Beloved soap star Don Diamont got emotional as he credited two of his leading ladies for changing his life and career. Diamont currently plays Bill Spencer on “The Bold and the Beautiful,” but for 22 years, he played Brad Carlton on “The Young and the Restless.” The actor recently gave mad props to Beth Maitland and Heather Tom for the impact they had on his life.
Don Diamont Gets Emotional Over ‘The Young and the Restless’ Co-Star Beth Maitland
Diamont stopped by the Soapy podcast to chat with “Days of Our Lives” star Greg Rikaart (Leo) and “The Bold and the Beautiful” star Rebecca Budig. There was a lot unpacked as Diamont looked back on four decades with CBS.
The actor choked up as he recalled how Maitland, who plays Traci on “The Young and the Restless,” shaped his career. In fact, he gave her credit for his success in soaps.
“I had just the absolute blessing of working with Beth Maitland. I don’t know that I would be, you know, here today, that I would have gone on to have a successful career without having that experience,” he expressed.
Diamont and Maitland worked closely together years before his character, Brad, was unexpectedly killed off. When speaking about Maitland and their time working together, Diamont got choked up.
“Beth, she’s a wonderful, wonderful actress, a wonderful person. She’s extraordinary. She was so gracious with me. I just learned from her, and I encouraged her to coach me, and she did, and it makes me emotional. That makes me emotional. She was amazing. She was extraordinarily important to me in my career,” Diamont declared.
Heather Tom Fought to Work With Don Diamont ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’
Maitland wasn’t the only woman to change Diamont’s life. When he was suddenly fired from “The Young and the Restless” after over two decades, Diamont revealed that he went to Brad Bell, executive producer of “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and asked for a job.
It turned out that Tom urged producers not only to hire Diamont but also made it clear she wanted to work with him on the show. They were both on “The Young and the Restless” at the same time, so Tom knew Diamont was talented.
“She is somewhere where she couldn’t, she had to reach under the table and type, ‘I want Don Diamont.’ So that, to me, is an Emmy. That, to me, that Heather Tom, that I call THE Heather Tom, wanting to work with me, that was enormously flattering,” the actor stated.
Tom got her wish because Diamont was cast, and her character, Katie, has been paired with Bill more than once. In fact, Bill and Katie even share a son, Will, who is played by Crew Morrow, the son of Diamont and Tom’s former “The Young and the Restless” co-star, Joshua Morrow.
“It is just such a gift. She’s the best person. The finest actress. Just fun, and funny, and so talented, and just amazing. And it has just been my great privilege and joy to work opposite her all these years,” Diamont shared with tears in his eyes.
Diamont has had one wild ride in his soap journey with many people in his corner along the way. Maitland and Tom are two at the top of that list, and Diamont feels blessed to have them in his life.
