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DAYS Susan Seaforth Hayes Talks Days 60, The ‘Thelma & Louise’ Storyline She Would Love to Tell, Lamon Archey’s Touching Gift in Remembrance of Bill Hayes (Exclusive)

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: JPI

This month, Days of our Lives is celebrating their 60th anniversary having premiered back on November 8, 1965. Its current longest-running cast member is Susan Seaforth Hayes, who was the fourth recast to play the role of Julie Olson back in 1968, but the one that sticked! Now, she will be coming up on her 57th year in the role come December.

Susan visited the Michael Fairman Channel where she reflected on a myriad of subjects tied to the 60th celebration, plus her own real-life/TV-life love story with the late Bill Hayes as soap opera’s first super couple, Doug and Julie Williams.

It’s been a tough couple of years for Seaforth Hayes. First, losing her beloved Bill back in January 2024 at 98-years old, and earlier this year, losing her dear friend and former DAYS co-star, Denise Alexander at 84 (ex-Susan Martin, DAYS, ex-Lesley, GH). She reflects on those unforgettable relationships during our discussion.

Photo: NBC

For the 60th anniversary week of episodes, that recently streamed on DAYS home on Peacock, it centered on the dedication of the Tom Horton (MacDonald Carey) Free Clinic, which brought back together Hortons, past and present for the gala, which included the returns of her on-screen grandson, Lamon Archey (Eli Grant) and TV brother, Stephen Schnetzer (Steve) and more.

TV GRANDSON

In a very touching moment during our chat, the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, explained how highly she regards, Archey, including a gift he presented her with following the death of Bill Hayes. Susan explained, “Lamon is so beautiful. So, that’s the physical side. I got to know him, and always enjoyed doing our scenes together, because we had a couple of good storylines together to play. Then, Billy passed. Lamon gave me a wind chime that says, ‘Every time this plays, remember me,’ for Billy and it hangs in my garden. And whenever I go by it, I thank him again. I’m always happy to see him back on the show with Sal Stowers (Lani), who is also just walking and talking goddess of beauty charm and talent. I love that couple. I love that they’re on the show.”

Photo: JPI

With countless storylines over nearly six decades, Susan recalls several to us including Julie’s facial burns and disfigurement written by her mother, Elizabeth Harrower, who at one-time was the head writer of Days of our Lives, and the classic Addie/Doug/Julie triangle where Doug wound up marrying Julie’s mother, played by Patricia Barry, and having a child with her, none other than Hope Williams (Kristian Alfonso). Yet, there is still something else Susan says she would love to play.

THELMA & LOUISE SOAP STYLE

“I enjoy working with Deidre Hall (Marlena). We’ve become very close friends,” shares Seaforth Hayes. “I would like to see these two ladies of a certain age and of a wide range of experience to go off and have an adventure, where something goes wrong. I loved the film, Thelma & Louise (which starred Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon). I loved that story of people who are driven by outside events, who are aspiring to something more, aspiring to something else. Even at this time in our lives.”

Photo: JPI

Susan continued, “I think that’s the secret of any character. Yes, they’re in a plot. Yes, they’re in a set, and yes, they have a family, but do they have dreams? Do they have aspirations? Do they have hopes of something you can’t quite see that they’re driven to go after? So, I would love to see Julie and Marlena go off and have an adventure, and if Steven Schnetzer turned up and it was all his fault, that would be perfect!”

Now below, check out our full conversation with the Days of our Lives legend, Susan Seaforth Hayes, who tells us fascinating behind the scenes stories plus working with another TV icon, Dick Van Dyke (ex-Timothy Robicheaux) and more.

Would you like to see a Thelma & Louise style adventure story for Julie and Marlena? Were you touched by Susan’s sentiments in the interview on Lamon Archey, Bill Hayes and Denise Alexander? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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Michael, this interview was marvelous! Seaforth Hayes is introspective, witty, and charming. It’s evident how much of her personality is infused into the character of Julie. As a former long-term viewer of GH and fan of Denise Alexander, it was gratifying to hear her (and your) impressions of her. The tenure of Seaforth Hayes is unparalleled. She is a living time capsule of the genre. And she is so respectful of, and enthusiastic over, her colleagues. What a generous spirit and colleague!

Beautifully said and I couldn’t agree more. Susan is the epitome of elegance and class.

James…exactly, Brother!!!!! To me, Susan Seaforth Hayes has always been A CLASS ACT!!!!! Oh…and Denise Alexander was always a class act as well.

Catch ya’ later, Brother.

Susan Seaforth Hayes got me hooked on Days of Our Lives when I was only 11 in 1973. I’ve been watching for 52 years.
Doug and Julie on the Time magazine cover was so exciting! What a power couple!
This interview was stellar Michael. Thank you.

She is still as beautiful, witty and full of life, after everything she has endured. Happy early anniversary!

That would be AWESOME!!!

Just love her. She brightens up my TV every time she’s on.

Love the character. Always have. No Thelma and Louise story though. I’d rather see her do mystery or comedy storyline like the First Wives Club or the old Snoop sister mystery movies with her Maggie and Paulina. I love Steve Olsen being back. He is such a bad boy. He would be a perfect biological father for Sophia to come back. You know Julie. She accept her in the tribe immediately and a Horton is never wrong.

Steve Olsen isn’t going to be Sophia’s father. Though he could very well be her baby’s grandfather. You have noticed the resemblance between Steven and Aaron Greene & his brother Mark, right?

Their father supposedly died, but we are talking Salem here, where death is rarely permanent. And iot doesn’t seem likely that they would drop in this whole family of siblings (Mark, Aaron, and their sisters Cat & Felicity) and NOT tie them to at least one of the “core” families. And Hell only knows, the Horton family tree was long overdue for a new branch.

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53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Presenters Announced

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Daytime Emmy Presenters

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) revealed on Thursday, the lineup of presenters for 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards taking place on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California.

The ceremony will stream live on the NATAS YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@theemmys and watch.TheEmmys.tv.

Scheduled to present from the current soaps are: Katelyn MacMullen (Willow, General Hospital), Delon de Metz (Zende, The Bold and the Beautiful), James Preston (Nick, The Bay), Paul Telfer (Xander, Days of our Lives), Tamara Tunie (Anita, Beyond the Gates) and Susan Walters (Diane, The Young and the Restless).

Genie Francis

Photo: NATAS

In addition soap alums, Crystal Chappell, Lesli Kay, Joe Lando, Eva LaRue, who is also a nominee this year,  A Martinez, Juliet Mills, and Alicia Leigh Willis, will also be on hand to present.

The ceremony which celebrates nominated lifestyle programs and dramas will also include presenters: Eva zu Beck (Superskilled with Eva zu Beck), Danielle Chang (Lucky Chow), Sunny Hostin (The View), Derek Hough (Extra), Pati Jinich (Pati’s Mexican Table), Star Jones (Divorce Court), Michael Jr. (Stand Up and Do Something), Judge Greg Mathis (Mathis Court with Judge Mathis), Keke Palmer (Glam Through the Ages), Nischelle Turner (Entertainment Tonight), and Andrew Zimmern (Andrew Zimmern’s Wild Game Kitchen).

The 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards will bring together an exciting mix of presenters representing the full spectrum of daytime television,” said Adam Sharp, President & CEO of NATAS. “From familiar faces in daytime drama to the personalities and creative voices behind talk shows and lifestyle programming, this year’s lineup reflects the breadth of talent that makes daytime so special. We look forward to celebrating the people who continue to shape the genre.”

Matthew Hoffman (Love Island USA, Cheap A$$ Beach Houses) will serve as the ceremony’s Voice of God, bringing his signature comedic narration to the evening’s celebrations. As previously announced, Lifetime Achievement honoree Genie Francis (Laura, General Hospital) will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by her husband, Jonathan Frakes.

So, what do you think about the list of presenters for the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards? Let us know who you are looking forward to seeing via the comment section below.

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Days Of Our Lives

‘Days of our Lives’ Reveals Kyle Pryor Cast as Dominic Marino

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Kyle Pryor

For months now, Days of our Lives has teased the character of Dominic Marino. In recent weeks, viewers learned that Marino is on the down low working with Sami Brady’s (Alison Sweeney) apparent fiancé ‘Dante Vitali (Franco LoPresti), and that he is the never-before-heard-of child of Stefano DiMera (the late Joseph Mascolo) and Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall)!

Up until now, the Peacock streaming soap opera has never revealed his face, but that all seemed to change on the Tuesday, October 2o episode of DAYS. In story, Dante met Sami’s parents for the first time, Roman (Josh Taylor) and Marlena.

He shows them a photo of Dominic, which he happened to have on his own phone and even commented he kind of looked like he could be Marlena’s son. The photo, which has quickly made it around Soap Twitter/X, revealed that British-born actor Kyle Pryor is the man in the photo and eagle-eyed viewers actually located said photo on Pryor’s Instagram.

Dominix

Photo: Peacock

Deadline revealed Pryor started taping at the end of 2025 and will first be seen in the role, on air Monday, November 2.  In addition, Days will celebrate its 61st Anniversary with two special episodes featuring Dominic’s arrival, as well the returns of Tony and Anna DiMera, played respectively by Thaao Penghlis and Leann Hunley, on Friday, November 6 and Monday, November 9.

Those in the know, are are that Pryor previously held series regular roles on Australia’s Home and Away, and the UK’s Hollyoaks and guest starred on Emmerdale. In an ironic twist, Pryor appeared in the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand which is the same action series his apparent TV brother, Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera), once appeared in before coming to DAYS.

So excited to see Kyle Pryor take on the role of Dominic Marino as Days of our Lives sets its anniversary story to kick-off with is arrival in Salem? Share your thoughts in the comment section. And in case you missed our latest conversation with Conner Floyd (Chad DiMera) he weighs-in on how Dominic’s appearance will shake things up in Salem. You can check that out below.

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Days Of Our Lives

Days of our Lives’ Conner Floyd Talks Dominic Marino Mystery, Chad and Belle, and Susan Seaforth Hayes (Exclusive)

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Conner Floyd

Fasten your seat belts Days of our Lives fans, as the mystery of Dominic Marino continues to unravel on all-new episodes of the Peacock streaming soap opera. Last week, Chad DiMera (Conner Floyd) learned that he may have a half-brother, who may be the biological child of his father, the late Stefano DiMera (the late Joseph Mascolo) and Dr. Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall), giving him great pause, because he knows Stefano had kidnapped Marlena for four years back in the late 80s and early 90s.

Chad has already been hunting down clues with his current girlfriend Belle Black (Martha Madison) in Italy and Salem, which revealed a photo of a young boy with Stefano with the date 1992 on the back of it, hidden inside Stefano’s chess set. So, what’s next?

Conner Floyd chatted on the Michael Fairman Channel in a new virtual interview released on Sunday, October 18, where he spoke on what the new addition to the DiMera family could do to the already dangerous sibling rivalries, the state of Chad’s relationship with Belle and much more.

EJ and Chad

Photo: JPI

DIMERA RIVALRY

After finding out from EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) that Dominic Marino could be the never-before-heard-of child of Stefano and Marlena, Conner Floyd explained, “I think it blows Chad’s mind a little bit. I think there’s a lot of things working there with old Chad. Obviously, bringing in another DiMera could cause some noise and the whole situation with Marlena’s a little awkward as well because he’s dating Belle, so this could cause a little tiff there. I think his head’s spinning and he does not know what to expect, but I also think he kind of expects that from Stefano, for sure.”

As to how this will change and color Chad’s relationship with EJ, Floyd responded, “Chad knows EJ’s not happy about it and I think he’s going to be real upset if this gets in his way of doing what he wants to do with the DiMera legacy and all that. However, for Chad, I think he’s just going to keep a sharp eye, see what this guy’s about, see if he’s here to cause some trouble or here to be a friend and kinda play it by ear.”

Belle and Chad

Photo: JPI

BELLE OF MY HEART

With Chad and Belle already being sleuths, Floyd says, you can look for the duo to continue getting to the truth. “I think Chad and Belle are committed to this. They’re going full National Treasure, Nicolas Cage,” says Conner. “They’re going to follow the clues. They’re going to get some answers.”

Since beginning in the role of Chad in June of 2025 and debuting on-screen back in April of 2026, the former Y&R star (where he played Chance Chancellor), says it was Madison who helped him get comfortable in his new surroundings.

“Martha is phenomenal. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to get tagged up with when I started here, just because she knows everybody,” shares Floyd. “She knows where to go, who to talk to. She’ll get the tea if you want, and so it was kind of cool. Martha took me under her wing, showed me the ropes. She’s a sweetheart.  I love working with her too. She’s a great actress.”

But, is Chad in love with Belle after such a tortured past with his beloved Abigail Deveraux DiMera? Floyd thinks so! “I think he’s into it. They’re such good friends and they have such a rich history. I think he’s in for the ride. You know, it’s one of those things you probably overlook at first and then they reconnected, and it feels easy and they’re going on these fun adventures.”

MAKING CHAD HIS OWN

Conner had the arduous task of being the successor to Billy Flynn in the role of Chad.. Flynn had played the part for 12 years before deciding to exit and head to Y&R. So, how did Conner approach learning the ins and out of Chad? Floyd shared, “I really dove into Chad when I first got this job. I liked that he kind of walks this tightrope of DiMera and not DiMera, you know. He want to so honor his family roots and really do something for the DiMera family, but he doesn’t want to fall into that trap that all the other DiMera have found themselves in. Chad is a DiMera at heart. He’s got those demons, but he’s just trying to keep them contained.”

Susan Seaforth Hayes

Photo: JPI

ICONIC

When Floyd got to DAYS, it was none other than Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie Williams) who most surprised him in the most delightful way, given that he knew Hayes was a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and the current longest-running cast member on the canvas.

“I love working with Susan Hayes! I love her. She’s a sweetheart. Susan is one of the nicest people there. I just thought she was cool and it’s Susan Hayes, you know?  We’ve had a lot of scenes together, which is nice,” explained Conner.

“We’ll go to her dressing room, we’ll run our scenes, and then we’ll spend about an hour just talking about life and she’ll tell me about a book she’s reading. She’s such a history buff, which blows my mind. She’ll start dropping all these historical facts on me. I learn something new by the time I walk out of her dressing room every time!”

Now below, check out the full conversation with Conner Floyd via the Michael Fairman Channel.

Weigh-in: Do you like Chad and Belle as couple? Do you think Chad will get to the bottom of the Dominic Marino mystery? If so, do you think Dominic is truly Stefano and Marlena’s son … and what about Rita (Maggie Carney) in all this? Let us know your theories in the comment section.

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