Known for movies
Short Info
Date Of Birth | March 6, 1927 |
Died | April 29, 2005, Los Angeles, California, United States |
Spouse | Lee Phillip Bell |
Fact | Father-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 Name | William J. Bell |
Date Of Birth | March 6, 1927 |
Died | April 29, 2005, Los Angeles, California, United States |
Profession | Screenwriter, Television producer |
Education | DePaul University |
Nationality | American |
Family
Spouse | Lee Phillip Bell |
Children | Bradley Bell, Lauralee Bell, William J. Bell Jr. |
Accomplishments
Awards | Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team |
Nominations | Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Daytime Serials |
TV Shows | Another World, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless, Our Private World |
Social profile links
Quotes
# | Quote |
---|---|
1 | My 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. |
2 | On 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. |
3 | In 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. |
4 | On 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. |
5 | On 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 |
---|---|
1 | Father-in-law of Maria Arena Bell and Colleen Bell. |
2 | Said to have contributed to the writing of some 15,000 daytime TV soap-opera episodes. |
3 | Father of Lauralee Bell, William J. Bell Jr., and Bradley Bell. |
Movies
Writer
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
The Young and the Restless | TV 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 Beautiful | TV Series co-creator - 6,330 episodes, 1987 - 2016 head writer - 739 episodes, 1987 - 1993 | ||
Days of Our Lives | TV 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 World | 1964-1985 | TV Series creator - 343 episodes | |
As the World Turns | 1966 | TV Series written by - 1 episode | |
Our Private World | 1965 | TV Series co-head writer - 1965 | |
Guiding Light | 1952 | TV Series 1956-1957 |
Producer
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
The Young and the Restless | TV Series senior executive producer - 647 episodes, 1987 - 2004 executive producer - 254 episodes, 1973 - 2004 co-executive producer - 1 episode, 2005 | ||
The Bold and the Beautiful | 1987-1995 | TV Series executive producer - 915 episodes | |
CBS Summer Playhouse | 1988 | TV Series executive producer - 1 episode |
Miscellaneous
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
The Young and the Restless | 1998-2003 | TV Series executive story consultant - 652 episodes | |
The Bold and the Beautiful | 1993-1996 | TV Series executive story consultant - 109 episodes |
Self
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
The 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards | 2004 | TV Special | Himself - Nominee (as William Bell) |
Intimate Portrait | 2002 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
50 Years of Soaps: An All-Star Celebration | 1994 | TV Movie | Himself |
One on One with John Tesh | 1992 | TV Series | Himself |
Awards
Won Awards
Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
2000 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1997 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1993 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1992 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1992 | Lifetime Achievement Award | Daytime Emmy Awards | ||
1992 | Soap Opera Digest Award | Soap Opera Digest Awards | Editor's Choice | |
1986 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1985 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Daytime Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1985 | Soap Opera Digest Award | Soap Opera Digest Awards | Editor's Choice | |
1983 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Daytime Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1976 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series | Days of Our Lives (1965) |
1975 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Daytime Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
Nominated Awards
Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
2005 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
2003 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
2003 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
2002 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
2001 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
2001 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
2000 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
2000 | WGA Award (TV) | Writers Guild of America, USA | Daytime Serials | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1999 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1999 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1998 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1998 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1997 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1996 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1995 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1995 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1994 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1993 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1992 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1991 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1991 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1990 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1990 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1989 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1988 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1987 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1987 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1986 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1979 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1978 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series | Days of Our Lives (1965) |
1978 | WGA Award (TV) | Writers Guild of America, USA | Daytime Serials | Days of Our Lives (1965) |
1977 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series | Days of Our Lives (1965) |
1977 | WGA Award (TV) | Writers Guild of America, USA | Daytime Serials | Days of Our Lives (1965) |
1976 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1976 | WGA Award (TV) | Writers Guild of America, USA | Daytime Serials | Days of Our Lives (1965) |
1975 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Daytime Drama Series | Another World (1964) |
1975 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series | The Young and the Restless (1973) |
1975 | Daytime Emmy | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series | Days of Our Lives (1965) |
1975 | WGA Award (TV) | Writers Guild of America, USA | Daytime Serials | Days of Our Lives (1965) |
Source: IMDb, Wikipedia