, their wedded bliss didn’t even last a full year. After settling down with Ridge, Caroline began not to feel well. She went to see a doctor, who ran some tests. The news was not good. At first, the show made the decision to shoot the doctor sharing the fatal prognosis from outside the doctor’s office through a window so that the audience didn’t learn what her exact condition was. (Later, it was revealed to be leukemia.)

Since exiting the show, Johnson has gone on to become a successful television creator and writer. Her credits include Hope & Faith and the critically acclaimed The Fosters. She also returned to acting, going back to B&B for a few years as Karen, Caroline’s twin.

After failed romances with Thorne  (then Jeff Trachta) and Connor (Scott Thompson Baker), Karen left town. When she returned years later, viewers learned that she was involved with Danielle (Crystal Chappell). But that’s a video flashback for another day!

For now, take a look back at the fateful news that was the beginning of the end for Ridge and Caroline, but opened him up for romances with Taylor and Brooke.

The Bold and the Beautiful (BB) airs weekdays on CBS. Check local listings for airtimes.