Tv was nonetheless a brand new medium in 1949, when Invoice Hayes made his debut in Fireball Enjoyable-For-All, a zany comedy collection starring vaudeville performers Ole Olsen and Chick Johnson.
The present solely lasted three months, however that was sufficient to set Hayes on the trail to changing into a TV legend, as he was a mainstay on the venerable daytime drama Days of Our Lives for greater than 5 a long time. Hayes, who died on January 12 on the age of 98, by no means forgot the dear coaching he discovered in his early days engaged on dwell tv.
“Cameras again then had been massive and immovable,” Hayes advised us sort In 2018, he and his spouse of 49 years, longtime “Days” star Susan Seaforth Hayes, obtained a Lifetime Achievement Award on the Daytime Emmy Awards. “They did not have the power to zoom in or out. That was all there was till 1958.”
In 2022, Hayes and the remainder of the solid of “Days” ushered in a brand new period of tv viewing when the long-running cleaning soap opera grew to become the primary daytime drama to maneuver totally to a streaming platform, NBCUniversal’s “Peacock.”
What hasn’t modified over time, nevertheless, is Hayes’ expertise, love of household and immense kindness.
‘Breaking Unhealthy’ star Bryan Cranston shared on the 2018 Daytime Emmy Awards that as a younger actor he had a three-day function on 1980’s ‘Daytime’ , thus lacking a number of hours of airtime. In that fraught second, when Hayes knocked on the dressing room door, comforted the performers, and reviewed the obstacles within the scene and the relationships between the characters, he would really feel the longer term Emmy winner coming to the set. Cranston was shocked at how properly ready and welcomed he was. Cranston says that to at the present time, he remembers this act of kindness (which he affectionately calls “getting the Hayes”) when he welcomes new solid members to the present.
“Days” govt producer Ken Cody advised us that Hayes’ repute for going out of his strategy to help his fellow actors “actually sums up Invoice.” sort. “Invoice was an ideal function mannequin to all of us, a beautiful, type, giving man – till the tip. He by no means modified. He at all times gave every part he had.”
Corday’s father, director Ted Corday, who additionally co-created the present, died lower than a yr after the present premiered on NBC in 1965. Hayes knew how a lot of a shock this was to younger Ken. “I misplaced my father after I was very younger, and Invoice got here to me later and mentioned, ‘If you happen to ever want somebody to speak to, a son to a father, a buddy to a buddy, I am right here for you,'” Cody recalled.
Years later, Hayes inspired Cody to pursue his love of music by the present. “I used to be making music and Invoice mentioned to me, ‘Why do not you make it on the present? We’re doing a music selection present. [within the show]. You possibly can be a part of an orchestra. That was the primary time I used to be truly on a set,” Cody recalled.
Hayes was instrumental in inspiring the present’s writers to develop Doug’s function. His character is launched within the present as a convicted con man who shares a cell with one other key character, Invoice Horton, performed by Ed Mallory. Hayes’ abilities as an actor allowed the writers to do extra with the characters and storylines. “We now have much more characters than we initially deliberate,” “Days” head author William J. Bell advised Maureen Russell in Maureen Russell’s 1994 e-book, “Days of Our Lives: The Final of Us.” The creator is advised in The Full Historical past of Cleaning soap Operas.
Hayes enjoys enjoying a nuanced and unpredictable character. “You by no means know if [Doug] Assist a lady cross the road and be type or unclasp her bra as they cross,” Hayes tells Russell within the e-book.
The present’s writers did not initially plan to pair Doug with Susan Seaforth’s Julie, however after seeing the chemistry between Hayes and Seaforth, the writers knew they’d an ideal couple on their arms. .
Hayes had 5 kids along with his first spouse, Mary Hobbs. The couple divorced in 1969. Characters on cleaning soap operas might discover their future spouses at lightning pace, however in actual life, Hayes does not plan on getting married once more anytime quickly. Seaforth and Hayes met on the present in 1970 when she entered right into a long-term relationship with a neighborhood information anchor.
“Two hours of reports a day — life may be very critical,” Seaforth Hayes mentioned within the 2010 movie “Tailworld: The Invoice Hayes Story,” directed by Hayes’ grandson Dave Dave Samuel serves as govt producer, producer and narrator Hayes.
Seavers Hayes recalled that after they began sharing scenes in Days, Invoice was at all times the visitor of honor at dinner events. Finally, the 2 could not deny their budding romance.
“We went to the opera one night time and requested one another, ‘Is that this a date?'” Hayes mentioned. “I feel we each fell in love. I did not wish to see it. I used to be nonetheless in protecting mode.” Seaforth Hayes recalled: “I made myself indispensable as a result of he was too well mannered to say, ‘Go away. ‘.” Seaforth Hayes mentioned. Impressed by his mother and father’ 50-year marriage, Hayes got here to phrases along with his breakup from his first spouse and agreed to present marriage one other strive. “An enormous weight lifted off me,” he remembers of that second. “I mentioned to Susan, ‘How a few week beginning on Saturday?'” They had been married on October 12, 1974. Two years later, they married once more on tv.
Doug and Julie’s wedding ceremony occurred on “Days” in 1976 and was watched by roughly 16 million viewers. After the present aired, an estimated 4,000 followers confirmed as much as the Burbank studio to satisfy and greet the bride and groom.
The primary daytime TV pair appeared on the duvet of Time journal on January 12, 1976, serving to to develop the cleaning soap opera’s viewers – a degree of recognition that was a milestone for the couple and the tv business on the time . “I keep in mind strolling by the airport within the ’70s and seeing them on the duvet of Time journal,” Cody recalled. “They’ve arrived, and it is by no means actually stopped.”
Doug and Julie drove the romance storyline all through the Seventies and into the early Nineteen Eighties on “Days.” Nonetheless, Doug then turns to a cussed father who’s attempting to maintain his daughter Hope (Christian Alfonso) away from the rebellious Beau Brady (Peter Recker). Doug suffers a coronary heart assault after catching the 2 having intercourse. Off-screen, Hayes and Recker had a extra cordial relationship. Recker admired Hayes’ life and profession, which included service within the Military Air Forces throughout World Struggle II and starring roles in Broadway and touring stage musicals earlier than touchdown a task in “Days.”
“We had thrilling moments collectively on the present, however what actually moved me was listening to his story,” Recker recalled in an X submit after Hayes’ demise. “Being a army pilot, having nice celebrations with my household, collaborating in lots of musicals. Limitless expertise, vitality and spirit.”
The Hayes left “Days” in 1984 as a consequence of a contract dispute, but it surely wasn’t lengthy earlier than they started returning to the present at various lengths.
“It is confirmed… that Days of Our Lives is synonymous with Invoice and Susan,” mentioned “Days” actor James Reynolds.
The couple was thrust into the highlight once more in 2004 when Doug was murdered by the Salem Serial Killer. The killer stalks the fictional city of Salem, Illinois, the place the present is filmed. Hayes, who was in his 60s on the time, did a lot of the stunts himself whereas Doug valiantly fought to avoid wasting his life. Doug seems to Julie in spirit kind and guarantees to like her endlessly. (Fortuitously, as TV destiny would have it, Doug and the opposite victims of the killer had been ultimately revealed to be residing in secret on a mysterious island.)
In 2005, Invoice and Susan revealed their memoir, Like Sand in an Hourglass.
“What a golden journey it has been…a lifetime of years of labor, desires and really shared love,” Hayes wrote. “I like Susan a lot and I do know she loves me too.”
Within the “World of Tails” documentary, Hayes displays on his most memorable achievements. “I’ve a couple of issues to be happy with – Broadway, ‘Your Present’, gold information [for his rendition of ‘The Ballad of Davy Crocket’] And the fantastic individuals I’ve labored with. I am happy with all this,” he mentioned. “What’s extra vital in my life than all of the accolades is that I actually get pleasure from my household. I’ve acquired the world on my tail.”
Doug, performed by Invoice Hayes, will proceed to look in Days episodes by June of this yr, because the present’s episodes are about 50% forward of their air dates as a result of each day collection’ tight filming schedule. Six months within the making. However Hayes by no means appeared to tire of the drudgery.
“Invoice was the closest factor to a saint I’ve ever met—and he was,” Ken Cody mentioned. “Mr. Hayes had saintly qualities. Certainly. He leaves behind a beautiful legacy of affection, professionalism and household.”
(Pictured: Invoice Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes at a e-book signing in Birmingham, Alabama, 2013.)
