Ridge Forrester

Ridge Forrester is a fictional character from the CBS daytime soap opera, The Bold and the Beautiful. The character was introduced in the series premiere on March 23, 1987^[1] and has been a regular fixture ever since. Ronn Moss has played the role from the beginning and is one of the four remaining original cast members, along with Susan Flannery, John McCook and Katherine Kelly Lang.

Character creation

Ridge (currently) is described by: "Currently CEO and the driving force behind Forrester Creations Empire, this debonair designer spent his entire life believing that he was Eric’s son, only to later learn that he’s not a Forrester at all, but rather the son of shipping tycoon Massimo Marone, and half brother to sailor, Nick. Father to Thomas, Steffy, and RJ, and stepfather to Hope, the one-time conflicted lover has finally settled down with Brooke, the true love of his life"^[2].

John N. Goudas from Gettysburg Times featured a column on Ridge On January 10, 1990^[3]. "You have to hand it to Ridge Forrester" he wrote "That handsome devil on The Bold and the beautiful. In love with two women, Caroline and Brooke, he played a stalling game for 3 years, and got away with it. In December (1989) the writers finally cleared up Ridge's conscience and finally made a decision in favor of Caroline, the unhappy wife of his brother Thorne," unbenknownest that after years of termoil Brooke would emerge as his true love (even after another women, Taylor Forrester, had a life with Ridge). Ronn Moss said on his character (in the very early stages) "Ridge has developed since the show began. He is less devious, and more respectful then others. Besides, he had a problem that was uncommon, he was in love with two ladies."^[3]

Connie Passalacqua from The Rock Hill Herald said at the shows inception (July 1987) "Even the most hardened feminist would swoon at the sight of Ronn Moss, Ridge Forrester". She wrote "Ridge has been shown at various angles, sunning his ripply muscled bod by the Forrester swimming pool", commenting on the character's looks and touching on the beauty and good looks of the show's cast, embodying the title Bold and Beautiful at its very best^[4] .

Character's Storyline

Ridge Forrester is the son of Eric and Stephanie Forrester^[1] (until a 2001 storyline changes his paternity), the oldest of the five Forrester children: Thorne, Kristen, Felicia and Angela.^[5] He is initially portrayed as an arrogant playboy who fully enjoys his status as the favored son. Yet, like Eric, Ridge is a talented designer and soon becomes a central part of the family company, fashion house Forrester Creations. He dates the virginal heiress, Caroline. She was married to his brother Thorne Forrester and Ridge ventured into a romance with Brooke Logan. Caroline left Thorne and went to Ridge, and they were married. Caroline died after being diagnosed with Leukemia.

Caroline's dying wish is for Ridge to be with Brooke, however he instead romances then marries Caroline's oncologist, Taylor Ashford Hayes.^[6][7] Taylor instantly clashes with Brooke, who schemes from the beginning to be with Ridge. By the time Taylor is presumed dead in a plane crash, Brooke is engaged to Taylor's associate, James Warwick. Ridge initially encourages their relationship, but he ends up crashing their wedding. He and Brooke soon marry instead. When Taylor turns up alive, Ridge initially chooses to stay with Brooke, but goes back to his true wife (his marriage to Brooke was invalid). This sets in motion a bitter rivalry between Brooke and Taylor. In an attempt to make Ridge jealous, Brooke threatens to elope with Grant if Ridge doesn't agree to remarry her. When Ridge refuses, she goes through with the wedding. She also gives Grant control of Forrester Creations. Brooke returns to Brooke for the sake of her children, and when her son Rick shoots Grant, Ridge takes the blame and while waiting to be sentenced, he has sex with Brooke. When Ridge is released, Taylor is pregnant however when she sees him happy with Brooke, she decides to tell everyone Thorne is the father. The truth about Thomas Forrester in fact being Ridge's son comes out, and he returns to Taylor. In 1999,identical twin daughters, Steffy and Phoebe.^[8]

Several ordeals undermine his happiness during the marriage. His old lover, Morgan DeWitt, tricks him into getting her pregnant. A physical confrontation with Taylor leads to Morgan miscarrying, which in turn leads to her kidnapping Steffy, faking the child's death and passing the girl off as her own. Morgan eventually has both Taylor and the child held captive; but Ridge manages to save them both. Taylor is killed by Eric's ex wife, Sheila Carter after she shoots her. Ridge also learns he isn't Eric's son, but the son of Massimo Marone (even Stephanie didn't know this), Stephanie's best friend. Ridge returns to Brooke. When Ridge, Brooke and series newcomer Nick Marone are kidnapped by Sheila, Ridge falls into a fire furnace, and presumed dead. Brooke sleeps with Nick after grieving Ridge's death, however Ridge is actually alive, returning days later. She gives birth to R.J Forrester, Ridge's child (originally thought to be Nick's child, later revealed as Ridge's). Brooke tosses between Nick (who she now loves) and Ridge. She chooses Nick in the end.

Brooke returns to Ridge, however he leaves her for Taylor, who returned from the dead. In reality, she was kidnapped by Prince Omar to recover from her wounds. Stephanie faked a heart attack, and convinced Ridge to marry Taylor as her "dying" wish. When her lies were exposed, Taylor began to think the worst of her marriage and kissed another man. She told Ridge the truth, and she also told him about her sleeping with James Warwick many years ago. Ridge returns to Brooke, however she rejects him, choosing Nick instead. When Nick and Brooke marry, Ridge suffers from a heart attack. Brooke returns to L.A after leaving to support Ridge, however remains with Nick. Ridge dated Brooke's sister, Donna, hoping Brooke will be jealous.

After Bridget and Nick sleep together, Brooke wants Ridge back, however he rejects her; he has his eye on the new chemist at Forrester Originals, Ashley Abbott (a character who had been well established years earlier on The Young and the Restless). They have a breif relationship, and engage however he breaks it off to be with Brooke again. When a man named Shane McGrath dies, Ridge is blamed (despite not killing him). He is jailed and released. Rick ends up in a relationship with Taylor, however Taylor breaks it off as she still loves Ridge. This results in a fist-fight between Ridge and Rick. Rick falls off a building and ends up paralyzed. In 2009, Ridge and Taylor becoming close again after their daughter Phoebe is killed in a car accident, in a car which Rick was driving. They protect their daughter, Steffy from Rick after she shows interest in him as well. Steffy and Rick break up. Taylor gives Ridge pills for stress, however he starts to overdose himself without Taylor's knowledge; and the two of them have sex. He leaves Brooke and married Taylor. The marriage was short lived, with him realizing he wants to be with Brooke, and reunites with her. In 2010, Brooke accidentally sleeps with Oliver Jones, their daughter (Ridge's adoptive Daughter) Hope Logan's teenage boyfriend. Ridge pardons her and doesn't react at all. In 2011, Brooke and Ridge's son Thomas set out to promote their Forrester Creations Line called "Taboo", however end up in a plane crash and stranded on an Island. They return, and Taylor consumes poisonous berries that are brought back, assumed to trigger a sexual anxiety when consumed. Thomas and Stephanie lie and tell everyone that Thomas and Brooke had sex on the Island. Ridge returned to Taylor, and nearly married her because of this. The truth came out and he returned to Brooke and basically disowned his son, Thomas. He left Taylor heartbroken and she is now dating Thorne. Also Ridge is stunned when he learns that his daughter Steffy married Hope's fiancee Liam Spencer in Aspen. Despite whatever doubts he may have about the marriage, Ridge supports his daughter's decision to marry Liam while Brooke doesn't

See also

• List of supercouples

References

External links