JOHN MCCOOK (Eric) has portrayed B&B's patriarch since the show began. And in that length of time, he's thankful that he's grown to know the cast as family. "When we actually sit down and realize how long we've known each other and how long we have all been together on the show, it's been longer than some marriages last," reveals John. "Eric Forrester has been married to Stephanie on the air for like sixteen years. That's a long time. She's literally my second wife. We know each other's moods and we're very sensitive to each other because we're so dependent on each other. It's my favorite thing about being here."