Bill Hayes, the enduring actor renowned for his portrayal of Doug Williams on the long-standing daytime soap opera “Days of Our Lives” for over half a century, passed away yesterday at the age of 98, as confirmed by an official statement from the show.

Who was Bill Hayes:

Bill Hayes, whose full name is William Foster Hayes III, was an American actor and recording artist. He achieved chart-topping success with his song “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” in the spring of 1955.

Personal Details:

• Complete Real Name: William Foster Hayes III, also known as Bill Hayes.
• Age and Date of Birth: Born on June 5, 1925, in Harvey, Illinois, United States.
• Place of Birth and Place of Residence: Originally from Harvey, Illinois, United States, Bill Hayes grew up in the Midwest.
• Date of Death: He passed away on January 12, 2024.
• Death Cause: While the exact cause of death has not been disclosed, it is attributed to natural causes, typical for someone of his advanced age.

Family and Education:

• Family: His parents were William Foster Hayes II and Betty Mitchell.
• Education: Bill attended Whittier Grade School and Thornton Township High. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy Air Corps in 1943 while a freshman at DePauw University.

Career and Achievements:

• As Doug Williams, a pivotal figure in the Williams-Horton family, Bill Hayes appeared in over 2,000 episodes, his last being in December 2023.
• He and his wife, Susan Seaforth Hayes, who holds the unique distinction of appearing in all seven decades of “Days of Our Lives,” married in 1974, just two years before their characters tied the knot on the show.
• In 2018, the couple received the Daytime Emmy’s Lifetime Achievement Award for their decades-long contributions to the show.

Legacy and Tributes:

• Since 1970, Bill Hayes portrayed Doug Williams on “Days of Our Lives,” leaving an indelible mark on the series.
• The show’s representative expressed sorrow, stating, “It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of our beloved Bill Hayes.”
• Executive producer Ken Corday remarked, “Bill’s indelible legacy will live on in our hearts and the stories we tell, both on and off the screen.”

Recognition and Contributions:

• Bill Hayes earned two Daytime Emmy nominations for his role in 1975 and 1978, and he and Susan Seaforth-Hayes received lifetime achievement awards in 2018 from the Daytime Emmy Awards.
• Before his soap opera career, Hayes was a regular on Sid Caesar’s TV variety program, “Your Show of Shows,” and gained fame for his No. 1 hit, “The Ballad of Davy Crockett.”

Personal Life:

• Hayes is survived by his son, William Foster Hayes IV.

The passing of Bill Hayes leaves a void in the world of television, but his enduring legacy and contributions will be remembered by fans and colleagues alike.

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