Bill Hayes’ joy in performing was infectious. In fact, this legendary nonagenarian truly seemed happy with whatever bits and pieces that the powers-that-be at Days of our Lives, his creative home for over 5 decades, would give him to perform over the past 15 years. But Hayes, who died at the age of 98 this January, virtually (and literally) glowed with enthusiasm throughout the late fall of 2021. That was when his kind, long standing character Doug was possessed by the devil. Current head writer Ron Carlivati had long wanted to revisit long term heroine Marlena’s late ’90s encounter with the red horn trickster. Thus, when he was finally given the go ahead, he inventively involved one of Salem’s sweetest legacy characters. Hayes was obviously having a blast portraying Doug as he locked his wife Julie in a meat cooler and strategically flirted with townswomen half his age.
Nicely, he was prepped for this sinister undertaking due to his participation in another one of the show’s macabre plotlines – 2003’s Salem Stalker outing. There, Doug, along with other series’ notables like Maggie & Caroline, was “killed” off – supposedly by a brainwashed Marlena. In a grand twist, though, all were revealed to be alive and living in Melaswen (IE: New Salem).
Renowned for his musical proclivities as well as acting, Hayes was recognizable to the general public for his appearances on variety television (Your Show of Shows) and Broadway (Me and Juliet), while his recording of The Ballad of Davy Crockett spent 5 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1955. Most importantly, his decades long partnership with Susan Seaforth Hayes, his loving spouse and frequent co-star, will go down in history as one of the most endearing celebrity romances.
His was a life definitely well led.
Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!
Big Gay Horror Fan 