Director William “Bill” Glenn, who was instrumental in the launch of the Bell-Phillip Television soap operas, “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless,” died at his home in Palm Springs on June 11. He was 74.
Born in 1933 in Ottawa, Canada, Glenn started acting in his teens and joined the Canadian Repertory Theater before directing children’s shows for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He also directed and produced a variety of dramas, documentaries and special events for CBS, the National Film Board of Canada, Crawley Film and TV Ontario, Canada’s education Channel. As a part of Canada’s Centennial Celebration, he produced and directed a Command Performance for the Royal Family, an outdoor extravaganza with a cast of 800.
After moving to the United States, Glenn continued to direct a multitude of programs including a revival of the series “You Are There” with Walter Cronkite, “The ABC Mystery Series,” “The Adams Chronicles” for PBS, “Behind the Scenes” for CBS and a special variety show featuring major Hollywood celebrities called “100 Bicentennial Minutes.”
Daytime television became a permanent home to Glenn when William J. Bell, who co-created “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful” with his wife Lee Phillip Bell, hired him to launch the start of both shows. Glenn directed episodes one through five of “The Bold and the Beautiful” in March 1987 and stayed with the show in the capacity of senior director and executive in charge of production through 1988. Glenn’s other daytime directing credits include “Capitol,” “Santa Barbara” and “One Life to Live.” Additionally, Glenn created “Romance Theater” and served as executive producer.
Glenn is survived by his cousin Eleanor Glenn and other family in Ottawa as well as a host of close friends. He was the godfather to Kirsten Pedersen and Chase and Cassidy Freeman.
A memorial service is scheduled for Sunday 3 p.m. at BeauRivage Restaurant.