When people talk about Will Horton from Days of Our Lives, they usually jump straight to the "firsts." The first gay supercouple. The first male-male wedding in daytime. The first Emmy for a gay character. It's easy to treat Will like a walking milestone rather than a guy who has spent thirty years being one of the most complicated, occasionally infuriating, and deeply human people in Salem.
Honestly, if you look at his DNA, it’s a miracle he isn't more of a mess. He’s the son of Sami Brady and Lucas Horton. That’s a lineage defined by schemes, paternity lies, and a "love is a battlefield" mentality that usually involves actual handcuffs or kidnapping.
Will started his life as a pawn. Sami spent years trying to pass him off as Austin Reed's kid. By the time he was a teenager, he had lived through more trauma than most middle-aged men. You've got the custody battles, the "Salem Stalker" killing off half his family tree, and the constant, crushing pressure of being the "good son" for parents who were often anything but good.
The Real Story of Will Horton on Days of Our Lives
Most viewers remember Chandler Massey taking over the role in 2010. That's when things got real. Before that, Will was basically a background prop or a moody teen played by Dylan Patton. But Massey brought this raw, vibrating anxiety to the role that made the coming-out storyline feel like more than just a "very special episode" of a soap opera.
It wasn't some quick, easy realization.
Basically, Will fought himself for months. He had a girlfriend, Gabi Hernandez. He tried to play the part. He even got her pregnant during a one-night stand that was more about desperation than desire. That's the part people forget—Will’s journey wasn't a straight line. It was jagged. It involved self-loathing, a lot of yelling, and a brief period where he was genuinely unhinged.
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Then came Sonny Kiriakis.
The "WilSon" Revolution
When Freddie Smith’s Sonny arrived, he was everything Will wasn't: comfortable, out, and confident. Their relationship—dubbed "WilSon"—changed the landscape of the show. It wasn't just that they were two men; it was that they were treated like any other supercouple. They had the grand romance, the terrible misunderstandings, and the messy third parties.
Remember when Will cheated with Paul Narita?
Fans were livid. It felt like a betrayal of the "pure" romance the writers had built. But looking back, it made total sense. Will Horton is a product of Sami Brady. He’s impulsive. He sabotages his own happiness when things get too quiet. He’s a writer who treats his own life like a draft he’s constantly trying to edit.
Why the "Death" of Will Horton Almost Ruined the Show
In 2015, the writers made a choice that still gets people heated today. They killed him. Not just a "disappeared at sea" death, but a graphic, "Necktie Killer" strangling that left him dead on a morgue slab. Guy Wilson was in the role at the time, and the backlash was immediate and fierce.
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Killing off a legacy character who represented so much to the LGBTQ+ community felt like a massive step backward.
Fortunately, this is Salem. Nobody stays dead if the fans scream loud enough.
The Resurrection and the 2026 Landscape
By 2017, Chandler Massey was back. It turned out Dr. Rolf—Salem’s resident mad scientist—had used his "resurrection serum" on Will. The twist? Will had total amnesia. He didn't remember Sonny. He didn't even remember being gay for a while. It was a bizarre, frustrating, and eventually rewarding arc that allowed the characters to fall in love all over over again.
So, where is Will Horton now?
As of early 2026, Will has transitioned into a more "recurring" status. Chandler Massey lives in Georgia now and works a "real" job in data analytics, so he isn't on our screens every day. But he keeps coming back for the big moments.
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Most recently, in 2025 and moving into 2026, we’ve seen him return for the heavy stuff. He was there to say a heartbreaking goodbye to his grandfather, John Black, following the passing of the legendary Drake Hogestyn. It was a grounded, quiet performance that reminded everyone why Will is the emotional anchor of the younger Horton generation.
What Most People Get Wrong About Will
There’s a misconception that Will is "the perfect one." Because he’s a Pulitzer-winning journalist (sorta) and a devoted dad to Arianna, people forget his edge.
- He’s a bit of a snob. Will can be judgmental, especially toward his mother’s chaotic life choices, even though he often repeats them.
- He’s a survivor. He has been "murdered," brainwashed by the DiMeras, and sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit (shoutout to the Maggie Horton car accident storyline).
- He’s a legacy in every sense. He carries the weight of the Bradys and the Hortons. That’s a lot of expectations for one guy to carry while trying to keep a marriage together in a town where people come back from the dead every Tuesday.
The relationship with Sonny (now played by Zach Tinker when he appears) remains the gold standard. They moved to Arizona, then back to Salem, then to Canada... the geography doesn't really matter. What matters is that they survived the soap opera meat grinder and came out the other side.
Actionable Insights for Fans and New Viewers
If you’re trying to catch up on the saga of Will Horton or just want to dive deeper into the lore, here is how to navigate the decades of content:
- Watch the "Beyond Salem" Spinoffs: If you want to see Will and Sonny without the baggage of thirty other storylines, the Peacock limited series are great. They focus heavily on their dynamic and are much more fast-paced than the daily show.
- Focus on the 2012-2014 Era: This is the peak "WilSon" era. If you want to understand why the character matters, start with Will’s scenes with Marlena (Deidre Hall) when he first comes out. It’s some of the best acting in the history of the medium.
- Track the "Necktie Killer" Arc with Caution: It’s dark. If you’re a fan of the character, the 2015 episodes are hard to watch, but they set the stage for the massive "Will is Alive" reveal years later.
- Keep an eye on the 60th Anniversary: With Days of Our Lives hitting its 60th year in 2025/2026, expect more Will Horton cameos. The show knows he’s a draw.
Will Horton isn't just a "gay character" on a soap. He’s a kid who grew up in front of us, broke our hearts, died, came back, and finally found some semblance of peace. In the chaotic world of Salem, that’s about as close to a happy ending as anyone gets.