Although the series debuted on a Monday, today, March 23, marks the 38th anniversary of “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
A spinoff of “The Young and the Restless,” the half-hour series was created by the late William J. Bell and the late Lee Phillip Bell, and remains the most-watched U.S.-produced daytime drama series in the world.
Executive produced by Bradley P. Bell, who also serves as the show’s head writer, the soap opera has won over 100 Daytime Emmy Awards out of more than 300 nominations and has shot episodes in more than a dozen cities across several international countries.
In a statement in 2022, when the show celebrated its 35th anniversary, Bell said, “Since our premiere in 1987, it’s been a fantastic journey and incredible experience for all of us. We would not be here if not for the invaluable support of CBS and our millions of fans around the globe for their loyalty and support.”
A documentary film exploring the family dynasty behind the soap opera is currently in development at Amplify Pictures and was announced in January with filmmaker Matt Wolf (“Teenage,” “Bayard & Me”) directing after being granted unprecedented access to the show’s behind-the-scenes world.
Dubbed a love letter to an often-dismissed art form and an unexpected look at the rapid-fire process by which soap operas are made, the documentary, titled “Soaps,” will explore the people who have brought television’s longest-running continuous stories that have captivated viewers around the world for nearly half a century.
“When I first visited the set of ‘The Bold and the Beautiful,’ I was blown away by the Herculean effort that goes into bringing these stories to life. It’s a fascinating and unexpected world that is ripe for a documentary,” said Wolf, who also directed “Pee-wee as Himself,” which had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. That film follows the life of the late artist and performer Paul Reubens and his alter ego Pee-wee Herman.
“I’m so grateful to be welcomed by the Bell family, and the tight knit group of actors and behind-the-scenes crew, who tirelessly bring this show to life and have made the genre flourish,” continued Wolf, discussing his current project. “Amplify Pictures is the perfect partner because they understand the sweet spot between art and popular culture, which is the core of this project.”
Later this week, the soap will feature a daytime first when current cast member Heather Tom (Katie Logan) acts in an episode she also wrote and directed which is timed to Women’s History Month. Meanwhile, next month Lauralee Bell will make her third appearance on the series as Christine Blair, a character she has played continuously on “The Young and the Restless” since the 1980s. One of those episodes is also said to feature the likes of reality TV star Spencer Pratt (“The Hills”).
The current cast for the daytime series includes Scott Clifton, Ashleigh Brewer, Kimberlin Brown, Sean Kanan, Murielle Hilaire, Naomi Matsuda, Christian Weissman, Delon de Metz, Laneya Grace, Jennifer Gareis, John McCook, Katherine Kelly Lang, Thorsten Kaye, Rebecca Budig, Don Diamont, Romy Park, Crew Morrow, Heather Tom, Lawrence Saint-Victor, Annika Noelle, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, Tanner Novlan and Lisa Yamada, all of whom appear in the 38th anniversary cast photo above.
“The Bold and the Beautiful” is produced by Bell-Phillip Television Productions, Inc.
