Bill Hayes, best known as Doug Williams on the long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives, died at the age of 98.
Bill Hayes dies at 98: Cause of death and obituary announcement
On Friday, January 12, 2024, a statement confirmed the late performer’s death to TVLine. The actor celebrated his 98th birthday on the set of the show, but it is unknown what caused his death. However, there is no information online pertaining the funeral and obituary of Bill Hayes a sof the time of this publication.
The impact Hayes had on the show was first mentioned in the statement announcing his death. “Bill created the character of Doug Williams in 1970 and played him consistently for the rest of his life, making him one of the most enduring characters on Days of Our Lives,” according to the press release.
Further highlighted in the statement was the actor’s relationship with longtime wife and co-star Susan Seaforth Hayes, who they called “the foundation of the Williams-Horton family.”
The executive producer of the show, Ken Corday, continued by expressing how much his loved ones would miss Hayes, who made his Williams debut in 1970 and returned to the role on occasion for the next half century.
‘I have known Bill for most of my life, and he embodied the heart and soul of Days of Our Lives. He said, “Bill’s unforgettable legacy will live on in our hearts and the stories we tell, both on and off the screen, even though we are grieving and will miss him.”
William Foster Hayes III, the late performer, was born on June 5, 1925, in Harvey, Illinois. The actor trained as a fighter pilot for more than two years after enlisting in the Navy Air Corps in 1943 while enrolled at DePauw University, but the war ended just before he was scheduled to deploy.
