Eric Forrester is a fictional character from the American CBS Daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful, played by John McCook. He made his debut screen appearance on March 23, 1987, the show's first episode. The character appeared briefly on The Young and the Restless in 1993, 1995, 1996, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2017, and 2021. McCook had also played Lance Prentiss from 1976 to 1980. Many of Eric's storylines revolve around his relationships with Stephanie Forrester, Brooke Logan, Sheila Carter, Donna Logan, Beth Henderson, Jackie Marone, Quinn Fuller, Taylor Hayes, and various other women.