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<\/a>Hayes was born in Harvey, Illinois, in 1925. Before becoming an actor, he started a career of a musician and a performer, reaching a Billboard chart-topping hit with\u00a0The Ballad of Davy Crockett\u00a0<\/em>in 1955.<\/p>\n In 1953, Hayes had his Broadway debut in\u00a0Me and Juliet<\/em>\u00a0and over the course of a decade he appeared in a number of productions.<\/p>\n By 1970, Hayes, a divorced father of five, was hoping to land a role closer to home when he joined the cast of\u00a0Days of Our Lives<\/em>, a decision that would define his career and endear him to millions of viewers.<\/p>\n It was on set that he met the great love of his life, actress Susan Seaforth, who played Julie Williams. Their on-screen chemistry translated into real life and the two tied the knot in 1974. They stayed together until Hayes\u2019 passing.<\/p>\n Speaking of the instant connection they felt when they laid eyes on each other, Seaforth once said, \u201cI\u2019d seen enough to know that he was special.\u201d Others could also see their unexplained connection. \u201cWe had a scene together shortly after meeting, and the head writer saw something going on between the two of us, just two people looking at each other, and he threw out the other plot lines he had for our characters,\u201d\u00a0she added.<\/p>\n Hayes and Seaforth Hayes were both honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 2018 Daytime Emmys for their enduring contributions to television. The couple\u2019s acceptance speech was heartfelt, with Bill expressing gratitude for the fans who considered them part of their own lives.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>