Bill Hayes (actor)

Bill Hayes
Hayes in 1976
Born	William Foster Hayes III (1925-06-05)June 5, 1925 Harvey, Illinois, U.S.
Died	January 12, 2024(2024-01-12) (aged 98) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actor, singer
Years active	1948–2024
Known for	Days of Our Lives as Doug Williams
Spouses	Mary Hobbs ​ ​ (m. 1947; div. 1969)​ Susan Seaforth ​ ​ (m. 1974⁠–⁠2024)​
Children	5

William Foster Hayes III (June 5, 1925 – January 12, 2024) was an American actor and recording artist. His song "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" hit the top of the Billboard charts between March and May 1955.

Following a successful career as a musician that began in the late 1940s, Hayes began to focus on dramatic acting parts in the late 1960s, which led him to be cast in a role that gained him additional fame to a younger generation. This new chapter began in 1970 when he originated the character of Doug Williams on NBC's Days of Our Lives; the character's final appearance on the program was streamed posthumously on Peacock on July 11, 2024.