‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Star Don Diamont Graced the Cover of Playgirl Magazine — Twice
The Bold and the Beautiful fans of today may Don Diamont as the “rich cool uncle”-style William “Dollar Bill” Spencer. But, in his younger years, he was a hot commodity on daytime television. So much so, in fact, that he appeared on the cover of Playgirl Magazine not once, but twice. And each time, he left quite the impression on the ladies (and some gentlemen, too!).
Don Diamont was on ‘The Young and the Restless’ when he posed for Playgirl
Before he became known as the opportunistic “Dollar Bill” Spencer on The Bold and the Beautiful, Don Diamont was known as the opportunistic Brad Carlton on The Young and the Restless. (Hey, the man can play to type.) Diamont originated the role in 1985, then left in 1996. He returned to the role in 1998, and stayed until his character was killed off in 2009.
Prior to his star turn on The Young and the Restless, he starred in Days of Our Lives for a year. He played the role of Carlo Forenza, and was personally hired by Ron Carlivati.
And it was while his star was climbing in the soap world that Don Diamont graced the cover of Playgirl Magazine not once, but twice.
He made two covers
The first time Don Diamont graced the cover of Playgirl Magazine was in March of 1988. That issue also featured an interview with George Harrison of The Beatles and John Ritter of Three’s Company.
The second time The Bold and the Beautiful star graced the cover of the magazine was in February of 1995. That issue also featured an interview with country music superstar Mark Chesnutt.
But Diamont wasn’t the first soap star to appear on the cover of the famed ladies magazine. That honor went to the late Christopher Reeve, who graced the cover in February of 1977. At the time, Reeve wasn’t known as Superman. Rather, he was known as Brad Harper on the soap opera Love of Life, which was on the air from 1951 to 1980.
And, ladies (and some gentlemen), in case you’re wondering: no, Don Diamont of The Bold and the Beautiful did not show the full “Dollar Bill” in either of the issues of Playgirl he was featured in.
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ star was also named one of People’s ’50 Most Beautiful People’
While Don Diamont wasn’t the first soap star to grace the cover of Playgirl Magazine, he was the first soap star to make another magazine’s infamous list. In 1990, People named The Bold and the Beautiful star one of their “50 Most Beautiful People.” That honor made him the first soap star to ever make it onto the list.
This honor, too, came a time when daytime soap stars struggled to be taken seriously by the mainstream. It would take until 1995 for another soap star to make the list. That honor would go to Vanessa Marcil, who starred in General Hospital at the time.
In 2014, more soap stars also broke through into the mainstream thanks to People. At that time, the magazine placed two stars — General Hospital‘s Ryan Paevey and The Bold and the Beautiful‘s Mario Lopez — onto its list of People’s Sexiest Men Alive. But, to date, no soap star has ever taken the top honor on that list, either. But that said, all of the stars owe a debt of gratitude to Don Diamont for shattering that glass ceiling for them.
