Liam Spencer (The Bold and the Beautiful)
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| Liam Spencer | |||||||||||||||||
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| The Bold and the Beautiful character | |||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Scott Clifton | ||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2010– | ||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | July 19, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Bradley Bell | ||||||||||||||||
| Book appearances | "Forbidden Affair" (2013) Second Chances (2014) |
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| Classification | Present; regular | ||||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||||
| Other names | Liam Cooper William Spencer III Adam Smith (2016) |
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| Occupation | Businessman | ||||||||||||||||
| Home | Spencer Malibu Beach House Los Angeles, California |
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William "Liam" Spencer III is a fictional character from the CBS Daytime soap opera, The Bold and the Beautiful, played by Scott Clifton. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on July 19, 2010.
Contents
Creation and casting
On May 21, 2010, Dan J Kroll from Soapcentral.com reported that actor Scott Clifton had joined the cast of The Bold and the Beautiful in the newly created role of Liam Cooper.[1] Clifton was cast two months after leaving rival soap opera One Life to Live.[1] The actor was initially unaware of who the character was when he auditioned for the role.[2] On his first day on set, Clifton was told that his character would be called Liam. He then met with the executive producer Bradley Bell, who told him about Liam's backstory and that he would be Bill Spencer, Jr.'s (Don Diamont) long-lost son, which is why they decided to name him Liam, short for William.[2] Clifton kept the information to himself, until it was revealed in the scripts.[2] He filmed his first scenes on May 25, and made his screen debut as Liam on July 19, 2010.[1]
Development
Scott Clifton's job on The Bold and the Beautiful included withholding the secret of his character's paternity. Liam Cooper's introduction to viewers began with his quest to discover the true identity of his biological father, which potentially included several lead characters. Asked by the director if he wished to know the secret, or learn the truth when Liam does, Clifton agreed to hear the truth immediately. He withheld his knowledge from cast-mates and backstage crew for several months as the storyline played out.
At times, Clifton regretted that his character would not be the son of certain fathers. "Winsor [Harmon] played those scenes so subtly and sweetly, that even though I knew what was going to happen, I was watching Winsor thinking 'God, I wish I were his son.'" Yet, Clifton has praised the storyline and defended the choice of who ultimately became Liam's father, Bill Spencer, Jr., portrayed by Don Diamont. The fictional father/son duo have consistently clashed, which has led to greater storytelling potential.[3]
An early plot hole was revealed to Clifton by fans of the show. Early on, Liam learns of the Forrester family after arriving in Los Angeles. But later it was revealed that he believed one of the Forresters could be his father even before he moved.[3]
Of the character's unrevealed history, Clifton knows little. His interpretation of the character is that he is from the Midwest. He also believes that, while Liam's mother is dead, he has a living stepfather, who has yet to be introduced.[3]
Storylines
After the death of his mother, Liam relocates to Los Angeles to find his biological father. His only clue is that his father worked at the prestigious fashion house Forrester Creations. Liam finds employment as a computer technician at Spencer Publications and befriends Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood). Liam later reveals that he could be Ridge Forrester's (Ronn Moss) son. Hope Logan (Kim Matula) takes pity on Liam and they become friends. Both Bill Spencer, Jr. (Don Diamont) and Thorne Forrester (Winsor Harmon) are revealed to have dated Kelly and could be Liam's father. While they wait for DNA results, Liam and Thorne form a bond. Liam learns Bill is his father and with Hope and Katie Logan's (Heather Tom) encouragement, they start to bond. Hope and Liam begin dating. Amber Moore (Adrienne Frantz) convinces Liam that they had sex and she is carrying his child. It soon emerges that Amber's mother, Tawny (Andrea Evans), faked the paternity test results.
Liam saves Steffy from drowning and they share a kiss. However, Liam does not reciprocate Steffy's feelings fully and he proposes to Hope. Hope asks Liam to wait before they are married to consummate their relationship because of her clothing line. During this time Liam and Steffy become friends and Liam develops feelings for her. Hope catches them kissing and ends the engagement. Liam and Steffy marry, but their marriage is opposed by Katie and Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang). While on vacation in Cabo, Liam finds that Hope is there with Thomas Forrester (Adam Gregory). He realizes that Steffy knew they were there and did not tell him. Liam goes after Hope, who is riding an ATV with Thomas. After catching up to them, Liam kisses Hope. They then find Steffy unconscious, having crashed her own ATV. Liam initially decides to stand by Steffy when he learns she has a blood clot in her brain, but he reunites with Hope after learning Bill switched Steffy's MRI results. Liam ends his marriage to Steffy, but she refuses to sign the annulment papers.
While Liam, Hope and Steffy are skiing in Aspen, Hope, who is under the influence of anti-anxiety medication, collides with Steffy. She apologises and continues down the mountain even though Steffy is injured. Liam finds Steffy and goes with her to the hospital. Liam confronts Hope about the collision. He becomes concerned about Hope, but she tells Liam to go back to Steffy at the hospital. Steffy gives Liam the signed annulment papers, but Liam rips them up and they kiss. Bill urges Liam to break up with Hope. Brooke learns Liam ripped up the papers, but he asks her to keep it to herself. Liam and Hope go to Italy to marry, but Hope is late to the ceremony, causing Liam to think that she has walked out on him. Liam asks Steffy to marry him again, but Hope tells Liam her father, Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan), made her late and they finally marry. They later learn that their marriage is not valid in the United States.
When Hope discovers Liam kissed Steffy on their wedding day, she refuses to have their marriage validated and insists on a second wedding. She ends their relationship when Liam arrives to the ceremony drunk on the back of Steffy's motorcycle. Liam and Steffy get back together, and she becomes pregnant. Steffy suffers a miscarriage after an accident while riding her motorcycle and moves to Paris. Liam resumes his romance with Hope. Liam's half-brother, Wyatt Fuller (Darin Brooks), begins working for Hope for the Future and competes with Liam for Hope. Wyatt's mother, Quinn (Rena Sofer), starts interfering and Steffy returns to win Liam back. When Hope sees Liam and Steffy together, she goes to Hawaii with Wyatt, unaware that Liam chose her. Liam tells Hope the truth, but she stays with Wyatt. Liam discovers Wyatt was behind a diamond heist at HFTF, and exposes him, but Wyatt is given another chance since the heist gave Forrester more publicity.
Liam tells Hope to date both him and Wyatt, and then choose between them. When Hope learns that Quinn was partially responsible for Ridge's disappearance, she breaks up with Wyatt and accepts Liam's proposal. Quinn tries to harm Liam and Wyatt helps save him. Their relationship improves, and Liam and Hope give Wyatt his job back. Liam befriends the newly arrived Ivy Forrester (Ashleigh Brewer). Wyatt is left the HFTF diamond by Ricardo Montemayor and he gifts it to Hope. Liam asks Hope to return the diamond, but when Wyatt sets up a press conference and publicly gifts the diamond to Hope, she accepts it. Wyatt and Rick take the diamond on a promotion tour, starting in Paris. Hope invites Liam to meet her there and marry her. Ivy and Aly (Ashlyn Pearce) convince Liam to meet Hope. When Ivy falls into the Seine, Liam jumps in to save her and misses his meeting with Hope. Bill tells Liam that Hope married Wyatt. Liam tells Hope the truth about being in Paris, but she does not leave Wyatt. Ivy and Liam kiss, but he still has feelings for Hope.
When Liam learns Quinn followed him and Ivy to Paris, and pushed Ivy in the Seine, he tells Hope and asks her to leave Wyatt. She refuses as she is pregnant. Liam and Ivy's relationship progresses. Hope suffers a miscarriage and leaves for Italy, after saying goodbye to Liam.
Reception
For his portrayal of Liam, Clifton won the Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series accolade at the 38th Daytime Emmy Awards in 2011.[4] At the 40th Daytime Emmy Awards in 2013, Clifton won the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, along with actor Billy Miller from The Young and the Restless.[5] Clifton was nominated in the same category at the 41st and 42nd Daytime Emmy Awards in 2014 and 2015 respectively.[6][7]
During a feature on what storylines were working and not working for the show, a Soap World reporter quipped, "apologies to Team Liam fans, but he's such a wimp who wants to possess Hope despite his endlessly grating protestations of love for her. Quinn's right, he's a boy, not a man!"[8]
References
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External links
- Scott Clifton profile on the Official Bold and the Beautiful website
