Bell, the character was portrayed by Scott Reeves, who made his first appearance on June 26, 1991, as a businessman who wanted to "work his way to the top of the corporation ladder".

Throughout his time on the soap opera, Reeves became popular with fans as one of the genre's leading men, garnering multiple awards and nominations.

[1][2] However, by August 2001, reports began to surface that Reeves had been released from his contract and would be exiting in a "storyline-dictated" departure, during the November sweeps period.

[5] Upon Ryan's introduction to the series, arch-villain David Kimble was on his way out, leaving the manipulative character of Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) "mellowing".

[7] Months into the character's duration on the series, he manipulatively seduced businessman Victor Newman's (Eric Braeden) teenage daughter Victoria (Heather Tom).

Their marriage ended after Victoria refused to consummate it due to her fear of sex, resulting in Ryan beginning an affair with Nina Webster (Tricia Cast).

[10] Of Victoria's refusal to consummate her marriage, yet desperateness to get her husband back, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram said: "She's divorced, rich and hates sex.

The two fall in love and marry, to Victor's dismay; however, Victoria refuses to consummate their relationship and Ryan cheats on her with Nina Webster.

He eventually develops genuine feelings for Nina; however, she has fallen in love with novelist Cole Howard (J. Eddie Peck).

Tricia then becomes obsessed with destroying her sister Megan Dennison's (Ashley Jones) relationship with Tony Viscardi (Nick Scotti).

Victor breaks Victoria free, who enters the chapel; Tricia shoots twice at her, but Ryan jumps in front to save her life.

A syndicated article that appeared in The Fort Oglethorpe Press described Ryan's attempts to seduce Victoria as "a path that's fraught with peril and which forces the good-natured actor to search hard for inspiration".

[13] Upon learning of the actor's decision to quit following ten years on the soap opera, the Herald Journal said it was "hard to believe" that one of "daytime's most popular young leading men are leaving the fold".