Bill Hayes has died at the age of 98.
The actor was best known for starring as Doug Williams on the NBC soap opera 'Days of Our Lives' and had played the role from 1970 right up until December 2023, but passed away on Friday (12.01.24), his agent has confirmed.
In real life, Bill was married to his co-star Susan Seaforth Hayes and the pair also played husband and wife on screen for more than three decades.
In a statement, 'Days of Our Lives' producers said: "One of the longest-running characters on 'Days of our Lives', Bill originated the role of Doug Williams in 1970 and portrayed him continuously throughout his life. He and his wife, Susan Seaforth-Hayes, remained the foundation of the Williams-Horton family spanning more than 50 years."
Tributes were quick to pour in for the soap star, with Executive Producer Ken Corday remembering him as the "heart and soul" of the long-running serial
He said: "I have known Bill for most of my life, and he embodied the heart and soul of 'Days of Our Lives'. Although we are grieving and will miss him, Bill’s indelible legacy will live on in our hearts and the stories we tell, both on and off the screen."
Away from the soap, Bill was known for his hit single 'The Ballad of Davy Crockett', which topped the charts in 1955.
Before making it big in showbusiness, Bill had enlisted in the U.S. Navy Air Corps and trained to become a fighter pilot.
After the end of World War II, Bill chose to study Music and Drama at DePauw University in Indiana and later featured as a singer on variety shows and starred on Broadway in the 1950s.
In 1970, he landed his signature role on 'Days of Our Lives' and was introduced as a convict working as a lounge singer.
In 2018, Bill and his wife received Lifetime Achievement awards at the Emmys for their work on the soap opera.
As well as his wife Susan, Bill is survived by his five children from his first marriage to Mary Hobbs as well as 12 grandchildren.
