Eric Forrester

Eric Forrester Sr.
The Bold and the Beautiful character
File:Esf256.jpg Eric (John McCook) & Stephanie (Susan Flannery)
Portrayed by	John McCook
First appearance	Episode 1 March 23, 1987
Created by	William J. Bell
In-universe information Occupation Head Designer, Co-Owner and Former Chairman and CEO of Forrester Creations, and co-Founder and Former Co-CEO and Head Designer of Forrester Originals Family Forrester family Siblings John Forrester (brother) Spouse Stephanie Douglas (divorced, 1950s-1990, 1999-2005, 2006-2008) Brooke Logan (divorced, 1991-1993, 2005-2006) Sheila Carter (divorced, 1993-1995) Donna Logan (divorced, 2008-2010) Children Ridge Forrester Sr. (legal son, with Stephanie) Thorne Forrester (son, with Stephanie) Angela Forrester (daughter, with Stephanie; deceased) Kristen Dominguez (daughter, with Stephanie) Felicia Forrester (daughter, with Stephanie) Eric "Rick" Forrester Jr. (son, with Brooke) Bridget Forrester (daughter, with Brooke) Marcus Forrester (adopted son, with Donna) Grandchildren Thomas Forrester (legal grandson; via Ridge) Steffy Forrester (legal granddaughter; via Ridge) Phoebe Forrester (legal granddaughter; via Ridge; deceased) Ridge "R.J." Forrester Jr. (legal grandson; via Ridge) Alexandria Forrester (granddaughter; via Thorne) Zende Forrester Dominguez (adopted grandson; via Kristen) Dominick "Dino" Damiano (grandson; via Felicia) Eric Forrester III (grandson; via Rick; stillborn) Nicole Marone (granddaughter; via Bridget; stillborn) Logan Knight (grandson; via Bridget) Other relatives Darla Forrester (daughter-in-law; deceased) Jessica Forrester (niece)

Eric Forrester Sr. (December 4, 1934) is a fictional character on the CBS Daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful, portrayed by John McCook since the show's debut in 1987. In 1993, 1995, 1996, 2005 and 2008 the character appeared briefly on The Young and the Restless, where McCook had played Lance Prentiss from 1975 to 1980.

McCook was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for the role in 2001.

Family

In the series, Eric and Stephanie Douglas Forrester are co-founders of the Los Angeles-based fashion house Forrester Creations. They have three living children: Kristen, Thorne and Felicia. Their fourth child, Angela, was hidden from Eric by Stephanie to spare him from the pain because Angela was born microcephalic and remained comatose. At some point in time, Angela died due to her condition, and the woman they knew as "Angela"--con artist Deveny Dixon (Judith Borne)--and Angela's doctor Todd Powell were soon exposed for extorting money from Stephanie for Angela's care. In 2001 was revealed that Ridge, who Eric believed to be his eldest son, was fathered by Massimo Marone. Eric also has two children, Rick and Bridget, from his marriage to Brooke Logan. He has a brother named John who was never seen on the show. He is guilty of, for over forty years, hiding Stephanie's trust document, which named her as sole owner of Forrester creations. Upon learning of her husband's deception, Stephanie took over the company, but re-hired Eric as head designer.

Despite his incredible talent in designing Eric has been described as lacking business skills by Stephanie and weak in managing his family life by Stephanie and Massimo. Eric was also seen as weak and unfit to marry Stephanie by her powerful father Chicago business tycoon John Douglas who only approved of the marriage because Stephanie was pregnant with Ridge. Stephanie convinced her father that Eric was worthy of her and to loan them 50,000 dollars to start Forrester Creations.

Stephanie

Eric and Stephanie met in college. Eric was engaged to Beth Henderson, but when Stephanie became pregnant with her oldest son Ridge due to a drunken one-night stand Eric left Beth and married Stephanie in 1962. Stephanie gave birth to Ridge and later more: Thorne, Angela, Kristen, and Felicia. In 1988, Eric asked Stephanie to grant him a divorce as he wanted to be with Beth again. Stephanie reluctantly agreed, but hired an old friend Stephen Logan for a job in Paris, which separated Eric and Beth, and kept him with Stephanie. Eric suspected Stephanie of cheating on him as she always made visits and Stephanie was forced to tell Eric that their daughter Angela did not really die in childbirth but was microcephalic. On February 23, 2010 Eric and Stephanie kissed and Eric stated " I want you back"

Brooke Logan

After Caroline and Ridge got together, Brooke Logan was left heart broken, so her mother Beth Logan asked Eric to look after her which he did. In 1990, Brooke was broken hearted after Ridge ran off to marry Caroline and she lost Ridge's baby. Soon after, Brooke became inebriated and sat in her bed crying and moaning Ridge's name. Eric didn't hear clearly but thought she was calling out for him and slept with her as she saw herself kissing Ridge. The following morning, Eric discovered that Brooke had not been calling for him and apologized to her, but decided to continue to comfort her after he spoke to Beth regarding her depression. Brooke was comforted by Eric and grateful for his friendship and loved him for that but she always made it clear to him that Ridge was her heart. He made it clear to her that he loved his son but he didn't deserve her and he wanted to spoil her and make her happy.

Brooke later discovered she was pregnant from the night she was under the influence and decided to get an abortion since Eric and Stephanie were discussing getting back together so she left for Paris.

Brooke later discovered that she had conceived a child with Eric the night she was under the influence. Brooke headed to Paris to terminate the pregnancy because it appeared that Eric and Stephanie were going to reconcile. Eric found out and got there in time to stop the abortion. Shortly after, Eric proposed to Brooke and she accepted. Erik filed for divorce from Stephanie and she allowed it after Brooke gave birth to their son Rick Forrester. Eric and Stephanie grew closer when she lost her memory due to a stroke, but Eric still remained with Brooke.

Ridge's father

Stephanie's childhood friend and first college boyfriend Massimo Marone came to L.A. and tried unsuccessfully to marry Stephanie. When Ridge cut his hand during an argument and needed blood Eric donated but the doctor took Stephanie aside and told her there was no possible way for Eric to be Ridge's father. Massimo heard the news and both he and Stephanie realized that Massimo Marone was the father of Ridge Forrester. Massimo confronted Stephanie who admitted that the night in Lake Geneva when they slept together they conceived Ridge. Stephanie begged a very reluctant Massimo to keep quiet Ridge's paternity, but after a year Stephanie told Eric he wasn't Ridge's father. Eric was crushed especially after Eric sided against Ridge becoming CEO of Forrester Creations which led to Ridge leaving the company and becoming Vice Chairman at Marone Industries. Massimo was overjoyed that he and Ridge had established a father-son relationship.

Ridge has expressed mixed feelings about who his father is. He is very proud to be Massimo's son, but the lack of a biological relationship has caused severe problems with Thorne and Rick. Eric has said repeatedly that it doesn't matter that he is not Ridge's father and still shows favoritism toward Ridge. Recently Eric told Ridge that Ridge is his greatest accomplishment.

Love triangle

Stephanie agreed to the divorce, soon after Brooke gave birth to Eric Forrester Jr. Ridge tried to tempt Brooke to go back to him but her greatful devotion to Eric for being there for her when Ridge left her high and dry after her miscarriage was too strong and she felt as though she owed him and she and Eric married. Stephanie later suffered a stroke and lost her memory for a while and pretended she still did to have Eric all to herself, Brooke became frustrated and neglected by Eric and ended up sleeping with Ridge and told Eric that she was in love with Ridge. Eric told her that if she stayed with him for two months than he would give her a divorce. Eric saved baby Rick's life and Ridge didn't want to break up their family unit, but soon after Eric and his younger wife divorced. There was more confusion later when Brooke was pregnant again, and the paternity of the child was uncertain. Was it Eric or was it Ridge? A DNA test was taken, however scheming Sheila Carter (Eric's lover) switched Eric's blood with Ridge's blood and the results showed that Ridge was the father. Brooke never thought for a moments second that the child was Eric's which is why when the paternity test showed Eric was the father she was shocked and floored by the results. In fact, Brooke is the one who was adamant that a second paternity test should be given because she was confident Bridget was Ridge's baby. However, there is still speculation regarding this since Stephanie all of a sudden started to question the paternity out of the blue. Bridget could actually still be Ridge's daughter since at the time Brooke and Ridge had more intimate sessions as oppose to Eric who was working on getting back with Stephanie.

In 2005, after divorcing Stephanie, Eric returned to Brooke Forrester. Eric and Brooke were keen to marry and married very soon after his divorce in one way to stop Bridget from thinking that Brooke would go with Nick. Together, Eric and Brooke became the CEO's of Forrester Creations and fired Stephanie. Then Stephanie discovered the trust and Eric and Brooke were fired by Stephanie but then re-hired as designers and given a basement office. They schemed to strip Stephanie of FC but failed. Soon after Eric and Brooke decided on a speedy divorce.

Donna Logan

Eric started to cheat on Stephanie when he learned that she was behind the rape of his ex-wife Brooke Logan. Eric felt partially responsible for Stephanie's part in the rape, but Donna Logan assured Eric that it wasn't his fault, and they soon became close. Donna stayed at the Forrester mansion one night and swam in the pool naked, after a long discussion, she and Eric kissed passionately, Eric later shed some thought for his marriage and asked Donna to leave. When Eric later went to bed, he found Donna next to him, and they slept together. Donna later encouraged Eric to go to Nick and try to get his company back from Nick. When she accompanied him to Forrester Creations, Nick agreed to sell back the company to him if he divorced Stephanie. Eric was reluctant, but Donna convinced him to sign the papers and reminded him of Stephanie's bad treatment of him and how he could start fresh. Donna and Eric were later caught in the act by Thorne who fumed at Donna. Eric was still adamant that he was staying with Donna. Stephanie returned and showed her remorse for her actions, but Eric was torn between who he loves, his wife or his mistress. After Stephanie apologized to Brooke, she went to Forrester Creations and talked to Eric about their marriage. When Stephanie saw Eric's new suit and hair style she suspected that he was having an affair with Jackie Marone who had constantly tried to steal Eric away. One time when Donna stepped into a room to inform Eric about his catalogue, Stephanie realised who the mistress was when Eric refused let Donna leave the room and took her into his arms. Despite Stephanie's brazen attempts to sabotage his relationship, Eric meant to make it work with Donna. Stephanie convinced Thorne and Felicia to lock Donna, wearing the showstopper gown, in a steam room at Forrester. Despite the worn look, Donna still had Eric's support; and comforted her after Jake Maclaine, who was now working at Forrester, rescued her. Moments later, Stephanie was shot. Stephanie blackmailed Donna into leaving Eric in exchange for her not telling the police about Storm shooting her. Despite Donna agreeing she continued her affair with Eric, pretending that they had broken up with Eric returning to his wife. Stephanie found out of the lie and after persuasion from Katie, didn't tell the police Storm had shot her. She promised to stand by Eric's decision to be with Donna as long as he spends their anniversary with her and the family. This Eric chose to do, and Stephanie kept her word. When their divorce was finalized, Eric and Donna would marry. Although Donna had been tormented by pranks by Pam Douglas, his former sister in-law, he is adamant that he will marry Donna; and even Stephanie has told Pam to not exacerbate the situation. On May 2, Stephanie and Eric signed the divorce papers, and that next day, Eric and Donna would marry in the Forrester house. Eric got nervous and had major doubts over marrying Donna, but Donna and Eric exchanged vows on May 9.

Heart attack

In July, Eric had a heart attack and it was revealed that Donna had his power of attorney thus making her acting CEO of Forrester Creations. Donna had maintained control of the company, extending huge promotions to Marcus, Owen, and Rick and firing Ridge, Thorne and Felicia. After being confronted by Marcus, Owen confessed to being in love with Donna which led to his termination and returning to San Diego. Ridge had consulted his mother's lawyer about Donna's control of Forrester Creations and unless Eric regained consciousness nothing didn't change legally. Eric's condition worsened with him being put on a breathing machine. However, thanks to some detective work from Marcus, and the checking of a toxicology report from Bridget, it was discovered that Eric didn't have a heart attack, but was deliberately poisoned (he had drank some gin before his having sex with Donna). It was believed that this gin was laced with potassium chloride and that Owen Knight tried to kill Eric. Owen confessed to this crime, but he only did so in hopes of taking suspicion away from Donna. It was ultimately revealed that Pamela Douglas, Stephanie's sister, poisoned Eric by giving him a contaminated lemon bar. Her intention was to only weaken him and discredit Donna in the process.

Donna and Owen

Stephanie forged Donna's signature on the medical papers that moved Eric home where she brought a doctor from Europe that helped Eric's condition to where he finally woke up. He was hidden when Donna returned from Europe, but he entered the bedroom as Donna and Owen were kissing passionately. Eric was extremely upset despite everyone's attempts to calm him down he ordered Donna to leave which she did as did Owen. Later Marcus snuck in a letter from Donna to Eric and he asked his estranged wife Donna to reunite with him.

Eric had Thorne install a secret camera in Donna's office to see if she and Owen would act on their feelings. After Rick's fall, Eric made Rick president of Forrester Creations. Thereby kicking Ridge out. Blind to Rick's manipulations Eric defended his decision but saw the pain that Ridge was in and asked him to come back to Forrester Creations as a designer but he was turned down. Ridge told Eric that both he and Brooke were being manipulated by their son and that Eric thought less of Ridge because he is Massimo's son and that as long as Rick is president he will have nothing to do with it.

Eric and Donna were in the process of divorcing, and when he saw via hidden camera that she deflected Owen's advances, he took her back. But he later rescinded that, when he saw what he thought was Donna and Owen all over one another in Owen's office. Furious, he threw her out, and rebuffed any attempts of her explaining. However, what Eric didn't know was that the "Owen" and "Donna" he saw on the video, were merely two models whom Thorne paid off to look and act like them, in order to sabotage his father's relationship with Donna, and to have him reunite with his mother, Stephanie. Eventually, Owen told Eric what happened, and when he discovered that Thorne was the one who brazenly sabotaged his relationship with Donna, he immediately called off his pending divorce with Donna, and reunited with her. He and Stephanie called everyone into the main Forrester office and announced that Donna and Eric were back together, and it was Thorne who tried to destroy his relationship. While Stephanie was touched at Thorne's good-hearted albeit misguided methods to get them back together, Eric was still disappointed at his son's callous attempt to destroy his relationship with Donna.

Meanwhile, he was also contending with the pressure put on him on all sides between Stephanie and Rick. Stephanie fervently believed that if Rick had not lost control of the car, Phoebe wouldn't be dead, while Eric was the one who elevated Rick to president. On January 9, 2009, Eric had made a decision on this, and it could boil down to where either Rick or Stephanie are told never to come back to Forrester Creations, or both are to stay but would have to co-exist, an idea which neither one likes. Eventually he decided that both should co-exist.

Not long after that, Rick took a job at the Jackie M. Designs. He also took his father's designs for the latest line, and e-mailed them to them, where they were promptly knocked off, and shown to acclaim. Eventually, Eric discovered that Rick had taken the whole line and e-mailed them to the competition, but decided that they could keep the line, provided Rick wouldn't be president of Jackie M. Eric later discovered that Rick had fallen for his granddaughter, Steffy.

Problems at Forrester

Sales at Forrester Creations have declined due to bad reaction to Eric's marriage to Donna. The sales further nose-dived, when Eric's ex-wife Stephanie Forrester was fired by Eric and joined Jackie M Designs. Eric has recently had more depressing news when Thorne and Felicia quit and Brooke took a leave of absence in order to move on from her husband Ridge, whom she left having realized he would never be able to accept her son Rick. Despite these set-backs, Eric held a fashion show, where most agreed some of his best designs were on display, but the designs were overshadowed by Pam's prank, who dripped honey onto the showstopper which was modeled by Eric's wife Donna.

The fashion show between Jackie M Designs and Forrester Creations was rigged when Bill Spencer, Jr. bribes the judges but relents after talking to his girlfriend Katie Logan. Eric's scheme of using identity theft to employ illegal immigrants is uncovered by Bill Spencer, Jr. but fails to get Forrester Creations when Stephanie comes to his rescue. Eric tells Ridge that he will start to takeover the company and tells him that Ridge is his greatest accomplishment not Forrester Creations.

Spencer takeover

When the Forresters were 30 minutes late on their bank loan Bill Spencer, Jr. pressured the banker to foreclose on Forrester Creations and sell him the company. This angered the Forresters so much that they attempted to pay off their $ 100 million debt in a year instead of ten but failed. Eric agreed in order to save the company from total collapse ,but has regreted losing his company and promised to Ridge that he will take his company back.

Eric has not been involved with Forrester Creations since the takeover and is opposed to Donna hosting the talk show the Catwalk, which is owned by Spencer Publications, giving her access to her ex-boyfriend and father of her son Justin Barber. Later he began working on a scheme to take Forrester Creations back with the Dare Line,but when Brooke spills the beans to Katie it fails. But he finally regains his company when Steffy Forrester blackmails Bill into selling the company back, he becomes a 25 % Co-Owner along with Ridge Taylor & Stephanie and also names Ridge CEO of Forrester Creations.

Eric and Donna divorce

After Stephanie got into an altercation with Beth (Stephanie's former rival and Eric's first fiancee), Donna made it her goal to make sure that Stephanie paid by pressing charges after Beth drowned in the pool. Stephanie threw a family heirloom in the pool and left with an alzheimer confused ladden Beth in tears. Beth went in after the heirloom and went into cardiac arrest. Eric disagreed with Donna's need to press charges against Stephanie his ex-wife. This lead Donna to believe that Stephanie was still too important in Eric's life and she wasn't willing to share him with her especially after everything she's done to Brooke, her mother, her family.

Eric and Stephanie reunite

Eric and Stephanie reunite and make it their goal to build Forrester Creations up again to the height of its former status. Whether they will actually get back together as a couple remains to be seen because of Eric having to deal with the aftermath of his divorce from Donna, which includes her brother-in-law Bill Spencer, Jr. getting involved in the whole sordid mess.

External links

• Eric Forrester profile - Soapcentral.com
• "Soap Opera Digest Online: John McCook". SoapOperaDigest.com. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
• "BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL Timeline: The Wives and Loves of Eric Forrester". SoapOperaDigest.com. Retrieved 2009-01-27.