Bill Hayes (actor)

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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)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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 between March and May of 1955.

Following a successful career as a musician that 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[edit]

Hayes was born 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 hitchhiking around the Midwest 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]

Career[edit]

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 number 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). Hayes 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 number 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 and death[edit]

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 with his wife Susan 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.[10][11] In 2005, the couple published their joint autobiography, Like Sands Through the Hourglass.[9] The couple also supported the West Texas Rehab Center.[12]

Hayes died in Studio City, Los Angeles on January 12, 2024, at age 98.[13][14]

Filmography[edit]

Awards and nominations[edit]

  • Daytime Emmy Award: Outstanding Actor, Daytime Drama Series (nomination) (1975[41] and 1976[42])
  • Soapy Awards: Actor of the Year (1977)[43]
  • Daytime TV Magazine Reader's Poll: Best Actor (1973,[44] 1976,[45] 1977,[46] and 1978[47])
  • Afternoon TV Magazine: Best Actor (1974)[48]
  • Photoplay Magazine Gold Medal Award: Favorite Daytime Male Star (1977[49] and 1978[50])

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 and Sciences presented Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 45th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.[51]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Bill Hayes – Biography www.45cat.com. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  2. ^ a b 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 (June 5, 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 November 30, 2020.
  5. ^ "Who's Who in Salem: Douglas Williams". soapcentral.com. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  6. ^ "World by the Tail – The Bill Hayes story". Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  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 December 21, 2021.
  8. ^ Cushman, Dustin (June 5, 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 December 4, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "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 September 20, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Susan Seaforth Hayes bio". Archived from the original on October 8, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ^ "Bill Hayes Dies: Veteran 'Days of Our Lives' Actor Was 98". Black Hills Pioneer.
  12. ^ "Rehab center's annual telethon raises its second-highest total". San Angelo Standard-Times.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "Miracle at Gate 213 (TV Movie 2013) – Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  16. ^ "Matlock – The Reunion (TV Episode 1988)". IMDb. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  17. ^ a b "1 Feb 1973, Page 12 – The Cincinnati Enquirer". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  18. ^ "The Interns – The Price of Life (TV Episode 1970)". IMDb. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  19. ^ "30 May 1964, Page 23 – The Burlington Free Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  20. ^ "8 Sep 1961, Page 41 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  21. ^ "5 Nov 1961, Page 87 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  22. ^ "25 Dec 1960, Page 16 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  23. ^ "22 Feb 1959, Page 126 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  24. ^ "16 Apr 1959, Page 55 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  25. ^ "20 Nov 1958, Page 20 – The Courier-Journal". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  26. ^ "16 Oct 1958, Page 39 – The Los Angeles Times". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  27. ^ "6 Apr 1957, Page 5 – The Pantagraph". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  28. ^ "3 Nov 1957, Page 147 – The Los Angeles Times". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  29. ^ "7 Dec 1957, Page 34 – Daily Independent Journal". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  30. ^ "11 Dec 1957, Page 38 – Daily Independent Journal". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  31. ^ "13 Jun 1957, Page 51 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  32. ^ "26 Feb 1956, Page 113 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  33. ^ "3 Sep 1956, Page 33 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  34. ^ "8 Nov 1956, Page 63 – The Pittsburgh Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  35. ^ "30 Jan 1955, Page 81 – The Courier-Journal". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  36. ^ "26 Jun 1955, Page 115 – The Indianapolis Star". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  37. ^ "31 Dec 1955, Page 2 – The Mason City Globe-Gazette". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  38. ^ General Foods 25th Anniversary Show: A Salute to Rodgers and Hammerstein(1954) at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
  39. ^ "3 Aug 1953, Page 28 – Tucson Daily Citizen". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  40. ^ "30 Nov 1952, Page 29 – The Brooklyn Daily Eagle". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  41. ^ "18 Apr 1975, Page 106 – The Los Angeles Times". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  42. ^ "2 May 1976, Page 132 – The Odessa American". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  43. ^ "30 Oct 1977, Page 80 – The Lawton Constitution". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  44. ^ "2 Jun 1973, Page 19 – The Ogden Standard-Examiner". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  45. ^ "4 Jul 1976, Page 341 – Independent Press-Telegram". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  46. ^ "24 May 1977, Page 25 – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  47. ^ "A Celebration of the Super 70s 1970–1980". The Best of Daytime TV, No. 4. Sterling's Magazines, Inc. p. 3. 1979.
  48. ^ "12 Jul 1974, Page 24 – The Daily Standard". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  49. ^ "19 Jun 1977, Page 12 – The Waxahachie Daily Light". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  50. ^ "19 Nov 1978, Page 196 – Asbury Park Press". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  51. ^ Yahr, Emily (April 30, 2018). "You probably missed the Daytime Emmy Awards, but here are 6 moments you'll wish you saw". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 5, 2018.

External links[edit]

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