Bill Hayes
Hayes in 1976
Born
William Foster Hayes III

(1925-06-05)June 5, 1925
Harvey, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJanuary 12, 2024(2024-01-12) (aged 98)
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1948–2023
Spouses
Mary Hobbs
​
​
(m. 1947; div. 1969)​
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1974)​
    Children5

    William Foster Hayes III (June 5, 1925 – January 12, 2024) was an American actor and recording artist. His song "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" hit the top of the Billboard charts in the spring of 1955.

    Following a successful career as a musician which began in the late 1940s, Hayes began to focus on dramatic acting parts in the late 1960s, which led him to be cast in a role that gained him additional fame to a younger generation. This new chapter began in 1970 when he originated the character of Doug Williams on NBC's Days of Our Lives, which he continued to play until 2023.

    Early life and career

    Bill was born William Foster Hayes III in Harvey, Illinois, on June 5, 1925. He attended Whittier Grade School and Thornton Township High.[1] In March 1943, while a freshman at DePauw University, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Air Corps, and received his welcome letter on his eighteenth birthday ordering him to report for active duty on July 1.[1] For the next 27 months, he trained to be a fighter pilot. He was two weeks shy of receiving his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Air Corps, scheduled to fly an F8F off a carrier, when World War II ended.[1] He was awarded the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.[1] Given the choice of reenlisting in the Navy or getting out immediately, he opted for civilian life. After five weeks of hitch-hiking around the Mid-West to celebrate with buddies who were also coming home, he returned to complete his Bachelor of Arts requirements at DePauw University, where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and graduated in June 1947 with a dual major in Music and English.[1]

    Hayes was a singer on the Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca variety show Your Show of Shows in the early 1950s. He had a supporting role in the 1952 black comedy Stop, You're Killing Me. During the Davy Crockett craze in 1955, three recorded versions of "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" were in the top 30. Hayes' version was the most popular: It was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks,[2] sold over two million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[3] He also starred on Broadway in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Me and Juliet (1953). He had other small hits in the 1950s including "The Berry Tree" and covers of "High Noon" and "Wringle, Wrangle"; the latter was his only other Hot 100 hit, reaching #33 in 1957.[2]

    Hayes in 2010

    On Days of Our Lives, Hayes was introduced as a convict who was also a lounge singer.[4]

    The character of Doug returned in 1986 and 1987 as well as 1993 and 1996. Later, he was on the show from 1999 onwards. His character was killed off in the spring of 2004 by Dr. Marlena Evans. In an elaborate plot hatched by head writer James E. Reilly, Doug turned up alive on a tropical island and went home to his wife.[5]

    In 2017, World by the Tail, a documentary about Bill Hayes's life, was released online.[6]

    On June 27, 2017, while present in the show's audience, Hayes was featured in an impromptu interview on a web special for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon; in his heyday, he had been a guest on the Johnny Carson-hosted version of the show.[7]

    Personal life

    Hayes graduated from DePauw University with majors in music and English and became a member of Lambda Chi Alpha. Hayes earned a master's degree in music from Northwestern University.[8] and a Ph.D. in education from West Virginia University.[9]

    Hayes (right) with his wife Susan (left) in 2010

    Hayes was married to Mary Hobbs from 1947 to 1969; they had five children. He was then married to his Days of our Lives co-star Susan Seaforth Hayes beginning in 1974.[10] Their relationship was so popular that they were featured on the cover of Time in 1976, the only soap opera stars to hold that distinction to date. In 2005, the couple published their joint autobiography, Like Sands Through the Hourglass. The couple also supported the West Texas Rehab Center, hosting the annual telethon in Abilene, Texas.

    Hayes died on January 12, 2024, at the age of 98.[11][12]

    Filmography

    • Days of Our Lives (Doug Williams: 1970–1984; 1986–1987; 1993; 1994; 1996; 1999–2023 (recurring)
    • Miracle at Gate 213 (TV Film) – Louis Darling (2013)[13]
    • Frasier (TV Series) (Frasier Has Spokane) – Sully (2002)
    • Matlock (TV Series) (The Reunion) – George Dutton (1988)[14]
    • Password Plus – Himself (1979)
    • Cade's County (TV Series) (1972)[15]
    • The Interns (TV Series) (The Price of Life) – Vern Anderson (1970)[15][16]
    • The Wednesday Play – In Two Minds (1967)
    • Once Upon a Mattress (TV Special) – Minstrel (1964)[17]
    • The Cardinal (Film) – Frank (1964)
    • True Story (TV Series) – Larry Foster (1961)
    • Here's Hollywood (TV Variety Series) – Himself-multiple appearances (1961)[18]
    • Show of the Week-Music of the Thirties – Himself (1961)[19]
    • Music for a Christmas Night – The Gift of Song (TV Music Special) – Himself (1960)[20]
    • Bell Telephone Hour (TV Variety Series) – Himself (1960)
    • Voice of Firestone (TV Variety Series) – Himself (1959)[21]
    • Oldsmobile Music Theatre (TV Drama Series) – Host (1959)[22]
    • Kiss Me Kate (TV Special) – Bill Calhoun/Lucentio (1958)[23]
    • Little Women (TV Special-Musical) – John Brooke (1958)[24]
    • Yeoman of the Guard (Hallmark Hall of Fame TV Special) – Colonel Fairfax (1957)[25]
    • The Big Record (TV Variety Series) – Himself-multiple appearances (1957)[26][27][28]
    • Club 60 (TV Variety Series) – Himself (1957)[29]
    • Max Liebman Presents (TV Variety Series) – Himself (1956)[30]
    • The Ernie Kovacs Show (TV Variety Series) – Himself (1956)[31]
    • Rocket Revue (TV Variety Series) – Himself (1956)[32]
    • Variety (TV Special) (1955)[33]
    • Percy Faith Hour (TV Variety Series) (1955)[34]
    • The Woolworth Hour (TV Variety Series) (1955)[35]
    • General Foods 25th Anniversary Show: A Salute to Rodgers and Hammerstein (1954)[36]
    • Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town (TV Variety Series) (1953)[37]
    • Stop, You're Killing Me (Film) – Chance Whitelaw (1952)[38]

    Awards and nominations

    • Daytime Emmy Award: Outstanding Actor, Daytime Drama Series (nomination) (1975[39] and 1976[40])
    • Soapy Awards: Actor of the Year (1977)[41]
    • Daytime TV Magazine Reader's Poll: Best Actor (1973,[42] 1976,[43] 1977,[44] and 1978[45])
    • Afternoon TV Magazine: Best Actor (1974)[46]
    • Photoplay Magazine Gold Medal Award: Favorite Daytime Male Star (1977[47] and 1978[48])

    In 2016, the Bill Hayes Prize in Musical Theater was created by the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

    On April 29, 2018, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presented Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 45th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.[49]

    See also

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 Bill Hayes - Biography www.45cat.com. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
    2. 1 2 Joel Whitburn, Top Pop Singles, 12th edn, 2009.
    3. ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 74. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
    4. ↑ Cushman, Dustin (5 June 2020). "Remembering Doug Williams' 5 Most Memorable Days of our Lives Moments on Bill Hayes' 95th Birthday". soaps.sheknows.com. SheKnows Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
    5. ↑ "Who's Who in Salem: Douglas Williams". soapcentral.com. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
    6. ↑ "World by the Tail – The Bill Hayes story". Retrieved 2017-06-28.
    7. ↑ "Jimmy Honors 92-Year-Old Audience Member Who Was a Guest on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show". YouTube.com. June 27, 2017. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
    8. ↑ Cushman, Dustin (5 June 2020). "Remembering Doug Williams' 5 Most Memorable Days of our Lives Moments on Bill Hayes' 95th Birthday". soaps.sheknows.com. SheKnows Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
    9. ↑ "BILL HAYES '47 OF TV'S DAYS OF OUR LIVES REFLECTS ON DEPAUW AND LIFE AS AN ENTERTAINER IN MEMOIR". depauw.edu. DePauw University. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
    10. ↑ "Susan Seaforth Hayes bio". Archived from the original on 2009-10-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
    11. ↑ Levinsky, Mara (January 13, 2024). "Days of Our Lives Legend Bill Hayes Dies At 98". Soap Opera Digest. United States: A360media. ISSN 0164-3584. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
    12. ↑ Tapp, Tom (January 13, 2024). "Bill Hayes Dies: Days of Our Lives Legend Was 98". Deadline Hollywood. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
    13. ↑ "Miracle at Gate 213 (TV Movie 2013) – Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
    14. ↑ "Matlock – The Reunion (TV Episode 1988)". IMDb. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
    15. 1 2 "1 Feb 1973, Page 12 – The Cincinnati Enquirer". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
    16. ↑ "The Interns – The Price of Life (TV Episode 1970)". IMDb. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
    17. ↑ "30 May 1964, Page 23 – The Burlington Free Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
    18. ↑ "8 Sep 1961, Page 41 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
    19. ↑ "5 Nov 1961, Page 87 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
    20. ↑ "25 Dec 1960, Page 16 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
    21. ↑ "22 Feb 1959, Page 126 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
    22. ↑ "16 Apr 1959, Page 55 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
    23. ↑ "20 Nov 1958, Page 20 – The Courier-Journal". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
    24. ↑ "16 Oct 1958, Page 39 – The Los Angeles Times". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
    25. ↑ "6 Apr 1957, Page 5 – The Pantagraph". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
    26. ↑ "3 Nov 1957, Page 147 – The Los Angeles Times". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
    27. ↑ "7 Dec 1957, Page 34 – Daily Independent Journal". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
    28. ↑ "11 Dec 1957, Page 38 – Daily Independent Journal". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
    29. ↑ "13 Jun 1957, Page 51 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
    30. ↑ "26 Feb 1956, Page 113 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
    31. ↑ "3 Sep 1956, Page 33 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
    32. ↑ "8 Nov 1956, Page 63 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
    33. ↑ "30 Jan 1955, Page 81 – The Courier-Journal". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
    34. ↑ "26 Jun 1955, Page 115 – The Indianapolis Star". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
    35. ↑ "31 Dec 1955, Page 2 – The Mason City Globe-Gazette". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
    36. ↑ General Foods 25th Anniversary Show: A Salute to Rodgers and Hammerstein(1954) at IMDb
    37. ↑ "3 Aug 1953, Page 28 – Tucson Daily Citizen". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
    38. ↑ "30 Nov 1952, Page 29 – The Brooklyn Daily Eagle". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
    39. ↑ "18 Apr 1975, Page 106 – The Los Angeles Times". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
    40. ↑ "2 May 1976, Page 132 – The Odessa American". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
    41. ↑ "30 Oct 1977, Page 80 – The Lawton Constitution". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
    42. ↑ "2 Jun 1973, Page 19 – The Ogden Standard-Examiner". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
    43. ↑ "4 Jul 1976, Page 341 – Independent Press-Telegram". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
    44. ↑ "24 May 1977, Page 25 – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
    45. ↑ "A Celebration of the Super 70s 1970–1980". The Best of Daytime TV, No. 4. Sterling's Magazines, Inc. p. 3. 1979.
    46. ↑ "12 Jul 1974, Page 24 - The Daily Standard". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
    47. ↑ "19 Jun 1977, Page 12 – The Waxahachie Daily Light". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
    48. ↑ "19 Nov 1978, Page 196 – Asbury Park Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
    49. ↑ Yahr, Emily (2018-04-30). "You probably missed the Daytime Emmy Awards, but here are 6 moments you'll wish you saw". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
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