Days of Our Lives is preparing to say goodbye to one of its most beloved actors and his character. Bill Hayes, who played Doug Williams, passed away in January 2024 at the age of 98. Hayes began portraying the charismatic Doug in 1970, and worked until the very end. His last appearance aired on December 22, 2023.
Now, the cast and crew will honor Hayes when the show bids farewell to his character Doug. The soap opera is planning a touching tribute with some familiar faces returning. According to Daytime Confidential, former characters Ciara Brady, Eli Grant, Marie Horton, and Jack and Jennifer Deveraux will return for Doug’s funeral. However, one notable name is missing, and that’s Doug’s daughter Hope Brady.
Days of Our Lives fans want Hope to return for Doug’s tribute
Hope is the daughter of Doug and the late Addie Horton. Her mother died shortly after her birth, and Hope was raised by Doug and her stepmother/half-sister Julie Williams. When Hope reached adulthood, she fell in love with Bo Brady, and they became new supercouple of Days of Our Lives.
Kristian Alfonso played the popular heroine from 1983 until her departure in 2020. Although the actress claimed she wouldn’t return, she reprised her role as Hope for the soap opera’s spinoff Beyond Salem. When viewers last saw Hope in April 2023, she had reunited with Bo in Greece after discovering he was alive. But their romantic reunion was short-lived when Shawn Brady accidentally shot his father. After Bo slipped into a coma, Hope decided to stay by his side.
With Doug’s funeral coming up, Hope should be returning to Salem for a brief visit. Yet, there’s been no news on Alfonso reprising her role. The producers’ decision to possibly not bring back Hope is confusing to fans.
As one commenter wrote on Soap Central:
Kristian Alfonso better return. It would be really hard for the show to try to explain why Doug’s daughter isn’t at his funeral/tribute.
Days of Our Lives sometimes pulls surprises, so it’s possible they’re keeping Hope’s return under wraps. Fans will have to wait and see if Hope shows up for her Doug’s funeral, which is scheduled to air in December 2024.
