Soap Hub Performer of the Week for Days of our Lives: Bill Hayes

“Can we please just focus on our blessings?” Leave it to Doug Williams to get to the heart of the matter. For that, and a plethora of other heartfelt and comedic moments, Soap Hub bestows upon Days of our Lives star Bill Hayes our Performer of the Week Award.

Bill Hayes: Performer of the Week

There’s only one man alive with enough gumption to tell Julie Horton Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) to quit it, to stifle, and to give thanks for the favors bestowed upon her – and that’s Doug.

He had absolutely no time for her complaints about Xander’s (Paul Telfer) besmirching Alice’s antique sofa or the vitriol that Gwen (Emily O’Brien) spat her way. And he wasn’t about to agree with her that Jack (Matthew Ashford) should be made to choose between his daughters.

And like it or not, and Julie did not like it, he was absolutely right – a sentiment she also shared. Julie took stock of her life, then thanked her lucky stars to have a man such as Doug in her life — and viewers are grateful to have an actor like Bill Hayes to enjoy.

The couple then set off for the hospital to visit their granddaughter, and Hayes deftly portrayed Doug’s desire to comfort Ciara (Victoria Konefal) in the way prescribed by doctors, while at the same time struggling with the notion of keeping her in the dark where Ben (Robert Scott Wilson) was concerned.

Doug’s an old romantic at heart, and it’s a condition that has gotten him into trouble many a time. He managed to stay mum…but only just. And Ben’s heartache loomed large on his conscience.

Next, Doug accompanied Julie to the christening of Eli (Lamon Archey) and Lani’s (Sal Stowers) twins, where he made the acquaintance of the one and only Paulina Price (Jackée Harry).

He was tickled pink by her assertion that he was a silver fox, and though he knew that she was playfully teasing him, Doug still agreed to continue doing, “whatever it is, [he’s] doing,” to keep his, “95 years old and counting,” self going strong.

Not only did Hayes, and by extension Doug, effortlessly steal the spotlight each and every time he was on the scene, he also imparted to the viewing public some hard-earned wisdom: “We’ve gotta choose to live in the light, not the dark.” Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes.