Days Of Our Lives
Stars from Kristian Alfonso to Bryan Cranston Share Reactions on the Death of Days of our Lives Star Bill Hayes
The world of soap operas and entertainment is mourning today the loss of Days of our Lives’ legendary star, Bill Hayes who passed away on January 12th at the age of 98 years old.
To say that Bill was beloved is an understatement, as for over five decades he portrayed Days of our Lives‘ con man-turned-good guy, Doug Williams. As life imitated art, in one of the glorious love stories of the soaps, Bill married his co-star, Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie) in 1974, and they had been together up till his death.
Tributes, reactions and memories have been pouring onto social media over the last 14 hours. Below are the touching words of just some of the castmates and colleagues of Hayes’ through the years, who took some time to honor this legendary star. Michael Fairman TV will continue to update this post as more reactions are shared.

Photo: JPI
Nadia Bjorlin: “Bill, you were an incredible talent & true gentleman. I am honored to have known you & worked with you. You were loved by so many, & my heart goes out to your amazing wife Susan & the entire Hayes family. Heaven is a little bit brighter now.”
Kassie DePaiva: “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.”

Photo: JPI
Galen Gering: “Loved this man and truly thought he’d outlast us all. A man full of light, infectious energy and love of his craft. What an inspiration of a life well lived. Rest in power Bill.”
Kristian Alfonso: “You will forever be in my Billy .Thank u for welcoming me,the girl frm Boston with warm open arms on my 1st day&all of the days that followed for the love &support u always gave me . How completely blessed I was 2 work with u 2know u 2 learn frm u. You were a true Icon. Love you”
Farah Fath Galfond: “There’s nice people and then there’s NICE NICE people. Bill Hayes was NICE NICE. He and Susan left a lasting impression on me for many years. They radiated kindness, love, & gratitude every time I was around them. My condolences go out to Susan and all those who loved him.”

Photo: JPI
Tina Andrews: “This hurts. My Days Of Our Lives costar, Bill Hayes, 98, is dead. What a decent, loving man. He & wife Susan Seaforth Hayes were wonderful to me when I came on the show. Condolences to his family & fans.”

Photo: JPI
Bryan Cranston: “One of my first professional acting jobs was on Days of Our Lives. It was 1980 and I won a 3 day gig on the show. My first day was a disaster. I failed to fully extend the stem on my alarm clock and missed my call time…Panicked, I raced to NBC and arrived over two hours late…I was embarrassed, and failed in my first attempt at making a positive impression. I missed the rehearsal of my two scenes, and the irritated stage manager arranged for an assistant to give me a quick review of the blocking, then I was on my own. Trying not to fall into a shame spiral, I was alone in my tiny dressing room when there was a knock on the door. I opened it to see Bill Hayes – the star of the show. For a moment I thought he was coming to fire me personally! Instead, he said some comforting words, commiserating with my situation, and asked if I wanted to know the backstory to the character and the scene. I was shocked. He spent 20 minutes helping a stranger to feel a little less humiliated. He really cheered me up. I will never forget his kindness and patience. From that moment, I think of Bill whenever I see an actor in need. Bill Hayes was a Prince, and a damn fine actor. Rest now, Bill, and thank you.”

Photo: JPI
Alison Sweeney: “Bill was such a beautiful human. He brought joy, grace and talent to everything he touched. I was blessed to know him.”
Wesley Eure: It is with great sadness I report that the talented and most loving man, Bill Hayes, has passed away. This really hurts! Bill and his wife Susan have been dear friends since my days on Days Of Our Lives over 50 years ago! What joy and friendship we have shared. Bill was to everyone…just amazing. He had the biggest heart and a gentle kindness that captivated a room. When I was a kid one of my favorite songs was “Davey Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier”. I would later learn it was Bill who sang it during his years as the “boy singer” on Show Of Shows! I was lucky to spend an afternoon with Bill and Susan at their home two Easters ago. When I arrived, Bill was dapperly dressed and full of love. Bill and Susan’s love story is a soap opera legend! It has lasted over a half century! They met on the soap, got married in real life and on TV, were on the cover of Time Magazine, and until a few weeks ago Bill was still showing up for work at NBC at age 96!” To be a guest in their home was an honor. My heart deeply grieves for Susan and their family today. I can’t truly put into words how sad I am at the passing of this great man….Rest in Peace dear friend.”

Photo: JPI
Colleen Zenk: “I am heartsick. I heard last night that my dear friend, Bill Hayes is gone. Bill lived a full, full life of 98 years. He and his beautiful bride, Susan Seaforth Hayes, were a force unto themselves. Unbelievable talent, love, and wisdom. And they shared it. I am at a loss for words. My heart goes out to his huge family of children, and all of their children. What a gift he was to all who knew him… both personally and through his immense talent that he shared with all of us…. I love you, Bill Hayes… The angels are awaiting their favorite song-and-dance man… (I’m putting our Sondheim’s “FOLLIES” DVD on right now, ‘Buddy’)”
Matthew Ashford: Dear Bill- music informed your whole life. You always had a song on your lips and a song in your heart. The last time I saw you, asked me to sing for you. We worked together on a “ soap OPERA .” Now you are singing with the music of the spheres. I love you and will miss you.”

Photo: JPI
Peter Reckell: “Bo and Hope followed in the Footsteps of Doug and Julie. Bill was a mentor, a friend, and I’m so thankful to have been lucky enough to have him in my life. His boundless, loving, heart was always open to everyone. We had powerful moments together on the show, but what really touched me was listening to his stories. Being a pilot in the military, huge celebrations with his family, the many musicals he was in. Boundless talent, energy, and spirit.”
Stephen Nichols: “Bill Hayes, you were a beautiful human being. Little did I know that our association would begin when I was 5 yrs old watching my favorite TV show and singing along with you! … ”Da-vy, Da-vy Crocket, king of the wild frontier,” and that we would cross paths many years later on Days of Our Lives. You were and will remain an inspiration. Your work ethic, your childlike spirit, your love for Susan and your family and especially your kindness touched me and so many others. Thanks, Bill, for your beautiful example. Rest easy, Dear sir.”

Photo: RCarlivatiIG
Ron Carlivati: “It has been an honor and a privilege, and one of the great joys of my life, to write for Mr. Bill Hayes, who played ex-con turned song-and-dance man Doug Williams on Days of our Lives for over 50 years, and passed away yesterday at the age of 98. Bill was a kind and generous person and a talented actor, who at 97 agreed to wear glowing contact lenses so the Devil could come back to Salem after 25 years and possess Marlena Evans. Sending love and condolences to all his friends and family, especially his wife and screen partner Susan. RIP to a legend.”
Sending our love and condolences to dear Susan, Bill’s family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.
Let us know your thoughts on the touching tributes being shared on the loss of Bill Hayes via the comment section below.
It’s amazing how many people truly were touch by this man. Not just an amazing singer and actor BUT a kind and wonderful giving human. The world is at a loss with his passing! May Susan and his family be lifted by the love and support from so many people. RIP Mr. Hayes!
Loved him and Susan on the cover of Time in the mid 70s with the caption “Soap Operas — Sex and Suffering in the Afternoon” when soaps and DAYS were red-hot. The word iconic is thrown around all the time but THAT was iconic. RIP darling man.
My heart goes out to Susan. I lost my husband of 60 years, I can understand what she’s going through. God bless The Hayes family.
I met Bill and his wife Susan in 2005 in Florida. They are as wonderful & lovely offscreen as they are onscreen. Legendary. RIP Bill Hayes.
I was so sad to hear that Bill passed away. I thought he looked frail, but even with that he had stamina like no one I have seen. 98 and still going strong. Condolences to Susan and Family. The 2 of them were one of the main reasons I keep watching.
I was a fan of Bill Hayes long before I knew Days of Our Lives. One of my first records as a child was The Ballad of Davy Crockett. Somewhere in heaven, he and Robert Clary are singing a duet.
Thoughts and prayers to his wife and family. I remember my mom watching Doug and Julie on Days of Our Lives in the 70s when I was a kid. I also remember Bill and his wife coming to Bristol Tennessee at WCYB TV either in the late 70s or early 80s to help with a fundraiser for the Dawn of Hope Center which helped individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I had an older cousin who went to the Dawn of Hope. It shows you what the character of they were especially Bill and that he would come to a little tiny town and help raise money for an organization such as the Dawn of Hope. Class Act he was.
Saddened by this loss to so many of us, not only his family but all the millions of fans. I’ve watched him from the beginning, thoroughly enjoying his crazy antics, his romancing Julie, on and off screen and anything else he had to offer, too numerous to mention, but all his fans know what his many talents were. Thanks Bill, for the memories.
Bill touched so many people, in person and through the TV screen. I was lucky to meet Bill and Susan at a book signing years ago. They were both so lovely. My condolences to Susan and his family. RIP Bill
Breaking News
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Presenters Announced

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).

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

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.

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

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.

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.”

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.”

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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