Bill Hayes Death: How Did Bill Hayes Die?: American actor and recording artist, Bill Hayes, known for portraying Doug Williams on “Days Of Our Lives” for over five decades has died, aged 98

Bill Hayes Death: How Did Bill Hayes Die?

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of our beloved Bill Hayes,” a representative for the NBC show confirmed in a statement but his cause of death was not disclosed making it unknown whether he battled any form of illness.

Born in 1925, Hayes began his career as a musician and eventually had a hit with The Ballad of Davy Crockett.

Following a successful music career, he began focusing on acting and then landed his most notable role on NBC’s Days of Our Lives in 1970 as a convict who was also a lounge singer.

He went on to portray the character of Doug Williams on and off over the next 50 years, through to 2023. His character was one of the longest-running characters in the series’ history, appearing in over 2,000 episodes, and was twice nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award, first in 1975 and again in 1976.

In June 2023, Hayes celebrated his 98th birthday on the set of the American daytime soap surrounded by co-stars.

In a tribute, Days vet Kristian Alfonso, who played Hayes’ on-screen daughter Hope, shared on Instagram, “You will forever be in my heart Billy. Thank you for welcoming me ,the girl from Boston with warm open arms on my 1st day and all of the days that followed ,for the love and support you always gave me . How completely blessed I was to work with you to know you to learn from you . You were a true Icon . My heart is broken. Love You”

An X user tweeted; “My heart is saddened this morning to read of this amazing man’s passing. Bill is one of the kindest and sweetest people I have ever met. My thoughts of comfort are with Susan and all the Days fans that have lost a friend. RIP dear man”

Days executive producer Ken Corday wrote: “I have known Bill for most of my life and he embodied the heart and soul of Days of our Lives. Although we are grieving and will miss him, Bill’s indelible legacy will live on in our hearts and the stories we tell, both on and off the screen”