Days of Our Lives alum Bill Hayes celebrates his 98th birthday on the Burbank set of the soap opera
Two months after 97-year-old Dick Van Dyke confirmed his guest role on Days of Our Lives, the soap’s elder statesman Bill Hayes triumphantly celebrated his 98th birthday on set at The Burbank Studios.
The silver-haired soap star was treated to a “delicious” double chocolate cake covered in black icing and adorned with a portrait of herself as he sang on Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca’s 1950s variety show, Your Show of Shows.
Bill’s wife of 48 years, Susan Seaforth, Delivered a moving speech and led the cast and crew, including Billy Flynn (who plays Chad DiMera), to a chorus of Happy Birthday.
Hayes and Seaforth — who won Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 2018 Daytime Emmys — met while playing convicted con artist turned lounge singer Doug Williams and feisty troublemaker Julie Olson, who once appeared on the cover of TIME.
The Broadway actor has played Doug impressively on/off for the past 52 years, but the acting pair have not appeared on DOOL since 2020.
Congratulations! Elder statesman Bill Hayes (M) of Days of Our Lives triumphantly celebrated his 98th birthday on set at The Burbank Studios
Backlash! The silver-haired soap star was treated to a “delicious” double chocolate cake covered in black icing and adorned with a portrait of herself as he sang on Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca’s 1950s variety show, Your Show of Shows
“He loved every minute of it,” gushed the 79-year-old actress.
‘He was the first artist to sing on television during the daytime. When we had a big budget, we sang all the time, but now it’s just public domain numbers.’
Indeed, Bill is the singer behind George Bruns and the lyrics to Thomas W. Blackburn’s song The Ballad of Davy Crockett, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks in 1955.
Hayes’ daughter Mary Beth Evans on screen shared a snapshot captioned, “Happy 98th birthday to the remarkable Bill Hayes, @billsusanhayes. Your talent, joie de vivre and contagious happiness are a source of inspiration for many, especially for me!’
Lead writer Ron Carlivati Installed a birthday tribute to the decorated Navy veteran, perhaps hinting at even more guest starring.
Bill also holds a master’s degree in music from Northwestern University and a Ph.D. in education from West Virginia University
And Hayes has five children from his 22-year marriage to Mary Hobbs, which ended in 1969.
Two months ago, the legendary Dick Van Dyke shot his first-ever guest appearance on DOOL for an episode airing this fall.
“Everyone Sing!” Bill’s wife of 48 years, Susan Seaforth (L), gave a moving speech and led the cast and crew, including Billy Flynn (R, who plays Chad DiMera), to a chorus of Happy Birthday
Also married on screen! Hayes and Seaforth – who won Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 2018 Daytime Emmys – met while playing convicted con artist turned lounge singer Doug Williams and feisty troublemaker Julie Olson, who once appeared on the cover of TIME
Curtain call? The Broadway actor has played Doug impressively on/off for the past 52 years, but the acting pair have not appeared on DOOL since 2020
The 79-year-old actress gushed: “He loved every minute of it. He was the first artist to sing on television during the daytime. When we had a big budget, we sang all the time, but now it’s just public domain songs’
Wow! Indeed, Bill is the singer behind George Bruns and the lyrics to Thomas W. Blackburn’s song The Ballad of Davy Crockett, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks in 1955.
Hayes’ on-screen daughter Mary Beth Evans shared a photo captioned, “Happy 98th birthday to the remarkable Bill Hayes, @billsusanhayes. Your talent, joie de vivre and contagious happiness are a source of inspiration for many, especially for me!’
Retired? Lead writer Ron Carlivati paid tribute to the decorated Navy veteran for his birthday, perhaps hinting at even more guest starring roles
“He gave me a part!” Two months ago, the legendary Dick Van Dyke landed his first-ever guest star as “a mysterious man with amnesia” on DOOL for an episode airing this fall (pictured with his “gym buddy” Drake Hogestyn)
“Cue the Trumpets!” On March 15, Peacock officially renewed Days of Our Lives for another two seasons, which would mark its 60th anniversary.
‘We couldn’t see a way forward’: DOOL scored 14 nominations – including outstanding drama series – at the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards, which was scheduled for June 16, but the ceremony was postponed indefinitely due to the Writers Guild of America strike
The 97-year-old national treasure — who is just an Oscar away from elite EGOT status — will play “a mysterious man with amnesia” opposite three-time Daytime Emmy Award nominee Deidre Hall and his gym buddy Drake Hogestyn.
“Drake and I went to the same gym together. I used to make fun of him: “Say, don’t you ever have parts for old people? Come on, give me a part!” And he took me seriously. He gave me a part,’ Dick said Access to Hollywood on April 20.
“I’ve played old men before, but comical old men. The first time I ever played my 97-year-old self.”
Van Dyke continued, “I started looking [an episode] and some of those people have been doing it for 20 years. That’s about all the homework I could do was watch one and see how they did. The other thing, you have to hold on [a moment] because there’s something about music and we said something exciting.’
Pauw is official on 15 March renewed Days of Our Lives for another two seasons, which would take it to its 60th anniversary.
DOOL scored 14 nominations — including Outstanding Drama Series — at the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards, which was scheduled for June 16, but the ceremony was postponed indefinitely due to the Writers Guild of America strike.