If you’ve ever sat through a holiday episode of Days of Our Lives, you know the drill. The Horton living room fills up. Someone hangs an ornament with a name on it. Usually, there’s a moment where everyone stops to breathe and remember why they’re actually there. For over fifty years, that center of gravity was Doug and Julie Days of Our Lives.
They weren't just a couple. They were the blueprint. Honestly, before Doug and Julie, the "supercouple" wasn't even a thing. It’s wild to think about now, but there was a time when soap opera characters just kind of moved from one dramatic disaster to another without that soul-deep connection. Then Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes showed up, and everything changed.
What Really Happened With Doug and Julie Days of Our Lives
Most people think they were always the perfect, stable grandparents of Salem. Not even close. When Bill Hayes arrived in 1970 as Brent Douglas—a con man fresh out of prison—he wasn't looking for love. He was looking for a mark. He was literally paid to seduce Julie away from another man. Talk about a messy start.
The real kicker? In the ultimate soap opera twist, Doug actually married Julie’s mother, Addie Horton, first. Imagine the family dinners. It’s one of those "only in Salem" details that fans sometimes forget. He had a whole life and a daughter, Hope, with Addie before he and Julie finally found their way back to each other.
The Real-Life Magic
You can't talk about Doug and Julie without talking about Bill and Susan. They didn't just play a couple; they were the couple. They got married in real life in 1974, two years before their characters finally tied the knot on screen. When they finally had that TV wedding in 1976, sixteen million people watched. That’s a Super Bowl-sized audience for a daytime drama.
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They even landed on the cover of Time magazine in January 1976. No other soap couple has ever done that. It wasn't just PR hype; it was because you could see the actual, genuine sparks every time they looked at each other. They were "couple goals" before the term existed.
Saying Goodbye to Doug Williams
The year 2024 was a tough one for the Days family. Bill Hayes passed away at 98, and the show handled his exit with more grace than most soaps ever manage. His final episode aired in July 2024, filmed months before his death. It was a simple, quiet scene where Doug and Julie reflected on their decades together.
Later that year, Salem officially mourned him. Jack Devereaux found Doug, having passed away peacefully in his sleep. It wasn't some grand explosion or a kidnapping gone wrong. It was a quiet, dignified end for a man who had become the show's heartbeat.
- The Memorial: The December 4, 2024, funeral brought back legacy characters like Jennifer Horton and Shawn-Douglas Brady.
- The Eulogy: Susan Seaforth Hayes, playing Julie, delivered a tribute that felt less like a script and more like a final love letter to her actual husband.
- The Legacy: Even now in 2026, Julie is still a powerhouse. She’s the only actress to appear in all seven decades of the show.
Why We’re Still Talking About Them
Look, soaps change. They move to streaming (hey, Peacock!), characters get recast, and plots get weirder. But Doug and Julie represented something that doesn't really exist in TV anymore: absolute longevity.
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Susan Seaforth Hayes still shows up on our screens. She’s currently the pillar of the Horton family, keeping the legacy alive while navigating a world without her "Billy." It’s heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. She’s mentioned in interviews how she wears Bill’s old show jackets to work just to feel him there.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of newer viewers think Julie was always the moral compass. Nope. Early Julie was a bit of a "bad girl"—haughty, self-centered, and constantly in trouble. It was her love for Doug that grounded her. And Doug? He was a singer and a con artist who found a reason to be a better man.
Their story proves that the best soap writing isn't about the "shock" factor. It’s about the slow burn. It's about characters growing up together, failing, and trying again.
Moving Forward in Salem
If you're looking to catch up or dive deeper into the Horton history, keep an eye on the current Peacock episodes. Julie isn't just sitting in a rocking chair; she’s active in the lives of her grandkids and dealing with the fallout of Doug III’s recent departure from town.
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To really appreciate the depth of Doug and Julie Days of Our Lives, you should look up their old performances of "The Look of Love." It was their song. It’s a reminder of a time when daytime TV felt like a private, elegant club that we were all invited to join.
If you want to honor the legacy, start by looking into the Bill Hayes Memorial Scholarship or simply rewatching those 1970s archives. The chemistry isn't something you can fake. It’s the kind of TV history that only happens once.
The next time you see Julie Horton on screen, remember she's carrying over fifty years of Salem history in every scene. She’s not just a character; she’s the surviving half of the greatest love story ever told on daytime television.
To stay connected with the ongoing Horton family saga, you can follow the official Days of Our Lives social media channels or check out the latest interviews with Susan Seaforth Hayes on platforms like Soap Opera Digest. Seeing how she continues to lead the cast in 2026 provides a masterclass in resilience and professional dedication.