Known for movies

Short Info

Date Of BirthMarch 6, 1927
DiedApril 29, 2005, Los Angeles, California, United States
SpouseLee Phillip Bell
FactFather-in-law of Maria Arena Bell and Colleen Bell.


William J. Bell was born on July 26, 1927, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were John and Alice Bell. He had two brothers and one sister. His early education was at St. Patrick’s High School in Chicago. He then attended Loyola University of Chicago, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1949.

Bell’s career began in the advertising industry. He worked for the Leo Burnett Company in Chicago from 1949 to 1955. He then moved to New York City, where he worked for the advertising agency Young & Rubicam from 1955 to 1960. In 1960, he returned to Chicago and joined the advertising firm of D’Arcy Advertising. He became a partner in the firm in 1962.

In 1966, Bell left D’Arcy to form his own advertising agency, William J. Bell & Associates. In 1974, the agency was acquired by the Saatchi & Saatchi Company. Bell became president and chief executive officer of Saatchi & Saatchi North America in 1975. He retired from Saatchi & Saatchi in 1992.

Bell’s career in television began in 1964, when he wrote and produced a series of commercials for the American Cancer Society. In 1965, he wrote and produced a series of commercials for the United Negro College Fund. In 1966, he wrote and produced a series of commercials for the National Council of Catholic Women.

In 1967, Bell wrote and produced a series of commercials for the American Heart Association. In 1968, he wrote and produced a series of commercials for the National Easter Seal Society. In 1969, he wrote and produced a series of commercials for the American Lung Association.

In 1970, Bell wrote and produced a series of commercials for the American Red Cross. In 1971, he wrote and produced a series of commercials for the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation. In 1972, he wrote and produced a series of commercials for the National Safety Council.

In 1973, Bell wrote and produced a series of commercials for the United Way. In 1974, he wrote and produced a series of commercials for the Salvation Army. In 1975, he wrote and produced a series of commercials for the YMCA.

Bell’s first television series was The Young Marrieds, which aired on ABC from 1965 to 1966. His other television series include The Bold and the Beautiful (1987-present), The Young and the Restless (1973-present), and The Edge of Night (1956-1975).

Bell has won numerous awards for his work in television, including five Daytime Emmy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Bell’s net worth is estimated to be $100 million. His salary is not publicly available. However, it is estimated that he earns between $1 million and $5 million per year from his work in television.

Bell has been married three times. His first wife was Loretta Phillips, with whom he had two children: William Jr. and Bradley. His second wife was Maria Arena Bell, with whom he had two children: John and Kristen. His third wife is Elizabeth Taylor, with whom he has one child: Christopher Edward Bell.

General Info

Full NameWilliam J. Bell
Date Of BirthMarch 6, 1927
DiedApril 29, 2005, Los Angeles, California, United States
ProfessionScreenwriter, Television producer
EducationDePaul University
NationalityAmerican

Family

SpouseLee Phillip Bell
ChildrenBradley Bell, Lauralee Bell, William J. Bell Jr.

Accomplishments

AwardsDaytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team
NominationsWriters Guild of America Award for Television: Daytime Serials
TV ShowsAnother World, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless, Our Private World

Social profile links

Quotes

#Quote
1My wife, Lee Phillip Bell had her own television show in Chicago when I started doing serials. We both knew there were problems with security in the television business, so we promised each other that if one of us got fired, the other would quit his job and we'd go live in Europe for a year. Neither one of us were ever fired, and we've been working ever since.
2On Irna Phillips: I used to come home for lunch in grammar school and listen to [error] on the radio. After the title the announcer would say 'created by Irna Phillips'. Her name was ingrained in my mind. I met Irna in 1954 and I asked I could try writing for her. She let me write a week of sample scripts.
3In 1992: I imagine the day will come when The Bold and the Beautiful (1987) becomes an hour show and I'd like to create another soap. It would be fun to do a play, but I don't know if I'll ever get around to it. Scripting daytime is very consuming. But it's exciting to see what you write come to life every day.
4On The Young and the Restless (1973): I absolutely loved the Fosters and the Brooks. It took us three-and-a half years on the air to go to first place. That was exciting, because we were doing different kinds of stories with young people as a focus.
5On writing for daytime: You have to have darn good characters that people like, admire, can relate to or hate; but feel some kind of emotion about and you have to have interesting stories with a heartbeat to them stories [viewers] can relate too, escape with, and learn from in terms of social issues. I'm a strong believer that we're here to do more than entertain, that we're here to impact on the lives of our audience.

Facts

#Fact
1Father-in-law of Maria Arena Bell and Colleen Bell.
2Said to have contributed to the writing of some 15,000 daytime TV soap-opera episodes.
3Father of Lauralee Bell, William J. Bell Jr., and Bradley Bell.

Movies

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Young and the RestlessTV Series 26 episodes, 1980 - 1995 head writer - 404 episodes, 1973 - 1998 co-creator - 29 episodes, 2009 - 2016 writer - 1 episode, 1994 creator - 1 episode, 1991 written by - 1 episode, 1983
The Bold and the BeautifulTV Series co-creator - 6,330 episodes, 1987 - 2016 head writer - 739 episodes, 1987 - 1993
Days of Our LivesTV Series 2,071 episodes, 1966 - 2013 story by - 573 episodes, 1975 - 2014 head writer - 49 episodes, 1966 - 1973 co-head writer - 1 episode, 1972
Another World1964-1985TV Series creator - 343 episodes
As the World Turns1966TV Series written by - 1 episode
Our Private World1965TV Series co-head writer - 1965
Guiding Light1952TV Series 1956-1957

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Young and the RestlessTV Series senior executive producer - 647 episodes, 1987 - 2004 executive producer - 254 episodes, 1973 - 2004 co-executive producer - 1 episode, 2005
The Bold and the Beautiful1987-1995TV Series executive producer - 915 episodes
CBS Summer Playhouse1988TV Series executive producer - 1 episode

Miscellaneous

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Young and the Restless1998-2003TV Series executive story consultant - 652 episodes
The Bold and the Beautiful1993-1996TV Series executive story consultant - 109 episodes

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards2004TV SpecialHimself - Nominee (as William Bell)
Intimate Portrait2002TV Series documentaryHimself
50 Years of Soaps: An All-Star Celebration1994TV MovieHimself
One on One with John Tesh1992TV SeriesHimself

Awards

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2004Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
2000Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama Series Writing TeamThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1997Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama Series Writing TeamThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1993Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1992Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama Series Writing TeamThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1992Lifetime Achievement AwardDaytime Emmy Awards
1992Soap Opera Digest AwardSoap Opera Digest AwardsEditor's Choice
1986Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1985Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Daytime Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1985Soap Opera Digest AwardSoap Opera Digest AwardsEditor's Choice
1983Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Daytime Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1976Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama SeriesDays of Our Lives (1965)
1975Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Daytime Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2006Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
2005Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
2003Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
2003Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama Series Writing TeamThe Young and the Restless (1973)
2002Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
2001Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
2001Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama Series Writing TeamThe Young and the Restless (1973)
2000Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
2000WGA Award (TV)Writers Guild of America, USADaytime SerialsThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1999Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1999Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama Series Writing TeamThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1998Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1998Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama Series Writing TeamThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1997Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1996Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1995Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama Series Writing TeamThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1995Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1994Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama Series Writing TeamThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1993Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama Series Writing TeamThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1992Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1991Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1991Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama Series Writing TeamThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1990Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1990Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama Series Writing TeamThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1989Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1988Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1987Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1987Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama Series Writing TeamThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1986Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama Series Writing TeamThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1979Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Writing for a Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1978Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Writing for a Drama SeriesDays of Our Lives (1965)
1978WGA Award (TV)Writers Guild of America, USADaytime SerialsDays of Our Lives (1965)
1977Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama SeriesDays of Our Lives (1965)
1977WGA Award (TV)Writers Guild of America, USADaytime SerialsDays of Our Lives (1965)
1976Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1976WGA Award (TV)Writers Guild of America, USADaytime SerialsDays of Our Lives (1965)
1975Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Daytime Drama SeriesAnother World (1964)
1975Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless (1973)
1975Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama SeriesDays of Our Lives (1965)
1975WGA Award (TV)Writers Guild of America, USADaytime SerialsDays of Our Lives (1965)

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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