If you’ve watched a single episode of soap operas in the last decade, you know the name. Will from Days of Our Lives isn't just another legacy character filling up space at the Pub or getting into trouble at Titan Industries. He’s a landmark. A shift in the culture of daytime television that actually stuck.
Honestly, it’s hard to remember a time when William "Will" Horton wasn't at the center of the drama in Salem. He was born on screen back in 1995 to Lucas Horton and Sami Brady. That lineage alone? It's soap opera royalty. You have the grounded, often-suffering Hortons on one side and the chaotic, scheming, "I’ll-burn-your-house-down" energy of the Bradys and DiMeras on the other. Will was always destined to be the anchor for that family madness. But what really turned him into a household name wasn't just his birthright. It was the way he changed the game for representation in a medium that, frankly, used to be pretty conservative.
The Coming Out Story That Changed Everything
Most people remember the 2011 storyline. It was massive. Chandler Massey was playing the role then, and he brought this raw, nervous energy to Will that felt incredibly real. Watching Will from Days of Our Lives struggle with his identity wasn't just a "very special episode" moment. It was a slow burn. It took months. It involved a lot of denial, a lot of friction with his mother Sami—who, in classic Sami fashion, didn't always handle things with grace—and a beautiful mentorship with his grandmother, Marlena Evans.
Deidre Hall and Chandler Massey had these scenes that felt like actual masterclasses in acting. There was no fluff. Just a kid terrified of losing his family and a grandmother telling him he was loved. When Will finally came out, it wasn't the end of his story. It was the beginning of his most iconic era.
Then came Sonny Kiriakis. "WilSon." If you were on Twitter or Soap Central back then, you couldn't escape the hashtag. They were the first same-sex wedding in the show's history, airing in 2014. It felt earned. It didn't feel like a stunt. They had the same boring domestic problems every other couple had, and that was the point. They fought about work. They fought about kids. They dealt with the insane soap opera tropes like everyone else.
The Great Actor Rotation
Soaps are weird. You grow up with a face, and then suddenly, that face changes. We've seen several actors step into Will's shoes.
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- The Early Years: Darian Weiss and Christopher Gerse gave us the childhood and "tween" versions of Will. They did the heavy lifting of making us care about him as a kid.
- The Chandler Massey Era: This is the definitive Will for many. He won three consecutive Daytime Emmys for a reason. He had a way of making Will feel both intellectual and incredibly vulnerable.
- The Guy Wilson Era: Guy had a tough job. He stepped in right after the massive high of the coming-out storyline. While some fans struggled with the transition, he navigated the marriage to Sonny and the beginning of the "death" arc with a lot of professional poise.
- The Return: When Chandler Massey came back in 2017, the show had to pull a classic "he's not actually dead" twist. It turned out Dr. Rolf had used his magical resurrection serum. Because of course he did.
That Time Will Actually Died (Sorta)
We have to talk about the Necktie Killer. 2015 was a dark year for Salem. Ben Weston went on a rampage, and Will was one of his victims. It was a brutal move by the writers. At the time, fans were furious. Why kill off a legacy character? Why kill half of your most popular couple?
It felt final. We saw the body. We saw the funeral. In the real world, actors move on, but in Salem, death is usually more of a temporary medical condition. When Will was brought back two years later, he had amnesia. This is where the writing got interesting. He didn't remember Sonny. He didn't remember his daughter, Arianna. He was basically a blank slate, and he even leaned into his darker "Sami" roots for a bit. It gave the character a much-needed edge. He wasn't just the "good boy" anymore.
The Dynamics of the Horton-Brady-Kiriakis Web
If you try to map out Will's family tree, you’re going to need a lot of coffee and maybe a whiteboard. Will from Days of Our Lives is the literal bridge between the show's most powerful factions.
- The Sami Factor: His relationship with Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney) is the heart of his character. She’s overbearing, she’s a mess, but she loves him fiercely. Their scenes together usually involve a lot of fast-talking and emotional breakthroughs.
- The Lucas Connection: Lucas has always been the more stable parent, but even he had his moments of rejecting Will's identity early on. Their reconciliation is one of the more underrated arcs in the show's history.
- The Kiriakis Influence: By marrying Sonny, Will became part of Victor Kiriakis’s world. Seeing a Horton interact with a cynical old shark like Victor added a layer of dry humor that the show really benefited from.
People often ask why Will and Sonny left Salem. In 2020, there was a big cast shakeup. They moved to Arizona, then came back for various "Beyond Salem" specials on Peacock. That’s the thing about a character like Will; he’s never really gone. He’s the guy they call when there’s a family crisis or a Christmas ornament hanging ceremony.
Why the Character Still Resonates in 2026
It’s about the evolution. We’ve seen Will go from a confused teenager to a father, a husband, a murder victim, a ghost, and a survivor. He isn't perfect. He’s cheated on Sonny (Paul Narita, anyone?). He’s lied. He’s been selfish.
That’s why he works. If he were just a perfect "trailblazer" character, he’d be boring. He’s a Horton, which means he has a moral compass, but he’s a Brady, which means he’s probably going to do something impulsive and stupid at least once a week.
Some viewers think the show relies too much on his legacy, but honestly, in a genre built on history, you need those anchors. When Will shows up on screen, the show feels like Days. It feels like home.
Misconceptions About the Character
Let's clear some stuff up. I see a lot of talk online about "Will's wasted potential." Some fans think he should be running DiMera Enterprises or being a hard-hitting journalist 24/7.
But Will's strength has always been his emotional intelligence. He’s the observer. He’s a writer (remember his stint at True Vista?). He’s meant to be the person who tries to make sense of the chaos around him, even when he's the one causing it. Also, there's this weird idea that he's "too soft." If you survived a strangling by a serial killer and came back from the dead with no memory, you'd probably have some layers to you, too.
What’s Next for the Character?
Currently, Will pops in and out of the narrative. Since the show moved to Peacock, the storytelling has become a bit more serialized and sometimes a little more "adult." This suits Will. He’s a character that thrives in deep, conversational scenes.
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Whether he’s in Salem permanently or just visiting for the holidays, his presence changes the room. He represents the bridge between the old guard (Alice and Tom Horton) and the new generation of Salemites.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and New Viewers
If you’re trying to catch up or just want to appreciate the character more, here’s how to do it:
- Watch the 2011-2012 Arc: If you haven't seen the coming-out storyline, find the clips. It’s some of the best writing the show has ever done.
- Check out "Beyond Salem": The Peacock limited series gives Will and Sonny more room to breathe outside the standard soap format. It’s tighter, faster, and more modern.
- Follow the Actors: Chandler Massey is pretty active and often shares insights into the character's mindset that you don't always get on screen.
- Don't skip the "WilSon" Wedding: It’s a piece of TV history. Even if you aren't a big romance fan, the performances by the veteran cast members (like the late Peggy McCay and John Aniston) during those episodes are incredible.
The legacy of Will from Days of Our Lives is secure. He’s more than just a statistic or a milestone. He’s a guy who grew up in front of us, died, came back, and somehow managed to keep his soul intact. In a town like Salem, that’s the biggest miracle of all.
Keep an eye on the casting news. In the world of soaps, a "permanent exit" usually just means "see you in a few months." Will Horton is too important to stay away for long. He’s the heart of the Horton house, and as long as that house is standing, Will has a place in Salem.
To stay truly updated, watch the daily episodes on Peacock rather than relying on summaries. The nuance in the performances—especially during the reunions—is where the real value lies. If you're a writer or a creator, study how they transitioned Will from a plot device into a character with genuine agency. It’s a blueprint for how to handle legacy characters without making them feel like relics.