- Born
- Died
- Birth nameWilliam Foster Hayes III
- Height5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
- Throughout the 1970s and a good part of the 1980s, Bill Hayes and his second wife, Emmy-winning Susan Seaforth Hayes, reigned as the Lunt and Fontanne of daytime soaps. Prior to this he had become a noted singer/actor on the Broadway stage and in night clubs. Born William Foster Hayes III in Harvey, Illinois, on June 5, 1925, and raised in the Midwest, his father was a bookseller (for 41 years). He got his talent from his dad who enjoyed singing and local community theater performing on the sly. Bill entered WWII as a naval airman, then studied at De Pauw University, where he met and married first wife Mary. They went on to have five children. He later received his master's degree at Northwestern. Blessed with a sturdy tenor, his interest in a professional career was piqued after happening upon a tour of "Carousel" in 1947. From singing telegrams to barbershop quartets to choir directing to jazz group vocals, Bill persevered musically until earning his first big break on TV. A lead singing/stooge role in Olsen & Johnson's zany burlesque revue "Funzapoppin'" in 1949 led to him joining the pair on their short-lived TV show and, ultimately, his resident crooning on Your Show of Shows (1950) starring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca. In the meantime he also performed in vaudeville and broke into films with a supporting role in Stop, You're Killing Me (1952). Despite a wife and family to support, he left the show on his own volition for the chance to star in a new Broadway musical. "Me and Juliet" opened with moderate success in 1953 and lasted over a year, touring with the show in its aftermath. Bill also happened to record "The Ballad of Davey Crockett," which became a surprise #1 Billboard hit and sold over three million copies. A nightclub and TV-variety fixture in the late 1950s, he later managed to flex his vocal chords in such musicals as "Bye Bye Birdie" (national tour), "Brigadoon," "The Pajama Game" and "George M!" The 1960s were a slow, difficult time for Bill professionally and personally, which culminated in the breakup of his marriage. Luck and talent played a part when he was hired to join the cast of Days of Our Lives (1965) playing the role of Doug Williams. The character was originally a louse and con artist, but grew more reputable after his character fell in love with feisty troublemaker Julie Olson, played by Susan Seaforth. Their seesaw romantic relationship became one of daytime's top story lines of the 1970s. Off-screen the couple also ignited sparks and, despite their major age difference (she is 18 years his junior), they married on October 12, 1974. In 1984, after 14 years and two daytime Emmy nominations, he and Susan left the show due to their dwindling status. While Susan went on to join the cast of The Young and the Restless (1973) the following year, Bill refocused on his singing by performing on the cabaret circuit and recording a few albums. The couple returned on and off to their soap opera alma mater over the years, but in 1999 they became part of the regular cast again with a stronger story line. Bill is still performing on stage, more recently playing Beauregard in "Mame" and with his wife in productions of "A Christmas Carol," "Love Letters" and "Same Time, Another Year," which is a sequel to "Same Time, Next Year."- IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net
- SpousesSusan Seaforth Hayes(October 12, 1974 - January 12, 2024) (his death)Mary Lorraine Hobbs(January 30, 1947 - 1969) (divorced, 5 children)
- ChildrenCarolyn HayesWilliam Foster Hayes IVCatherine Christian HayesThomas Harley HayesMargaret Hayes
- ParentsWilliam Foster Hayes Sr.Betty Mitchell
- He and his wife Susan Seaforth Hayes made the cover of Time magazine in 1976.
- He met and married first wife Mary Hobbs while he was a student at DePauw University. They had five children.
- Co-starring with Lee Meriwether in the nostalgic play "I Remember You" at the Norris Theater in the Los Angeles area.
- Son-in-law of actress Elizabeth Harrower.
- 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. For the next 27 months, he trained to be a fighter pilot.
- All I had heard about soap operas were derogatory: the writing was bad, the plotting was bad, that type of thing. But when I got there, the actors were incredibly good, the writing was excellent. Everything about it was wonderful. [The Arizona Republic, March 21, 1997]
- Before I got on Days of Our Lives (1965), I had never watched a serial and I had heard all the remarks downgrading the serials. The only reason I joined Days was to be able to stay in Hollywood and have more time home with my children. But now that I'm on Days, I'm very happy. Every day, I'm floored by the quality of the shows! I'm amazed at how well the shows are produced, and it's very satisfying for me, artistically."
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