The Real Connection Between The Bold And The Beautiful's Katherine Kelly Lang And The Jolly Green Giant

Katherine Kelly Lang is one of the most recognizable faces in daytime television, playing Brooke Logan on "The Bold and the Beautiful" since the show originated in 1987. She, alongside John McCook (Eric Forrester), is the only original cast member still with the series. Throughout Brooke's time on the dramatic series, her relationship with Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) has reached "super couple" status, being an iconic pairing that fans love to watch. However, in typical "Bold" fashion, Brooke and Ridge's love story is also a love triangle with her long-time rival, Taylor Hayes (Krista Allen) (via Soaps In Depth)

Recently, Lang's TV father, Patrick Duffy (Stephen Logan), returned to town for a surprise visit after many years off the canvas. It was only a two-episode appearance, but his trip to Los Angeles was needed, as it was the perfect time for some fatherly love. Ridge left Brooke for Taylor under false pretenses, leaving her a mess of confusing emotions. Duffy is the second man to play the character of Stephen since its creation, with the first being Robert Pine from 1988 to 2001 (via People).

However, Duffy, the legendary face behind Dallas' Bobby Ewing isn't the only famous father figure in Lang's life. In fact, her real-life father is also quite well known. In both the sports circles and the world of frozen foods, he's considered a highly recognizable talent. 

While Katherine Kelly Lang's real life has showcased crafting a successful run on television, playing Brooke Logan for over three decades, her father, Keith Wegeman, had his own success on the silver screen, playing a popular character in the world of frozen foods. Per Soap Hub, Wegeman was not only a former Olympic athlete but also the face behind the famous Jolly Green Giant mascot.

Lang took to Instagram to commemorate her father's achievements in a post, writing, "Happy Father's Day to my dad Keith Wegeman. If any of you remember the Jolly Green Giant commercials many years ago, well, he was the one and only Jolly Green Giant. He would come home from filming a commercial and still painted green and wrestle us and call us kids his 'little sprouts.'"

Unfortunately for Lang, her father wouldn't be around long after his Jolly Green Giant days. Wegeman passed away following a courageous battle with cancer at the age of 46. Further, Lang's father is one of many family members including both of her grandparents who passed away from colon cancer. However, despite losing her father at a young age, Lang looks back fondly on her storied career, earning support and adoration from her peers in the process (via Soap Opera Spy). 

Per Soap Hub, in addition to being the real man behind the Jolly Green Giant frozen vegetable empire, Katherine Kelly Lang's father Keith Wegeman was also a decorated athlete. In an Instagram tribute, Lang reflected on his Olympic career, writing, "He also was a top ski jumper and he competed in the Olympics in 1952. He taught us all to ski when we were 3 years old. We would go skiing every weekend at Mammoth Mountain. He passed away at an early age from colon cancer. He was 46. I do miss him and think about him often. I support and help @cancersupporthq because of my experience with this. #happyfathersday #jollygreengiant #cancersupportcommunity."

Several other soap actors including some from "The Bold and the Beautiful" and "The Young and the Restless" chimed in to offer their tributes to her father. Daniel Goddard (ex-Cane) from "Y&R" remarked that her father and veteran soap actor, Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott), looked strikingly similar. The wife of Lang's former TV husband, Ron Moss, also commented, saying, "Ho ho green giant! He's very handsome." 

The legacy of Lang's father continues to live on with the Green Giant brand of frozen food, which is accessible in a significant number of grocery stores across the country (via Food Dive). While many may not have known the identity of the man behind the character, there's no denying the impact he had on the popularity of the brand while he was alive.