Bill Hayes, who was best known for his portrayal of Doug Williams in the long-running soap opera Days Of Our Lives, has died at the age of 98.
The news of the late artist’s death was confirmed in a statement to TVLine on Friday.
The official cause of death for the actor – who celebrated his 98th birthday on the set of the show – has not been revealed.
The statement on Hayes’ passing began by illustrating the impact the artist had on the show.
“One of the longest-running characters on Days Of Our Lives, Bill took on the role of Doug Williams in 1970 and played him continuously throughout his life,” it said.
Bill Hayes, who was best known for his portrayal of Doug Williams on the long-running soap opera Days Of Our Lives, has died at the age of 98; seen in 2015
The artist’s connection to his longtime wife and co-star, Susan Seaforth Hayes, was also illustrated in the statement, and they were described as having served as ‘the foundation of the Williams-Horton family.’
The show’s executive producer Ken Corday went on to talk about how Hayes, who first played Williams in 1970 and reprized the role intermittently over the next five decades, would be dearly missed by his loved ones.
“I’ve known Bill most of my life and he embodied the heart and soul of Days of our Lives. “While we will mourn and miss him, Bill’s indelible legacy will live on in our hearts and in the stories we tell, both on and off screen,” he said.
The late artist, whose birth name was William Foster Hayes III, was born in Harvey, Illinois, on June 5, 1925.
The actor enlisted in the Navy Air Corps in 1943 while attending DePauw University and trained as a fighter pilot for more than two years, although World War II ended shortly before he was scheduled to leave for the service.
Hayes went on to earn Bachelor of Arts degrees in both music and English, and received her doctorate from West Virginia University in 1998.
The artist’s first marriage was to Mary Hobbs, which lasted from 1947 to 1969, and the couple welcomed a total of five children during their marriage.
The late actor met Seaforth Hayes, who plays Julie Olson Williams on Days Of Our Lives, on the set of the soap opera, and they married in 1974.
The official cause of death for the actor – who celebrated his 98th birthday on the set of the show – has not been revealed; seen with wife Susan Seaforth Hayes
The late artist, whose birth name was William Foster Hayes III, was born in Harvey, Illinois, on June 5, 1925; seen in 2018
The late actor met Seaforth Hayes, who plays Julie Olson Williams on Days Of Our Lives, on the set of the soap opera, and they married in 1974.
Hayes portrayed Williams consistently from 1970 to 1984, and again from 1986 to 1987, after which he appeared repeatedly as the character over the next few decades; seen with Seaforth Hayes in 2018
He received two separate nominations for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series during his career; seen in 2015
Hayes portrayed Williams consistently from 1970 to 1984, and again from 1986 to 1987, appearing repeatedly as the character over the next few decades.
He received two separate nominations for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series during his career.
The late artist also had a musical career, recording a version of The Ballad of Davy Crockett, which became wildly popular upon its release in 1955.
A documentary about Hayes’ life, entitled World by the Tail, was made available to the public in 2017.