Bill Hayes (actor)
Bill Hayes | |
|---|---|
Hayes in 1976 | |
| Born | William Foster Hayes III June 5, 1925 Harvey, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | January 12, 2024 (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 | |
| 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.