The Young and the Restless Star Lauralee Bell Pays Tribute To Her Late Father, William Bell

The month of March is not only the anniversary month of both The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful but it’s also the birth month of their creator, the late William J. Bell! The scribe’s daughter, Lauralee Bell (Christine), took to social media this weekend to honor her father.

A Tribute to William J. Bell

“Putting this out in the universe in hopes that it will be felt! 😘,” Bell shared on Instagram, posting a photo of herself and the late Jeanne Cooper (ex-Katherine) giving Bell a kiss at one of the show’s many cake celebrations. “Happy BDay Dad! 🎂❤️ #dadsbirthday #fathersanddaughters #missyou.”

As you can see in the post below, Bell also includes a photo from another celebration honoring her dad along with family members, her mother Lee Phillip Bell, and her brothers Bradley Bell, head writer and executive producer, BB, and Bill.

Bill Bell Sr. was working an advertising executive in the era of Mad Men when he landed a meeting with legendary serial creator Irna Phillips (Guiding Light; As the World Turns). She gave Bell a shot and they worked as a team for nearly a decade when Bell was given a chance to break out on his own and become head writer of Days of Our Lives.

After taking that show, which was in danger of being canceled, to No. 1 in the ratings, Bell created his own serial, YR, for CBS, which debuted on March 26, 1973. The original clans were the Fosters and the Brooks families. Several years into the show, Bell created the Newmans and the Abbotts, who remain in the forefront today.

On March 23, 1987, Bell’s next creation, BB, premiered. The families in the first episode were the Forresters, Logans, and Spencers — all of those tribes, as viewers know, remain prominent today. Soap Hub joins Lauralee Bell in wishing her father a happy birthday! The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listing for air times.