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William J. Bell Biography

Birth Name:William Joseph Bell

Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, United States

Profession Writer, Producer

Fast Facts

  • Studio 43 at CBS Television City in Los Angeles is dedicated to him and "The Young and the Restless․"
  • Some of his early jobs were writing comedy at Chicago's WBBM-TV and working in advertising
  • Quote: "I'm a strong believer that we are here to do more than entertain․ That we are here to impact on the lives of our audiences․"
  • Co-created such successful soap operas as "The Young and the Restless," which was the number one soap for 16 years, and "The Bold and the Beautiful," which became the most watched serial in the world
  • Some of his most successful soap operas were created with his wife of 50 years, Lee Phillip Bell
  • Lived in the villa that once belonged to Howard Hughes while working for soap opera writer and actress Irna Phillips
  • Made a pact with his wife that if one of them was ever fired from their job in the television industry, the other would quit and they'd live in Europe for a year

Awards

  • 1975Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Daytime Drama Series: winner
  • 1975Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Daytime Drama Series: nominated
  • 1975Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series: nominated
  • 1975Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series: nominated
  • 1975WGA Award (TV)-Daytime Serials: nominated
  • 1976Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series: winner
  • 1976Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series: nominated
  • 1976WGA Award (TV)-Daytime Serials: nominated
  • 1977Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series: nominated
  • 1977WGA Award (TV)-Daytime Serials: nominated
  • 1978Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1978WGA Award (TV)-Daytime Serials: nominated
  • 1979Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1983Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Daytime Drama Series: winner
  • 1985Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Daytime Drama Series: winner
  • 1986Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
  • 1986Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team: nominated
  • 1987Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team: nominated
  • 1987Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 1988Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 1989Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 1990Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 1990Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team: nominated
  • 1991Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 1991Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team: nominated
  • 1992Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 1992Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team: winner
  • 1993Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
  • 1993Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team: nominated
  • 1994Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team: nominated
  • 1995Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team: nominated
  • 1995Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 1996Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 1997Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team: winner
  • 1997Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 1998Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 1998Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team: nominated
  • 1999Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team: nominated
  • 1999Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 2000Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team: winner
  • 2000Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 2000WGA Award (TV)-Daytime Serials: nominated
  • 2001Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team: nominated
  • 2001Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 2002Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 2003Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 2003Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team: nominated
  • 2004Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
  • 2005Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 2006Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated