Gloria Loring Among ‘DOOL’ Alums Returning To Honor Bill Hayes
Days Of Our Lives is pulling out all the stops to honor the legendary Bill Hayes. Gloria Loring is among the alums returning to say goodbye. Keep reading for more on which soap star vets are returning to Salem for the tribute.
Soap Fans Prepare For Emotional Farewell To Beloved Actor
Bill Hayes had a lengthy and memorable career, but his most known role is as Doug Williams on the daytime drama Days Of Our Lives. He first joined the sudser in 1970. He played the role off-and-on for over 50 years. He met his future wife, Susan Seaforth Hayes, during his first year on DOOL. The couple married in 1974 and effortlessly played married couple Doug and Julie Williams on the soap for decades.
Bill Hayes passed away at age 98 in early 2024. Fans were absolutely devastated by the news. Because of the show’s long filming schedule, his last appearance as Doug Williams on Days of Our Lives aired on December 22, 2023.
The NBC/Peacock soap has yet to reveal how exactly they plan to write Bill Hayes off the show, but it will likely involve the fictional Doug Williams passing away.
Gloria Loring Among DOOL Alums Returning To Honor Bill Hayes
General Hospital honored the late actress Jackie Zeman by bringing back beloved characters for Bobbie Spencer’s funeral. It seems Days of Our Lives is following a similar path to honor Bill Hayes.
Actor Stephen Schnetzer is slated to bring Steve Olson back to DOOL this fall for Doug Williams’s exit storyline. The actor is most known as Cass on the canceled soap Another World, but he got his start in daytime on DOOL. He only played Julie Williams’s brother for a year, but Stephen announced on The Locher Room YouTube channel that he is reprising the role. He said that he will film his scenes next week.
Gloria Loring had a much longer run on DOOL. She played Liz Chandler from 1980-1986. The actress is back after a three-decade-long absence.
OMG, Gloria Loring is coming back!! 😍😍 #Days pic.twitter.com/ExqSygJ4tl
— Hall ♟️ Monitor (@aoii92) April 5, 2024
Soap Opera Digest reminds fans of Liz’s connection to Doug Williams. “She had a few romances, including Don Craig (Jed Allan) and a past marriage with Tony DiMera (Thaao Penghlis), but it was her romance with Neil Curtis (Joe Gallison) that endeared her to fans. She also went toe-to-toe with Stefano, who forced Liz to spy on Doug.”
Beloved DOOL actress Deidre Hall spilled the beans about Gloria Loring’s return.
What About Bo & Hope?
While Liz Chandler and Steve Olson are important characters in Doug Williams’s history, they aren’t the only ones fans want to see return to Salem. Fans don’t see how the show can honor either Doug Williams or Bill Hayes without bringing back Peter Reckell and Kristian Alfonso as Bo and Hope, Doug’s daughter.
#DAYS Do you think Bo & Hope will make a return for Doug's funeral? I would think they would want to be a part of sending their co-star and friend off so I think they most likely will.
— Dayzed&ConfuzedInSalem (@dayzedconfuzed) April 6, 2024
Neither actor has announced their return, but fans are still hoping the soap will bring them both back.
Are you excited to see Gloria Loring back at DOOL, even under such sad circumstances? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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