Season covered: September 22, 2003–September 17, 2004, episodes #4135–#4387: 253 numbered episodes. This follows the show’s official season numbering. The streaming archive currently contains 251 video entries, although its finale is labelled S17 E253. Some third-party databases use a different, March-to-March definition of season 17. All dates below are original U.S. broadcast dates unless otherwise stated. The Bold and the Beautiful
Completeness note: The list below covers the principal, recurring and identifiable guest characters I could establish. I could not verify every minor speaking role or assign every infant performer to an exact episode, so I cannot honestly certify it as a complete episode-credit census.
Characters and actors
Characters are alphabetized by surname. Darla is filed under Einstein, Brooke under Logan, and “Little Eric” under Sharpe, with their other names indicated.
| Character — portrayed by actor |
|---|
| Macy Alexander portrayed by Bobbie Eakes |
| Bradley Baker portrayed by Dan Martin |
| Sheila Carter portrayed by Kimberlin Brown |
| Megan Conley portrayed by Maeve Quinlan |
| Darla Einstein Forrester portrayed by Schae Harrison |
| Lauren Fenmore portrayed by Tracey E. Bregman |
| Alexandria “Aly” Forrester portrayed by Caylie Button, Tommy Christian, Haven Cain, and Kate and Madeline Phillips¹ |
| Bridget Forrester portrayed by Jennifer Finnigan, then Emily Harrison |
| Eric Forrester portrayed by John McCook |
| Felicia Forrester portrayed by Colleen Dion |
| Kristen Forrester Dominguez portrayed by Tracy Lindsey Melchior |
| Phoebe Forrester portrayed by Brynne McNabb, Chandler Mella, then Keaton Tyndall² |
| Rick Forrester portrayed by Justin Torkildsen |
| Ridge Forrester portrayed by Ronn Moss |
| Ridge “R.J.” Forrester Jr. portrayed by Jacob and Lukas Manos |
| Steffy Forrester portrayed by Cameryn McNabb, Jordan Mella, then Kylie Rae Tyndall² |
| Stephanie Forrester portrayed by Susan Flannery |
| Thomas Forrester portrayed by Drew Tyler Bell |
| Thorne Forrester portrayed by Winsor Harmon |
| Clarke Garrison portrayed by Daniel McVicar |
| C.J. Garrison portrayed by Mick Cain |
| Taylor Hayes Forrester portrayed by Hunter Tylo — appearing in visions |
| Priscilla Kelly portrayed by Linda Gray |
| Samantha Kelly portrayed by Sydney Penny |
| Brooke Logan Forrester portrayed by Katherine Kelly Lang |
| Hope Logan portrayed by Colby and Grayson Button, then Rachel and Amanda Pace² |
| Katie Logan portrayed by Nancy Sloan |
| Mark Maclaine portrayed by Michael Dietz |
| Jackie Marone portrayed by Lesley-Anne Down |
| Massimo Marone portrayed by Joseph Mascolo |
| Nick Marone portrayed by Jack Wagner |
| Oscar Marone portrayed by Brian Gaskill |
| Jarrett Maxwell portrayed by Andrew Collins |
| Amber Moore portrayed by Adrienne Frantz |
| Dr. Kevin Namura portrayed by Kipp Shiotani |
| Gladys Pope portrayed by Phyllis Diller |
| Caitlin Ramirez portrayed by Kayla Ewell |
| Hector Ramirez portrayed by Lorenzo Lamas |
| Jimmy Ramirez portrayed by Chris Warren Jr. |
| Deacon Sharpe portrayed by Sean Kanan |
| Eric Sharpe — “Little Eric,” formerly Eric Forrester III — portrayed by Connor Carmody |
| Sally Spectra portrayed by Darlene Conley |
| James Warwick portrayed by Ian Buchanan |
| Janet “Sugar” Webber portrayed by Robin Mattson |
The adult and recurring-role credits are supported by the series’ cast and character registers; the returning guest actors are also documented in contemporary casting reports. Wikipedia
Characters without an established surname:
- Hudson portrayed by Joseph Marcell.
- Harry, an airline passenger, portrayed by Larry Hagman — a May 2004 guest appearance.
- Toro portrayed by Jordi Caballero — part of the 2003 kidnapping storyline. Wikipedia
¹ Aly’s historical infant credits also list Ava and Emma Ashcroft, beginning in 2004. I could not establish whether their first appearance fell before the September 17 season finale. Fandom
² The child-casting records establish these changes across 2003–2004, but do not consistently give the last appearance of each outgoing performer. The dated changes are detailed below.
Principal plots
- Sheila’s kidnapping scheme and Ridge’s apparent death. Ridge and Brooke’s honeymoon becomes a nightmare when Sheila and Sugar hold Ridge captive. During the rescue, Ridge falls into a furnace and is presumed dead. Grieving Brooke sleeps with Nick. Ridge survives and reunites with Brooke in October, leaving all three facing the consequences. The Bold and the Beautiful
- Brooke’s pregnancy and the disputed paternity of her baby. The initial test identifies Nick as the father. Subsequent testing reveals that Ridge is the father, but Jackie conceals that information to protect Nick’s relationship with Brooke. Brooke prepares to marry Nick; the ceremony collapses amid Ridge’s intervention and the FBI’s arrest of Nick and Massimo. Brooke ultimately chooses Ridge and gives birth to R.J. The Bold and the Beautiful
- Jackie and Deacon’s affair. Their involvement becomes intertwined with the paternity deception. Jackie lies to Massimo about her whereabouts, and the exposure of her secrets destroys their marriage. The Bold and the Beautiful
- Macy’s death and its aftermath. Macy suffers catastrophic injuries when a nightclub chandelier falls on her. Her death devastates Sally and Deacon and affects the continuing conflict over Little Eric. Soap Opera Digest
- Thorne and Darla build a family. Darla gives birth to their daughter, Alexandria, and the couple subsequently marry. Their happiness becomes entangled with Thorne’s growing resentment of Ridge’s position at Forrester Creations. Fandom
- Thorne versus Ridge; Spectra versus Forrester. Competition over the Ingenue collection exposes the brothers’ rivalry. Darla supplies Sally with Forrester designs, helping Spectra compete. After Eric favors Ridge, Thorne leaves Forrester and joins Spectra. The season ends with another confrontation over copied designs. The Bold and the Beautiful
- Thomas, Caitlin, Rick and Amber. The newly teenage Thomas becomes involved with Caitlin, who is also attracted to Rick. Amber subsequently begins a relationship with Thomas. Ridge’s opposition escalates into legal efforts to keep Amber away from his son. The Bold and the Beautiful
- Samantha discovers her daughter is alive. Samantha and Hector’s history reveals that Priscilla separated them and concealed the survival of their baby. Caitlin is that daughter, allowing Samantha and Hector to reconnect. Jackson Dynasty
- Bridget and Oscar’s relationship. Their romance leads toward a shared future outside Los Angeles and Bridget’s departure during the summer. en-academic.com
Recasts and SORAS
| Character | Change | Date and classification |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Forrester | Patrick Dorn → Drew Tyler Bell | January 9, 2004: major SORAS, advancing Thomas from a child to a teenager. Dorn’s last appearance was in August 2003, before this season. |
| Bridget Forrester | Jennifer Finnigan → Emily Harrison | January 2004: adult-to-adult recast; not SORAS. |
| Phoebe Forrester | Childhood performers → Keaton Tyndall | April 2004: aging into an older child/preteen, rather than a child-to-adult replacement. |
| Steffy Forrester | Childhood performers → Kylie Rae Tyndall | April 2004: parallel aging/recast with Phoebe. |
| Hope Logan | Colby and Grayson Button → Rachel and Amanda Pace | 2004: child-to-child recast; no verified exact first-airdate within the season. |
| Aly Forrester | Several infants share the role | 2004: infant substitutions, not SORAS. |
Thomas’s first appearance and Bridget’s January recast are documented in contemporary casting coverage. Ashley Jones did not play Bridget in this season: she began in December 2004, during season 18. soapdom.com The twins’ April changes are recorded in the childhood casting histories. en.wikipedia.org
Births
| Child | Parents | Broadcast date |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandria “Aly” Forrester | Thorne Forrester and Darla Einstein | January 1, 2004 |
| Ridge “R.J.” Forrester Jr. | Ridge Forrester and Brooke Logan | June 22, 2004, episode #4326; Brooke’s labor begins June 21 |
These are the two principal births identified within the season. Fandom
New characters
| Character | Introduction |
|---|---|
| Sugar portrayed by Robin Mattson | September 2003, during Sheila’s kidnapping storyline; exact first-airdate not securely established. |
| Aly Forrester | January 1, 2004, at her birth. |
| Caitlin Ramirez portrayed by Kayla Ewell | January 2004. Sources differ between January 21 and January 22. |
| Hector Ramirez portrayed by Lorenzo Lamas | February 18, 2004. |
| Jimmy Ramirez portrayed by Chris Warren Jr. | March 23, 2004. |
| Priscilla Kelly portrayed by Linda Gray | April 29, 2004. |
| R.J. Forrester | June 22, 2004, at his birth. |
| Jarrett Maxwell portrayed by Andrew Collins | July 27, 2004. |
The introduction dates come from character histories and contemporary casting reports. Soapsworld.de
Nick, Jackie, Samantha and Oscar were already introduced before this official season began, although they are central to its stories.
Departures
| Character | Departure |
|---|---|
| Macy Alexander | Dies October 29, 2003. Bobbie Eakes’s last appearance is generally listed as October 22, distinct from the subsequent story date of Macy’s death. |
| Sheila Carter | Her 2003 kidnapping arc ends during the autumn; an exact final-airdate was not securely established. |
| Sugar | Leaves the story following the kidnapping arc; exact final-airdate unverified. |
| Bridget Forrester | Leaves Los Angeles during summer 2004, connected with her future with Oscar. Exact final-airdate unverified. |
| Oscar Marone | His last appearance is listed as August 16, 2004, episode #4365. |
Macy’s death is independently dated by Soap Opera Digest. Bridget’s and Oscar’s departures are documented in character histories, although some secondary sources disagree about their final dates. Soap Opera Digest
Jennifer Finnigan’s departure in January was an actor departure, since Bridget continued with Emily Harrison.
Returns of former characters
| Character | Return |
|---|---|
| Gladys Pope portrayed by Phyllis Diller | January 1, 2004, guest appearance. |
| Taylor Hayes portrayed by Hunter Tylo | Beginning February 25, 2004, a short return in visions. Taylor is not resurrected during this season. |
| James Warwick portrayed by Ian Buchanan | April 2004, short guest return. |
| Lauren Fenmore portrayed by Tracey E. Bregman | May 17–20, 2004, crossover storyline. |
| Kristen Forrester Dominguez portrayed by Tracy Lindsey Melchior | June 2004. |
| Felicia Forrester portrayed by Colleen Dion | July 2004, following a lengthy absence. |
The month-level return dates and Taylor’s February 25 appearance are documented in contemporary casting reports. Soapsworld.de Lauren’s crossover dates are detailed below.
Marriages
| Couple | Date |
|---|---|
| Thorne Forrester and Darla Einstein | June 14–15, 2004; the ceremony begins in episode #4320. |
| Ridge Forrester and Brooke Logan | July 12–13, 2004; the official archive dates the wedding installment, #4340, to July 12. |
The ceremonies are documented in the official episode archive. The Bold and the Beautiful
Attempted wedding: Brooke and Nick’s early-June ceremony is interrupted and does not produce a completed marriage. The Bold and the Beautiful
Ridge and Brooke’s September 2003 wedding, immediately preceding their honeymoon, falls before this season’s September 22 opening. Jackie and Massimo’s marriage is recorded as beginning in 2003, but I could not verify a wedding date that would justify placing it inside this season. en.wikipedia.org
Deaths
- Macy Alexander — October 29, 2003. She dies following the injuries sustained in the nightclub chandelier accident. Soap Opera Digest
- Ridge Forrester — apparent death only. He is presumed dead after the furnace incident but survives; his reunion with Brooke occurs in the October 20, 2003 episode. The Bold and the Beautiful
Y&R / B&B Crossovers
Y&R characters appearing in B&B
| Character | Dates | Story |
|---|---|---|
| Lauren Fenmore portrayed by Tracey E. Bregman | May 17–20, 2004 | Massimo contacts Lauren to check Jackie’s claim that they spent the previous evening drinking together. Lauren supports Jackie’s alibi, unknowingly helping conceal Jackie’s night with Deacon. |
The dates refer to the crossover storyline’s broadcast span, rather than necessarily an appearance in every installment. Wikipedia
Sheila remains a character shared by both soaps, but her presence in B&B’s 2003 kidnapping storyline is a continuation of her B&B story, rather than a new visit from Genoa City.
B&B characters appearing in Y&R
No B&B-to-Y&R crossover was identified within September 22, 2003–September 17, 2004. Eric Forrester’s later Y&R appearance took place on August 11, 2005, outside this season. Wikipedia
