Lee Phillip Bell, Co-Creator of Y&R and B&B, Dead at 91

The soap community is mourning the loss of a daytime legend as Lee Phillip Bell, co-creator of THE YOUNG  & THE RESTLESS and THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL died on Feb. 25 at the age of 91. Survived by her children, William James Bell, Bradley Phillip Bell, and Lauralee Bell Martin, they reported her passing and added, “Our mother was a loving and supportive wife, mother, and grandmother. Gracious and kind, she enriched the lives of all who knew her. We will all miss her tremendously.”

Bell’s career as a broadcast journalist began in Chicago where she hosted and produced her own show, The Lee Phillip Show, for CBS TV for over three decades. A pioneer in the evolution of the afternoon talk show format, Bell was a trailblazer in exploring timely social issues. In addition, she produced and narrated numerous award-winning specials and documentaries, interviewed heads of state such as Presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Regan, actors like Judy Garland, Clint Eastwood, and Jerry Lewis, musicians like The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, and many other stars.

But soap fans know Bell best as the wife of the late William J. Bell, who together created two of daytime’s most successful dramas, Y&R and later, B&B. The daytime landscape would not be the same today without their contribution to its legacy. And naturally, shortly after news of her passing began to spread, the heartfelt tributes began pouring in.

Our thoughts are with Bell’s family and friends during this difficult time. For more news on your favorite daytime dramas, keep reading the CBS edition of Soaps In Depth magazine.