NEED TO KNOW
- Scott Clifton revealed that his Bold and the Beautiful character William “Liam” Spencer III was originally going to face a very different fate
- His character was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and was supposed to die — causing Clifton to exit the series
- But before he woke up in a July episode, series head writer Bradley Bell was able to maneuver the storyline to keep his character alive
The Bold and the Beautiful star Scott Clifton is sharing insight about how his character, William “Liam” Spencer III, survived a fatal brain tumor diagnosis.
In a new interview with Soap Opera Digest, Clifton, 40, said that he and the series’ writers first thought his character had to die. In the spring, The Bold and the Beautiful executive producer and head writer Bradley Bell told him that “he felt that Liam had been written into a corner,” Clifton recalled.
Clifton was appreciative of Bell’s candor, because “it was something that I had worried about for at least the last decade.”
Bell decided that Liam would have an inoperable brain tumor, and called Clifton into his office to explain the decision, Clifton told Soap Opera Digest.
“He was a total prince about it. He was like, ‘I love working with you and you’re an asset to the show, but I’ve figured out what I want to do with Liam,’ ” Clifton said, adding that Liam was going to have a “really poignant send-off.”
However, things changed when Bell decided to have Dr. Grace Buckingham (Cassandra Creech) fake Liam’s brain scan to extort his father, Bill Spencer (Don Diamont), for a million dollars. Bill eventually paid for Liam’s “experimental treatment.” Her plan was revealed after Luna Nozawa (Lisa Yamada) shot Liam.
“I really was supposed to kick the old soap opera bucket,” Clifton told the outlet. “I don’t know exactly what it was that changed [Bell’s] mind.”
Clifton got a phone call from the producer-writer, who told him that he would figure out a way to rewrite Liam’s original planned ending.
“I was so thrilled to be employed again, but I was kind of going, ‘How on earth are you gonna pull this off?’ ” Clifton told the outlet. “I mean, yes, it’s a soap opera, but you have established beyond any question that this dude is dying!”
“But sure enough, he figured out this very complex, elaborate way to save Liam,” Clifton continued.
Clifton told Soap Opera Digest that he had “really resigned” himself to leaving The Bold and the Beautiful. “I just wanted to do the best job I could with the storyline,” he said. “And then to learn that I would actually get to keep my job? It was like the best of both worlds.”
“So I’m pretty damn grateful. I’m grateful to Brad and grateful to the show and grateful to get to stick around and hopefully help him tell some more great stories,” Clifton said.
Clifton’s tenure on the daytime series began in 2010. He won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series at the 2017 Daytime Emmys, having already won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2013 and Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series in 2011. He’s the first male actor to have won all three.
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The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays on CBS (check local listings).
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