Scott Clifton Shuts Down ‘General Hospital’ Return Rumors as He Embarks on Liam’s Toughest Journey Yet

Scott Clifton Opens Up About His ‘B&B’ Future as Liam Faces Health Struggles

Scott Clifton Shuts Down ‘General Hospital’ Return Rumors as He Embarks on Liam’s Toughest Journey Yet

The Bold and the Beautiful’s Liam Spencer has just been hit with heartbreaking news — he’s been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Naturally, fans are now buzzing about what this means for Scott Clifton, who has played Liam since 2010, and his future on the soap.

Before this emotional storyline kicked off, Liam hadn’t been seen much on screen — a first for Clifton in his 14 years with the show. But for the actor, the break came at the right time. “I was going through my divorce [from Nicole Lampson], so I had a lot of personal stuff happening,” Clifton shares. “When I finally started going back to work, the timing felt perfect. I love B&B and really missed it.”

When Executive Producer and Head Writer Bradley Bell reached out about bringing Liam back into the spotlight, Clifton was ready. "He said he wanted me to start working more again, and I was really excited," Clifton recalls. Soon after, Bell invited him into his office to reveal a major storyline idea: Liam’s diagnosis.

“As soon as I understood what the story was about, I felt really thankful,” Clifton says. “It’s a powerful, meaningful story, and I’m honored to help bring it to life.”

Clifton’s return kicked off with intense scenes opposite Don Diamont (Bill Spencer). “It was wild,” he laughs. “I hadn’t been working for a bit, and then suddenly I get this script where Liam and Bill are in a heated conflict. It felt like, ‘Whoa, here we go.’”

Behind the scenes, the B&B team also worked hard to show the impact of Liam’s injury authentically. "We had so many discussions — with hair, makeup, wardrobe — about how to hide the effects of Liam’s head trauma," Clifton says. From head wraps to beanies to testing prosthetic options, it was a careful balancing act.

Portraying such a serious condition came with a lot of pressure. Clifton committed himself to research on inoperable brain tumors. “This isn’t just a dramatic soap storyline — it’s a real condition that affects real people,” he explains. “I didn’t want it to come off as cheesy or fake.”

Despite his three Daytime Emmy Awards, Clifton admits he was unsure about how his performance would come across. “There were scenes I thought I totally messed up — either I overplayed it or didn’t show enough pain.” However, after episodes aired, he began receiving messages from viewers who had been through similar experiences. “They told me, ‘You’re getting it right.’ Hearing that made me so relieved and grateful.”

A highlight for Clifton has been sharing emotional scenes again with Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy Forrester). “Working with Jacqui is always easy,” he says. “I love that Liam and Steffy have this closeness — they’re great coparents and friends, and it’s not about rekindling romance. That bond feels very real.”

As the story progresses, Clifton says he's loving every challenge. “In real life, I'm not competitive at all. I like my comfortable life. But as an actor, I love a scary challenge — I love being pushed creatively.”

For Clifton, daytime TV offers a unique freedom. “Even if you flop a scene, the story moves on. That gives you the freedom to experiment, to take risks,” he shares. “I’ve had scenes where I went for it and it totally didn’t work — but you learn from it.”

He’s especially excited about what’s coming next. “There are moments ahead that I’ve never played before as an actor,” he says. "And that really excites me."

Despite the intense storyline, Clifton remains grounded about Liam’s uncertain future. “There’s a saying in acting — ‘Don’t play the end of the scene,’” he explains. “I’m just crossing each bridge as I come to it, not overthinking it.”

To the fans who are anxious about what’s next, Clifton sends a heartfelt message:
“Hey, we’re on this trip together! I don’t know exactly where it’s going either — I’m only a couple of weeks ahead of you. But what I can tell you is that everyone involved is pouring their heart into telling this story with so much care, thoughtfulness, and love.”

An emotional layer to the story is the unexpected bond forming between Liam and Finn (Tanner Novlan). "Given their complicated history, it’s kind of cool that Finn becomes a real friend to Liam," Clifton says. "Liam keeps asking, ‘Is there any hope?’ even while he’s trying to mentally prepare for the worst."

While some fans have speculated that if Liam’s story ends, Clifton might return to General Hospital, where he originally played Dillon Quartermaine in 2003, Clifton has firmly shut down those rumors.

“No,” he says with a laugh. “I’m not thinking about General Hospital or any other show. Right now, my focus is on doing the best job I can telling this story. I want to do right by The Bold and the Beautiful, by this storyline, and by Brad [Bell], who trusted me with it.”

Ultimately, Clifton is proud and excited to be part of one of B&B's most emotional storylines yet. “Whatever happens, just know this story is being told with tenderness, respect, and love. We really, really care.”

Several months ago, Clifton had what he calls a “really generous and honest” conversation with Executive Producer and Head Writer Bradley Bell. Bell let him know that Liam would be “sprinkled in” to upcoming stories instead of driving them — a decision Clifton understood and appreciated.

“That was something I had worried about for at least the last decade,” Clifton admits. “There’s no way Liam just going back and forth between Hope and Steffy could be sustainable. It eventually made him look like he wasn’t learning, and at some point, you couldn’t even defend him by saying ‘his heart was in the right place.’ I completely understood why Brad wanted to shift things.”

After that conversation, work slowed down for Clifton — until he received a script featuring a heated confrontation between Liam and Bill. It was then he saw hints of the upcoming brain injury storyline. Shortly after, Bell called him into his office to lay out the full plan — including Liam’s devastating diagnosis.

From that point on, Clifton says, the journey has been intense. "We do a sort of 'boot camp' version of the stages of grief," he explains. “Liam runs through denial, anger, and acceptance very quickly, and it was a fun acting challenge to show all those layers in such a short time.”

Even as Liam accepts the reality of his illness, Clifton says there’s still a part of him clinging to hope. “He’s torn between hoping for a miracle and preparing for the worst,” he explains. “Physically, he’s struggling with exhaustion and lethargy because of the tumor, so even managing his emotions becomes a challenge.”

An unexpected friendship also blooms between Liam and Finn. Despite their rocky past, Finn becomes someone Liam can lean on — someone he trusts to check in with about new scans or any slim chance of hope.

Still, Clifton stresses that while fans may speculate about a miracle save — much like Eric Forrester’s Christmas comeback — he’s trying not to think about the endgame. “I’m just taking it step-by-step," he says. "Not overthinking it, not jumping ahead."

And to those wondering whether he’s using this storyline as an exit ramp back to General Hospital, Clifton is clear:
“No, I’m not thinking about General Hospital or any other show," he says firmly. "I’m just focused on honoring this incredible story Brad has trusted me with.”