New Details of DAYS OF OUR LIVES Tribute Episodes for Bill Hayes

The entertainment community was devastated by the passing of Bill Hayes on January 12. And while his DAYS OF OUR LIVES co-stars shared heartfelt tributes to their dear friend and the daytime icon was remembered at a memorial service, the passing of his character, Doug Williams, has not yet been addressed on the soap. 

Given that DAYS tapes episodes many months in advance of when they stream on Peacock, it will be quite some time before the soap deals with Hayes’ passing on screen. However, recent reports that Stephen Schnetzer will be reprising his role of Julie’s brother, Steve Olson, and Gloria Loring returning as Liz Chandler, it’s clear that the show is planning something very special.

“With Bill Hayes’ passing, the show is doing a special celebration for the life and memory of the character he portrayed for so many years,” a DAYS spokesperson told Soap Opera Digest. “‘Doug William’s’ funeral is giving us the opportunity to welcome some important and fan-favorite legacy characters back to Salem, including Gloria Loring, Stephen Schnetzer, and more. The episodes taping this week include Doug’s funeral and the historic 15,000th episode. They will not air until December 2024.”

While fans will have to wait eight months for the 15,000th episode of DAYS and Doug’s funeral, the “and more” in that statement will also have them buzzing about who else might be coming back to Salem for the occasion. Obviously, Kristian Alfonso’s Hope would be top of the list for many, and hopefully with Peter Reckell’s Bo out of his coma to attend at her side.

Keep checking back here at SoapsInDepth.com for more updates as additional special guests are revealed and for the actual airdates of the special episodes.