Susan Seaforth Hayes has been synonymous with Days of Our Lives for nearly six decades as Julie, the moral compass of Salem. As the heart of the city, she’s played through love stories, loss, and everything in between, even recently purchasing a local bookstore. In real life, Hayes is still finding her way after the death of her long-time husband and co-star, Bill Hayes. However, she’s been able to channel the strength she’s mustered into celebration. As the show turns 60, she’s the perfect person to kick things off—taking fans on a warm, nostalgic look back at the show’s early years in a new Instagram video.
When Bill Hayes Brought Mod Style to Salem
A video was posted on the DOOL official Instagram page with the caption, “It all began in 1965. Starting today, for the next six weeks, we’re honoring six decades of Days of our Lives. Go back in time with us from 1965 to the present day as we count down to the 60th Anniversary on November 8. Today, Susan Seaforth Hayes remembers the first decade that started it all.”
“The 60s were turbulent, and our people were phasing out suits and ties when my husband Bill Hayes came on the show,” she stated. Her future husband had joined the show in 1970, shaking things up both in front and behind the cameras. “He looked different. He was different. The times were different,” she joyously stated, noting that instead of a suit and tie, “he came in with a mod wardrobe. “
A Young Actress, A Timeless Legacy
Susan also laughed about what it was like for the women back then—false lashes, teased wigs, and enough hairspray to stop time. When she first took over as Julie, she even darkened her hair to match the actress she replaced. “I had a lot of false hair,” she humorously admitted. She also confessed that at the time, she wasn’t very confident, stating, “Personally, I was insecure.” She often secretly hoped a producer would happen by her dressing room and tell her what a good job she was doing.
By the 1970s, DOOL was not only one of the top soaps on TV—it made history when she and Bill appeared on the cover of Time magazine. That headline, Sex and Suffering in the Afternoon, made her laugh even then, but she admitted it said a lot about the power of daytime drama and how it reflected real life.
Now, at 60 years strong, Susan’s trip back to the show’s groovy beginnings is more than just a look at the past—it’s a heartfelt reminder of how far DOOL (and Julie) have come, and how much heart still beats at the center of Salem.
