THURSDAY’s episode of the iconic soap series marked the final appearance of a longtime cast member.
Six months after Bill Hayes’ death, the 98-year-old made his final TV appearance alongside his on- and off-screen wife, Susan Seaforth Hayes, in an emotional scene.
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DECADES OF BILL’S LIFE
Fans have been watching Bill on Days of Our Lives since 1970, when his character, Doug Williams, was first introduced as an inmate lounge singer.
He received two Daytime Emmy Award nominations, in 1975 and 1976, for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series.
Bill had a regular role on the show until 1984, followed by recurring stints in 1986 and 1987, 1993, 1994 and 1996.
He returned to the show as a full-time cast member in 1999, but was later “killed off” in 2004 by Dr. Marlena Evans, played by Deidre Hall.
Bill returned to the show after his on-screen death turned out to be a hoax, with longtime viewers ecstatic to see his character, Doug, alive and well on a tropical island.
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LOVE ON SCREEN AND OFF SCREEN
In October 1974, Bill married his on-screen wife, Susan Seaforth Hayes, who has played Julie Olson Williams since 1968.
The pair were considered one of television’s first supercouples and are the only soap opera characters to appear on the cover of Time magazine.
The couple decorated the cover on January 12, 1976 – decades before Bill’s death on January 12, 2024.
Susan later appeared on The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, and the short-lived soap opera series Sunset Beach.
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In 2005, the power couple co-wrote their joint autobiography, Like Sands Through the Hourglass.
In 2018, Susan and Bill received the joint Lifetime Achievement Award at the 45th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.
FINAL ARC
Bill’s last appearance on Days of Our Lives took place on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
He shared his final scene with his TV and real-life wife, Susan.
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During the emotional scene, the couple reflected on the life and love they’ve shared over the past few decades.
“Have I told you how much I love you?” Julie, played by Susan, asked Doug, played by Bill.
“No, you never did that,” Doug responded, laughing, as reported by TV line.
“I became a new man. I had to change to deserve you,” Doug added.
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“Oh, you brought out the best in me. And we’ve been a good team – good partners, I think,” Julie added.
“We did a good job raising Hope,” Doug added.
“You are a wonderful father. You know, for a guy who grew up in foster care, you’re quite a family man,” Julie said.
“You’ve never disappointed anyone in this family, ever. You’ve shown me the whole world, every continent.”
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“And after we had our little adventures, saw all the beauty of the land, our love lasted longer than time,” he added.
“Now you better give me another kiss,” Doug asked.
“It’s a pleasure,” Julie said.
The episode aired primarily on Susan’s 81st birthday.
“The last scene Billy and I shot together was set up as a love scene,” Susan shared with TV Insider.
“And I was allowed to add some lines to the scene, between us,” she continued.
“The last sentence I wrote to Billy was, ‘Give me another kiss.’ So this is for the audience and it’s theirs,” she added.
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REST IN PEACE
Shortly after Bill’s death on January 12, 2024, Susan posted a moving tribute to her longtime husband on the couple’s joint Instagram.
“To all of you who have honored my Billy with a word of remembrance, a sense of personal loss or even a tear – I thank you,” she said. captioned the postwhich included photos of the stars in their youth.
“You touched my heart to see in him the kindness and joy I experienced in every moment of our wonderful marriage.”
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“May we all embrace life with Bill Hayes gusto — and enrich it with grace and love,” she added, finishing with a red heart emoji and “xx Susan.”
IN MEMORY
Although Bill’s final scene – and episode – has already aired, his character isn’t leaving the long-running soap opera for good.
Bill’s character Doug will be honored in December 2024, with “the entire town of Salem” set to pay tribute to the star, as reported by TVLine.
Viewers and longtime fans of the show, Bill, and his on-screen personality, Doug, paid tribute to the star on social media.
“Today is bittersweet for fans of the legendary Bill Hayes,” wrote one user X.
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“I can’t imagine what Susan and her family are feeling as her final appearance as #DougWilliams on #Days airs. Bill will live on in the hearts of all the people who loved him. .
“Bill Hayes will always be remembered as a kind and gentle soul,” another user tweeted.
“Doug and Julie are the OG supercouple #DoulieAlways,” they added.
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“I’m not ready for this. I’ll never be ready for this. I loved this amazing couple,” another user tweeted, alongside the hashtag #Days.
“I’m ready to cry, really, about what’s happening in our country right now. Seeing this? I have a feeling everything is going to work out,” another user tweeted.
“I never met Bill Hayes, nor his loving wife Susan, but I grew up watching them, and it’s like watching a big part of their family,” they added.
Celebrities on Days of Our Lives
Days of Our Lives has been on the air since 1965.
Here is a list of celebrities who have appeared on Days of Our Lives.
- Christina Applegate (1972)
- Kathie Lee Gifford (1975)
- Pat Sajak (1983)
- Pamela Anderson (1992)
- Lisa Rina (1992 to 1995)
- Mila Kunis (1994)
- Tara Reid (1995)
- LeAnn Rhimes (1995)
- Jensen Ackles (1997 to 2000)
- Ashley Benson (2004 to 2007)
- Kyle Richards (2013)
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
