On Friday evening, Bill Hayes, the American actor and one of the stars of the "Days of Our Lives" series, passed away at the age of 98. Hayes was widely popular for his role as Doug Williams, which he began portraying in 1970. His character in the series is considered one of the most influential figures in the narrative, withstanding the test of time over many years.
Music Over Flying
Born on June 5, 1925, in Harvey, Illinois, Bill Hayes initially joined the United States Navy Air Forces in his early life, where he trained to become a fighter pilot. He received the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. However, he chose civilian life over a military career and returned to complete his education at DePauw University. Concurrently, he began studying music and earned a Master’s degree from Northwestern University, followed by a doctorate.
Bill Hayes during a "Days of Our Lives" book signing event. (AFP)
A Diverse Career Path
Hayes started his career as a singer and dancer in addition to acting, with his first television appearance in 1949 on the comedy show "Fireball Fun-for-All," which led viewing figures at that time.
His professional journey began with musical theater, debuting on Broadway in 1953 with "Me and Juliet." He subsequently took part in musical plays such as "Bye Bye Birdie," "The Student Prince," "Anything Goes," and "Camelot."
The 1950s marked a golden era in Hayes' career; he achieved tremendous success with the song "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett," which topped the Billboard Hot chart for five weeks and sold a million copies, earning him a gold record.
After a music career that kicked off in the 1940s, he shifted focus to acting in the late 1960s. He rose to widespread fame after he began playing Doug Williams in "Days of Our Lives" on NBC in 1970. Though he left the show in 1984 and his role was reduced, he returned to the stage in the 1990s. Yet, he made a comeback to "Days of Our Lives" in 2003 and continued until last year, 2023.
Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes holding the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Emmy Awards ceremony. (Getty)
Documentary on His Life
Bill Hayes began his artistic journey by marrying Mary Hobbs in 1947, with whom he had five children. The couple separated in the late 1960s, and he later married Susan Seaforth in the 1970s, who co-starred with him in "Days of Our Lives." Their relationship received considerable public affection, and they graced the cover of Time magazine in 1976. In 2005, the couple published their joint autobiography "Like Sands Through the Hourglass," and in 2017, Bill Hayes released a documentary titled "World by the Tail" about his career and journey.
Awards and Accolades
Throughout his career, Bill Hayes received numerous awards, including the Best Actor title from "Afternoon TV Magazine" in 1974 and the Actor of the Year from the "Soapy Awards" in 1977. He also won the Gold Medal from "Photoplay" magazine in 1977. In 2016, the Bill Hayes Award in musical theater was established by the National Association of Teachers of Singing. On April 29, 2018, at the 45th annual Daytime Emmy Awards, Bill Hayes and his wife Susan Seaforth Hayes were presented with the Lifetime Achievement Awards by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
