‘Days of Our Lives’ star Bill Hayes breathes his last at 98

Bill Hayes, American singer and actor, passed away at the age of 98 on Friday in Los Angeles, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed.

He played the role of Doug Williams on Days of Our Lives for more than five decades and starred with his real-life wife, Susan Seaforth-Hayes, on NBC’s television program as the beloved first couple of daytime television.

Notably, Hayes played his part in the American TV program on and off until 2023.

Bill Hayes death

The reason for Hayes's death has not been disclosed yet, however, several loved ones shared their tributes for the passing soul.

Deadline cited a statement from Days, released following the demise of the Ballad of Davy Crockett Billboard chart-topper from the spring of 1955.

They described the power couple as, "He and his wife, Susan Seaforth-Hayes, remained the foundation of the Williams-Horton family spanning more than 50 years."

Not to mention, Seaforth-Hayes played the role of Julie Williams on the show, and in 2018, the couple was honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Daytime Emmys.

Following the show’s statement, the executive producer Ken Corday, also remembered the legendary actor and said, "I have known Bill for most of my life and he embodied the heart and soul of Days of our Lives."

He went on to share his grieve on the death of Hayes, "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."

In the early 50s, Hayes kicked off his career on TV as a singer on Your Show of Shows. He graced several movies and shows of his eras with his appearance, including True Story and Decoy.