Will Horton

For other people named William Horton, see William Horton (disambiguation).
Will Horton
Days of Our Lives character
Chandler Massey as Will Horton
Portrayed by
Duration
  • 1995–2015
  • 2017–2023
First appearanceNovember 16, 1995 (1995-11-16)
Last appearanceFebruary 16, 2023 (2023-02-16)
ClassificationFormer; recurring (returning)
Created byJames E. Reilly
Introduced by
Spin-off
appearances
In-universe information
Other names
Occupation
  • Journalist
  • Screenwriter
  • Political campaign staffer
  • Business intern
  • Website entrepreneur
  • Pub worker
  • Student
ParentsLucas Horton
Sami Brady
Stepfather
Stepmother
Sisters
Half-brothersJohnny DiMera
Half-sistersSydney DiMera
HusbandSonny Kiriakis (2014–2018, 2019–present)
DaughtersArianna Horton
Grandfathers
Grandmothers
Uncles
Aunts
NephewsHenry Horton
First cousins
Mackenzie Horton
Other relativesNick Fallon

Will Horton is a fictional character from the American daytime TV soap opera Days of Our Lives, known for a highly praised coming out story,[3][4][5] award-winning performances by actor Chandler Massey,[6][5][7] and as one half of US daytime drama's first male gay wedding and marriage.[8] The character first appears in the episode of November 16, 1995, when his mom Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney) gives birth to him. Initially portrayed by a series of child actors, the character grew up in real-time as the show aired, eventually to be played by adult actors Chandler Massey (2010–2014, 2017–2023), and Guy Wilson (2014–2015).

The character is initially named Will Reed, after his presumed father, Austin Reed, but it is later revealed that Austin's half-brother and Sami's friend Lucas Roberts (Bryan Dattilo) is his father. Sami and Lucas fight each other for custody, and Will, who is renamed Will Roberts,[9] has a "tumultuous upbringing". As a child, Will endeavors to bring his parents together, whilst his grandma Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow) schemes to keep them apart.[10] Will sees success when his parents marry in 2007; and his newly united family take the name Horton, to distance themselves from his grandma Kate.[9][11][12][13] Cast in the role when Will was 17, Massey played Will's transition to adulthood and is noted for his portrayal of Will coming out as gay and beginning a same-sex relationship with Sonny Kiriakis (Freddie Smith). Massey's performance and the coming out storyline received high praise: Glamour magazine said it "has never been done better – not on primetime, daytime, or in feature films", and "it's raw, it's touching" and "honest to the core";[14] and soap journalist Michael Fairman[15] called Massey's performance "beyond sensational".[16] Will and Sonny became the show's first same-sex supercouple (commonly referred to by the portmanteau "WilSon"),[17][18] and in 2014 Guy Wilson took over the role of Will as Days broadcast the first male gay wedding in US daytime drama history.

The character was graphically murdered in the episode of October 9, 2015, with Will being shown strangled to death, lying dead in the morgue,[19] and being buried and grieved by his family.[20] Viewers reacted with "major" backlash,[21][22][23] the decision was highly criticized by professionals,[24][25][26] and there was a feeling Days of Our Lives was pandering to anti-gay sentiment in its audience base.[27] In January 2017 Days of Our Lives announced a new head-writer in Ron Carlivati;[28] and in May 2017 Entertainment Weekly reported that Massey was reprising the role of Will.[29] Carlivati indicated, via social media, that Will may not have died after all,[30] and the ensuing storyline showed how Will survived.[31] Massey's new episodes played from September 15, 2017[32] to September 1, 2020,[33] and he returned again for the Christmas season in December 2020.[34] In the fall of 2021, he reprised his role as Will in the Days spin-off miniseries Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem, on the Peacock streaming service,[35] and later headlined the spin-off Days of Our Lives: A Very Salem Christmas, in December 2021.[36] Beginning in March 2022, Massey would again start making appearances on the main series, in a recurring role.

For playing Will, Massey won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series in 2012,[6] 2013,[5] and 2014,[7] becoming the first to win three years in a row in that category,[37] as well as the first to win it for playing a gay character.[37]

  1. ^ Ken Corday, Albert Alarr and Greg Meng (Executive producers); Dena Higley and Ryan Quan (Head writers) (January 23, 2017). Days of Our Lives. Season 52. Episode 13008. NBC. Days of Our Lives Transcript Monday 1/23/17.
  2. ^ Dena Higley and Ryan Quan (Head writers); Sonia Blangiardo (Director); David Cherrill (Script writer) (January 23, 2017). Days of Our Lives. Season 52. Episode 13008. NBC.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :25 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :26 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference :15 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b "Daytime Emmy Awards 2012: The Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. June 23, 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :18 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Soap Opera to Air First Gay Marriage Between Two Men | TVWeek". www.tvweek.com. Dexter Canfield Media Inc. April 1, 2014. Archived from the original on 2016-12-04. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  9. ^ a b "Who's Who in Salem | Will Horton". soapcentral.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-25. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference main2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ "Who's Who in Salem | Lucas Horton". soapcentral.com. Archived from the original on 2017-01-19. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
  12. ^ "Lucas (Roberts) Horton". soaps.sheknows.com. Archived from the original on 2016-11-12. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
  13. ^ Days of Our Lives. Season 42. Episode 10689. November 1, 2007. NBC. Mrs. Horton? - Oh yeah that's me.
  14. ^ Radloff, Jessica (April 9, 2012). "Why All of a Sudden, We Can't Stop Watching Days Of Our Lives (Again)". Glamour. Archived from the original on 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference :13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference :12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ "Media: Will & Sonny: Days of Our Lives' new supercouple!". E Wall Streeter. American Media, Inc. March 17, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  18. ^ "The Daytime TV Power Couple That May (or May Not) Surprise You". July 4, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  19. ^ Fairman, Michael (October 9, 2015). "News - Soap Buzz: DAYS Decimates Will Horton!". On-Air On-Soaps. Archived from the original on February 3, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  20. ^ Fairman, Michael (October 20, 2015). "DAYS Of OUR LIVES: Salem Grieves At Will's Funeral! What Did You Think Of The Episode?". Michael Fairman On-Air On-Soaps. Archived from the original on 2017-09-07. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference MF 2015 BEST & WORST was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hollywood Life Outrage 15-10-13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  23. ^ Cite error: The named reference :28 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  24. ^ Cite error: The named reference SOD 2015 EOY Review was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  25. ^ Cite error: The named reference Logan Review was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  26. ^ Hernandez, Greg (October 9, 2015). "Will Horton has been killed off "Days of Our Lives" in most disrespectful way". greginhollywood.com. Archived from the original on 2016-07-31. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  27. ^ Cite error: The named reference AFTERBUZZ DishinDays 2015-10-11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  28. ^ "Breaking News: Higley Out, Carlivati In At DAYS". Soap Opera Digest. January 24, 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-08-13. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  29. ^ Cite error: The named reference EW.com Massey Return (May 2017) was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  30. ^ Cite error: The named reference :27 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  31. ^ Fairman, Michael (November 22, 2017). "DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Eileen Davidson Delivers Heartbreaking Performance As Susan Admits What She Did To Will!". Michael Fairman On-Air On-Soaps. Archived from the original on 2018-03-21. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  32. ^ Cite error: The named reference :29 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  33. ^ Fairman, Michael (September 1, 2020). "DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Sonny and Will Say Their Final Goodbyes and Leave Salem". Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  34. ^ Mason, Charlie (November 22, 2020). "Days of Our Lives' Chandler Massey Is Bringing Will Home for the Holidays". Soaps.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  35. ^ White-Nobles, Ryan (August 2, 2021). "'Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem' Casting News: Chandler Massey, Zach Tinker, Christie Clark, Austin Peck, Greg Rikaart and More Announced". TV Source Magazine. Archived from the original on 2021-08-02. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  36. ^ "DAYS Holiday Movie To Stream On Peacock". Soap Opera Digest. 2021-11-16. Archived from the original on 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  37. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).