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Will Horton (originally Will Reed, and then Will Roberts) is a fictional character from the American NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, most recently played by Guy Wilson. Will is the son and firstborn child of Sami Brady and Lucas Horton (formerly Roberts). Will was born on screen in the episode which aired on November 16, 1995. His mother, Sami Brady, had told everyone that Austin Reed was the father, and Austin believed Will was his son for the first two years of Will's life, but on Austin and Sami's wedding day, Austin found out that Will was not his son, and that his half-brother Lucas Roberts was Will's father.

The character of Will is unique in Days of Our Lives, in that he was both born onscreen and grew up onscreen without being rapidly-aged to a teenager or adult, unlike other child characters on the soap. Will experienced a "turbulent upbringing" due to his parents' ever-changing love lives, and multiple partners and marriages. As a child, Will keenly wanted his parents to be together, so he would have a family like other kids that he knew. He teamed up with his Dad, Lucas, in schemes to get Sami and Lucas together.

In 2011, it was announced that Will, then played by Chandler Massey, would feature in a gay storyline, and later it was confirmed that Will would come out as gay. The gay storyline was supported by both NBC and the show's international distributor, Sony. Massey said that he hoped his character's storyline would challenge people's views on homosexuality and promote tolerance. Will initiated the show's first gay kiss. When the openly gay character Sonny Kiriakis was introduced to the soap, Will and Sonny quickly became good friends, and this became love, and they began a gay relationship. The actors Chandler Massey and Freddie Smith spoke of Will and Sonny (commonly known by the portmanteau "WilSon"), as a "supercouple in training". Will's best female friend, Gabi Hernandez, bore him a daughter. Seventeen and a half years after Will was born onscreen, in the episode airing May 21, 2013, Will's own daughter Arianna Grace Horton was born onscreen also, and delivered by his partner Sonny Kiriakis, whilst he and Gabi were hiding in a shed from a gun-wielding madman. Will heroically fought off the gunman, but was shot in the process. The first time Will met his daughter was when he awoke in hospital several days later, during his post-operative recovery from his gunshot wound.

In April 2014, Days of Our Lives televised the first wedding of two male gay characters in US Daytime soap opera history, with the wedding of Will Horton (Guy Wilson) and Sonny Kiriakis (Freddie Smith).

Luke Kerr of Zap2it said that Will is one of the serial's most important characters. The character has attracted five Emmy nominations, and three Emmy wins. In 2010 Dylan Patton was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series, and the next year (2011) Chandler Massey was nominated. Massey then went on to win the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series three straight years in a row (a first), in 2012, 2013, and in 2014. Massey was also the first young actor to win for portraying a gay character.

The character of Will was unexpectedly killed off (murdered) on October 9, 2015, a month before the show's 50th Anniversary, by new Headwriters Dena Higley and Josh Griffith. This generated huge fan backlash, and criticism in the soap press, as well as accusations that Days of Our Lives were pandering to anti-gay sentiment in their audience base.

Casting

The role of Will Horton was originally played by child actors Shawn and Taylor Carpenter from 1995 until 2002. Darian Weiss took over the role until 2003, when Christopher Gerse took over the role. Gerse told Janet Di Lauro of Soap Opera Digest that he had previously auditioned for the role of Will but was unsuccessful. He then auditioned for another role in the series, which he did not receive. Producers later called Gerse back to carry out a screen test for Will, this time he was hired. At the time the character was a recurring part, which suited Gerse because he had "always wanted" to have one. Gerse left the series in 2007 and made a brief return in 2008. In 2009, the character was reintroduced with actor Dylan Patton. In late 2009, it was reported via Soap Opera Digest that Patton had finished filming and the role had been recast to facilitate a new storyline. Chandler Massey, a newcomer to daytime television, won the role. Before he took over the role, Massey watched as many episodes of the series as he could find to familiarize himself with Will. In February 2013, Soap Opera Digest confirmed that Massey's younger brother Christian Massey would portray Will in flashbacks.

Following his second Emmy win, Massey revealed that after his current contract expired, he would vacate the role to return to attend college. Executive Producer Ken Corday complimented Massey, saying "He plays that character so well", "Chandler deserves all the kudos he has gotten", and "The door will always be open here to Chandler. We are not going to recast Will, but I wish him well in the big pond." However, Massey expressed that he would support a recast, saying "I don’t want Will and Sonny to break up. I want them to be together forever and go off and get married", and on August 23, 2013, it was reported Massey was leaving the show immediately and that the role had been recast. On September 12, 2013, it was announced that actor Guy Wilson was cast in the role of Will. Freddie Smith revealed that the switch between Massey and Wilson will happen on-screen as quick as the news of the recast, saying, "If you blink and open your eyes, you’ll be like, ‘Wait, there’s a new Will?!’ It’s literally just ‘BOOM!’” Massey made his final appearance on January 2, 2014 and Wilson made his first appearance on January 8, 2014.

Due to the exit of his onscreen mother, Sami Brady, played by (Alison Sweeney) Wilson took a brief hiatus from series on October 30, 2014. Wilson briefly appeared on December 1, 2014. He returned from his hiatus on December 11, 2014.

In September 2015, it was announced that Wilson was let go from the show and that the role wouldn't be recast. Wilson departed the role on October 13, 2015.

Development

Character Name

Austin Reed welcomed Will into the world as his own son, thanks to Will's mother Sami Brady telling everyone that Austin Reed was the father, because she loved Austin, and wanted to be with him. Sami called the baby Will, and named him William Robert Reed. Will is in honor of his Aunt Billie, (Billie Reed). Will's second name, Robert, allowed Austin to honor his mother Kate Roberts, and to link Will's name to her. Will is initially known as Will Reed.

On Austin and Sami's wedding day, Austin discovers that his half-brother Lucas Roberts is actually Will's father. Sami changes Will's name to William Reed Roberts, and Will becomes known as Will Roberts.

Some years later, Lucas discovers that his father is Bill Horton. For a while, Will is known as Will Roberts-Horton.

During a bad patch in Lucas's relationship with mother, Lucas drops Roberts from their surnames, and Will becomes Will Horton.

In 2013, it is shown that Will is again using his original second name of Robert : he gives his full name as William Robert Horton.

Will retains the name of William Robert Horton on his marriage to Sonny Kiriakis, in April 2014.

Characterization and Family

Will, at his heart, was a friendly character, and he had a good sense of fun and humor. He was interested in people, and he loved family, and when his younger siblings came along, he became a loving big brother to Allie, Johnny, Grace, and Sydney. He had a passion for reading and writing, to the extent that, as a child, he read his psychiatrist grandma Marlena's psychology textbooks and gained insight to his wildly-behaving mother. As an adult he became a professional writer. He loved playing sport, and was a high-school athlete, and became a frequent gym-goer. He was a whizz-kid with technology, and as a student he created a popular sports website, and he developed some really useful hacking skills! Will had a life-long best friend in Tad "T" Stevens. Will was a great and loyal friend - he was very caring as well as able to give tough advice. Often when growing up, and his mum was acting crazily, Will had to be the responsible one in the family. Will had a very likable optimistic streak and a keen intelligence, but the instability of his family life also gave him feelings of insecurity, a lack of self-confidence, and cynicism, and when in emotional turmoil, he was capable of rash actions, which could hurt others, and lead to big trouble for himself. Growing up, his parent's on-and-off relationship over the years had a negative effect on Will. The Sony Pictures Entertainment webpage for Will, attributed Will's upbringing as being the catalyst for his behavior in later life: his "turbulent upbringing made him moody and suspicious".

Will's Uncle Austin remained an important, and fatherly figure, in Will's life. When Will was temporarily written out of the soap (in 2007 and 2008), Will relocated to live with his Uncle Austin and Aunt Carrie in Switzerland. When in 2011, Austin (Patrick Muldoon) was reintroduced into the series, Chandler Massey said that the two characters share a bond because of their time living together in Switzerland. Will sees Austin as a "father figure" and he often feels paternal, despite his brother Lucas being out as Will's biological father.

Sexuality

It was originally reported that Will would be coupled with Sonny Kiriakis (Freddie Smith), who is a gay character. However, Smith later revealed that Sonny could become involved with a new character and not Will. Will later strikes up a friendship with Sonny. Massey told Damon L. Jacobs from We Love Soaps that Will has a close relationship with Sonny. Will looks up to and respects him because he has encountered hate in Salem but remains confident and comfortable with who he is. Massey said that Will cannot help but admire these qualities in Sonny as "they are rare to see". The two character share a "bromance" more than anything else.

In August 2011, Massey told Jacobs that he did not know if the series were going to proceed with a gay storyline for Will. He claimed that he was yet to receive any scripts to suggest that Will would. In November 2011, Lynette Rice of Entertainment Weekly announced that the serial were going ahead with Will's gay storyline. Will's story received approval from NBC and Sony Pictures Entertainment, who air the show. Days of Our Lives Co-Executive Producer Greg Meng told Rice that "we are excited to have the encouragement and support from both NBC and Sony to tell the inspiring story of a young man learning who he is as he defines and creates his relationships with others." Massey said that he was "thrilled" to play Will in an "empowering way that will show his struggle to accept who he is". He wanted the storyline to help other people to accept themselves for who they are. Amelia Proud from Daily Mail reported that the storyline's inclusion was part of the series focus on attracting a younger audience.

Massey was told that Will would become a gay character in February 2011. When Days of Our Lives employed two new producers and a head writer, it cast uncertainty over the storyline. Massey said that while he was not told whether or not they would proceed, he played Will "with his sexuality in mind". When Gabi Hernandez (Camila Banus) ends her relationship with Will, he becomes slightly unhinged. Massey told a reporter from Gay Star News that the scenes were fun to film, but a "challenge to do them convincingly". Massey said that Will's struggle with his sexuality that follows would not be romantic. The character had a lot to deal with and throughout his life "he has put his sexuality on the back burner and hasn't really dealt with it." Massey said that the storyline would reach a "big audience" and hoped that it would promote tolerance.

Will shares a kiss with Neil (Jesse Kristofferson), which is witnessed by Sonny. Massey told Robert Waldron of Soap Opera Digest that Will had been keeping his "self-loathing and disgust" over his sexuality to himself, which results in him becoming "tightly wound". Will drinks alcohol to make himself feel "less awkward", in turn this makes him do something he wouldn't when he is of a sober mind. Massey added that being caught by Sonny is "one of those moments when Will wishes he could turn invisible". Dattilo told Michael Logan of TV Guide that his character, Lucas is "in shock when he sees Will flirting with another guy". He said that he was proud of the writing, which he opined "stayed true to Lucas" as he is a "very loving and accepting guy". Lucas is worried about Will, he is worried that he may be persecuted because of his sexuality and fall victim to hate crimes. He added that Lucas would "do anything" to protect Will. Will is left feeling "vulnerable and exposed" when he finds out that Lucas is resuming his relationship with Sami. Will lashes out at Lucas and reveals that he is gay. Dattilo praised Massey's performance in the scenes. The actor had only worked alongside Massey on few occasions before his departure in 2010. He added that it was like meeting a new actor because Massey just "rips up every scene".

Storyline

Growing Up in Salem

Will was born on November 16, 1995, but was changed to 1992 to Sami and Austin via c-section. It was later revealed that Sami forged hospital records to conceal the fact that Lucas Roberts is Will's biological father. Over the following years, Will is centric to a custody battle between his parents. In addition he is a source of bad feeling between Sami and his grandmother Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow). Will later becomes rebellious, informally addressing his parents and hurting his cousin Abby. Will has issues with his parents being separated. He catches them together on a number of occasions and thinks they will reconcile. Lucas proposes to Sami, but they later separate when Sami is unfaithful, leaving Will upset. However, they reunite and attempt to marry again until Sami ruins it once more. Lucas marries Will's aunt Carrie, while Sami gets engaged to Austin. Will is happy with the outcome of his parents’ new relationships. Sami ruins her latest relationship, but this time Will cannot cope and runs away to Chicago. Sami fears that he has been kidnapped and goes onto the news to plea for his safe return, which prompts Will to come home.

Lucas moves back in with Will and Sami after Carrie has an affair with Austin and they move away. Will is pleased to have his parents together once more and they become engaged. Kate tries to ruin the wedding again but they marry regardless. However, due to the rift between the Brady and DiMera families, Will's home life is ruined once again. Stefano DiMera (Joseph Mascolo) tells Sami that she has to divorce Lucas and marry E.J. to end the feud. Sami agrees, but Will cannot cope with their latest split and lashes out at Sami. Will is sent to stay with Austin in Switzerland in order to protect him from the DiMeras. Upon his return he is still angry with Sami and clashed with her and Lucas. Will's behaviour becomes worse and after he is caught underage drinking, they send him back to Switzerland.

Romances : Mia, Gabi, and Sonny

Will decides to return and live with Sami. Will strikes up a friendship with Mia McCormick (Taylor Spreitler) and they grow close, not realizing she has been dishonest about her past. They enter a relationship following the death of his sister, Grace. Will ends their relationship when it becomes apparent that Mia has feelings for her ex-boyfriend Chad DiMera (Casey Deidrick). Mia tells him about her pregnancy and he gets back with her. Mia then separates from him in order to prevent Chad from finding information about the baby Nicole had adopted. Will then discovers that Mia is back with Chad the following day. Then everyone discovers Grace was not Sami's biological daughter, and Sydney was her real daughter after a mix up. Will is willing to date Mia again following the news but he soon changes his mind when he realizes that Mia is playing games with himself and Chad.

Will and Sami have further arguments and he encourages Sami to date Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) because he does not like EJ DiMera (James Scott). Will moves in with Kate and Stefano because of EJ, but she later gets him to move back. Will starts a relationship with Gabi. He also becomes friends with Sonny Kiriakis (Freddie Smith), but is shocked to learn that he is gay. He tells Gabi that he is okay with Sonny's sexuality. Will avoids getting intimate with her while they are together. He then asks her to move in with him and she accepts, but when Will rebuffs her again, Gabi ends their relationship. Will destroys Maggie's kitchen in anger. He later catches Sami having sex with EJ, which causes friction between the pair. Will bonds with his grandmother Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) and reveals that Sami is being unfaithful to Rafe. After another argument with Sami, Will goes to a party with Sonny and gets drunk. He meets Neil and kisses him, which is witnessed by Sonny. Will tells Sonny that he was just drunk and goes to see Marlena. He tells her about the kiss and she tells him that she will support him and that she always knew. He then tells Sonny that he is not ready to come out as gay. Will clashes with Sami when she seems more interested in herself than his problems. Sami contacts Lucas asking him to return to Salem.

Fatherhood

Will has a one-night stand with Gabi, which results in a pregnancy. As Will enters into a relationship with Sonny, Gabi begins to pass the baby off as Nick Fallon's. When the paternity of Gabi's baby is revealed, Sonny and Will split. They soon get back together, however Will still faces an obstacle. Nick begins to blackmail him into giving up his daughter's rights, because he is gay. When Will and Sonny save Nick and Gabi after they are kidnapped by Jensen, Gabi goes into labor and gives birth to their daughter, with Sonny's help, while Will tries to help Nick. Will gets shot after getting into a fight with Jensen; he survives the gunshot and meets his daughter for the first time. As a result of Will's kindness, Nick lets Will put his name on Arianna's birth certificate, in order to make things right. Sonny and Will then allow Gabi to move into the apartment across the hall from them, to keep Arianna close between all three of them.

Engagement and Marriage to Sonny Kiriakis

In 2014, Sonny proposes to Will, to which Will declined and decided they should wait until they're both ready. On Valentine's Day, Will proposes again to Sonny. The pair marry later at the Kiriakis mansion in front of their friends and family. On April 17, 2014, Will asked Gabi for a joint-custody agreement for Arianna, Gabi shocked by the suggestion, leaves to get some air and runs into Nick. Gabi tells Nick about Will asking her for a joint-custody agreement and Nick agrees that they should have some type of custody agreement for Arianna. Gabi returns home and tells Will that she agrees with him and that Nick helped her realize that she was making too much out of what Will said, saying that Nick understood why Will asked for a custody agreement after all that Nick put them through. Will says that Nick could put him, Gabi, Sonny, Kate and Sami in prison anytime he wants, Gabi tells Will that that's not what Nick wants, which leaves Will to question what does Nick want. On April 28, 2014, Will comes home to find custody agreement papers on the couch as he reads the agreement he finds out that his visitation rights have been lowered to every other weekend by Gabi's lawyer, Will instantly thinks that Nick is behind this. Gabi reassures Will that she would never keep him out of Arianna's life and that the custody agreement in his hands is not the final custody agreement. On May 9, 2014, Nick was shot once in the back and twice in the chest in the park, Will was in the Horton Town Square talking to Gabi and Sonny along with Sami, EJ, Kate, Lucas, Gabi, Abigail, Ben, Jordan and Rafe when Nick stumbles into the Town Square revealing to everyone that he'd been shot and then he falls into Julie's arms and when asked by Julie who did this to him, he tries to point at someone in the crowd. On May 28, 2014, Thinking that Sonny killed Nick, Will went to the Salem Police Station to see Hope to confess to killing Nick Fallon. On June 2, 2014, before signing his confession, Gabi barges in and admits to killing Nick. Gabi explained that she was scared of Nick's influence over her and felt she had to kill him to stop him from being a threat to Arianna. She also admitted to her role in Melanie's kidnapping which is a shock to everyone. (Later, Sonny had to confess to Will that he knew when Chad told him on December 11, 2012 but couldn't tell Will because of a legal agreement which Nick forced Chad to sign stipulating no one would know Gabi was behind it all. Justin drew this agreement and told Sonny not to tell anyone not even Will.) Gabi also told Marlena about her, Kate, and Sami throwing Nick in the river. EJ, who served as Gabi's lawyer, thought it would be better for her to have a plea deal than go to trial and have the truth about Melanie's kidnapping come out. Gabi accepted the plea deal and got ten to twenty years in prison. On June 12, 2014, Gabi says her last farewells leaving Will Horton and Sonny Kiriakis responsible for Arianna since both are her fathers. Since then both Will and Sonny has missed her dearly.

Will left with Arianna, Sami and his siblings for Hollywood to work on the script for Sami's reality show in October 2014. He and Ari returned but he harbored a secret, he was let go.

Paul Narita and Marriage Troubles

Will's editor assigns Will to write a cover article on the star baseball player Paul Narita, who is having to retire from baseball, despite being young, thanks to a serious shoulder injury. It is December 2014, and Will and Sonny are having problems. Sonny's venture to create a new club is failing, and Will discovers that Sonny has spent all of their joint money vainly trying to save the project. They need money, and Will plunges his efforts into his work, despite having relationship difficulties with Sonny. Will goes to interview Paul Narita, in the hotel he is staying in in Salem (the Salem Inn). On the advice of Zoe, his editor, he takes off his ring wedding ring before going to interview Paul. Will is kind and compassionate towards Paul and is interested in his story, and in helping him deal with his new situation. Will and Paul strike it off, and they find that they both really like each other. Will begins to suspect that Paul is gay - a closeted gay sports star - and that there is another, greater story that he could tell - and that he can help Paul come out! Will plucks up the courage to ask Paul whether he is gay - and then Paul asks Will the same - and suddenly they are in bed together having passionate sex! It is January 8, 2015. Will feels remorse immediately after, remembering his husband and daughter, and fears for his family. He tells Paul it is a mistake, and it can never happen again, and he leaves.

Will continues with his article - Will and Sonny need the money - and Will carries on visiting Paul in his hotel room to interview him. Will encourages Paul to seize the opportunity of the magazine article to come out to the world. He has Will, a sympathetic gay man, writing the article for him, and Will gives Paul the opportunity to come out to the world on his own terms and to share the real story the way he wants to. To help Paul, Will shares some of his own coming out story with Paul. Paul decides to do it - to come out - first to his family, and then to the world with the article - and Will works with Paul to get it just right. Paul tells his story of gay life as a closeted sports star, and about a man whom he loved deeply. This man had wanted to marry Paul - if he came out - but Paul feared to do so, and feared it would damage his sporting career - so Paul turned him down. It is Paul's biggest regret.

All this time Will is spending with Paul takes him away from Sonny, who really needs his support, because his big venture is failing. Sonny himself is consumed by work. Their relationship deteriorates.

What Will doesn't know is that Sonny is Paul's ex - Sonny is the man whom Paul loved deeply but had turned down for his sporting career - which is now finished! Will's editor had told Will to keep the name and subject of his interview to himself while he did his research and wrote the article - and Sonny had never told Will about Paul. So Paul is clueless that Will knows Sonny, and Will is clueless that Sonny is Paul's "one-who-got-away". And Sonny is clueless that Paul is the subject of Will's article. Into this triangle of cluelessness walks Derrick, the hotel's bellboy, who also has the hots for Paul.

Paul had come to Salem to have surgery at the Salem University Hospital (it was of limited success - his shoulder would never be strong enough to play baseball again), but he had also wanted to be in Salem to to see Sonny again. Before he met Will, Paul had tried to re-connect and re-kindle things with Sonny. Paul had surprised Sonny by initiating a kiss with him - but Sonny had pulled away and had told him that he was now married to someone else, and that their chance had passed. But Sonny had also gone to see Paul in his hotel room. Derrick had seen both Will and Sonny visiting Paul (separately, and unbeknownst to each other) at the Salem Inn. Because Derrick had inadvertently walked in on Paul and Will, he had even clicked to the fact that Will and Paul had had sex together - and he thought that was what they were up to all the time!

The night that Will is presenting his finished article to Paul - giving Paul a final read-through - Derrick drops into Club TBD for a drink. He is drinking at the bar, and Sonny is serving. He sees Will's picture in a magazine at the bar, and says that he wished he was where that guy was right now. Sonny hears this and is taken aback - and asks Derrick what he means. Derrick tells him that "that guy" (Will) is having sex with Paul Narita. Sonny is outraged, and dashes off to the hotel to confront Will and Paul. On the way there he is attacked and stabbed by a hitman that is working for Clyde Weston. Sonny is left unconscious and bleeding on the ground. He is discovered and taken to hospital, and has life-saving surgery - but he has lost his memory of the attack, and of hearing what Derrick had told him. On hearing of the attack on Sonny, Will rushes to the hospital to be with him. On seeing Sonny so vulnerable, Will feels terribly guilty, and wants to come clean with Sonny, but Kate dissuades him. Will does his best to support Sonny as he recovers from his injuries and trauma. He brings Arianna to see him. Will expresses his love and concern for Sonny. The hospital is short of Sonny's blood type, and Paul, who is visiting for physiotherapy, donates blood, which saves Sonny's life. Sonny's mum Adrienne sees and recognizes Paul at the hospital, and Paul discovers that the person who's life he has saved is Sonny.

Will's article is published while Sonny is in hospital. Will leaves his tablet at the hospital, so Sonny can read it. When he sees it, Sonny remembers - that Will has cheated on him - with his ex! He lays into Will. Sonny rejects Will, and when he is discharged from hospital, Sonny leaves Salem to get away from him (he goes and stays with one of his brothers). Marlena accidentally finds out about Will's infidelity when Paul tells her in a counseling session, not knowing that Marlena is Will's grandma.

When Sonny returns, Will and Sonny struggle to mend their relationship. And in April, a dirt-digging reporter discovers and publishes about Paul and Will's "affair". It was a one-night stand that Will immediately regretted, but the Kiriakis family are scandalized and turn against Will. Will and Sonny are seeing a therapist. Will offers the therapist a good write-up if he can fix their marriage. Sonny and Will argue over this, and Will reveals that he slept with another man while in California. Will is desperate to fix his marriage, and does everything he can to save it. He realizes that Sonny still loves Paul, and knowing that Paul wants to be with Sonny, he does all he can to get Paul to leave Salem. He discovers that Paul's mum, Tori Narita, who has come to Salem as well, has a secret past connected to Salem, that she doesn't want Paul to know. Will uses this to his advantage, by telling Tori that he will tell Paul of her secret if he does not leave Salem. Will thinks that he is Sonny's second choice, and feels that unless Paul is out of the picture he does not have a chance to save his marriage. Unfortunately for Will, further investigation leads him to believe that Paul is John Black's son that he never knew he had. He doesn't know what to do with this, and it all comes out in the worst possible way for Will. Will does his best to make things right, and welcomes Paul into their lives, and tries to set up Paul with Derrick (who has always had the hots for Paul and wants to be with him), and invites them both on double-dates with himself and Sonny. In his desperation for Paul to move on from Sonny, Will gives Derrick his unseen interview notes with Paul, so that Derrick has insight into Paul in the hope that Derrick can make it work with him. Unfortunately Derrick is not the sharpest pencil in the box, and lets slip too much, making it clear to Paul that Will has shared his notes with Derrick. Will, tries to forestall trouble, by coming clean about it with Sonny, but Sonny says it is totally unprofessional and unethical and is unforgiving towards Will. Out of the blue, he abandons Will and Arianna, and flies off to Paris to do some work for his Uncle Victor there. (This is in stark contrast to Sonny's earlier refusal to leave Club TBD, and join Will in California). Will fears that Sonny is never coming back to him, and Will is left comforting Arianna, who does not know why one of her Daddies has left her. Will now has to care for his daughter on his own.

Will's End

Thanks to the hard work of talented lawyer Aiden Jennings, Gabi is unexpectedly freed from prison - her conviction is over-turned on a technicality, and she is free! Gabi, Arianna, and Will are over-joyed to be re-united. Gabi's happiness and new attitude seem to rub off on Will. He has a brighter outlook, and he accepts Sonny's decision to take time out. He wants the best for Sonny, and begins to have faith that things will work out.

Ben Weston asks Will to be his best man at his upcoming wedding to Abigail Deveraux . Will is thrilled and says "yes". He visits Abby at Ben's flat, and gives Abby some wedding venue information to help her plan her wedding. Abby needs to go out to support her fiancé Ben, whose father, Clyde Weston, has just been arrested. Will offers to wait in the flat, because the cable guy is due to come that afternoon. Abby goes out, and while Will is waiting, he calls Sonny in Europe on his cellphone. It's night-time in Europe, and Will leaves a voice message for Sonny, admitting his fault in their breakup, and expresses his love. He also calls his mother, and tells her that he is going to fly out to Paris to win Sonny back. Will then uses the time to do some writing. He screws up some paper he has used and throws it across the room into the waste paper basket there. He kicks back, and has a game with himself, seeing how many paper balls he can get in the basket. When he misses, he goes to pick up the paper and put it in the basket, and he discovers that there is a red necktie in the trash. In recent weeks, two women in Salem have been murdered by a killer who strangles the victims with a red necktie, which is found with the body. Serena Mason and Paige Larson have been killed, and Will's grandma Marlena had a lucky escape. Ben arrives back home just as Will has picked up the tie, and is thinking about this. Ben behaves alarmingly when he sees Will with the tie, and Will realizes that Ben is the Necktie Killer. Will tries to leave but Ben slams the door shut, and throws Will across the room, and bangs Will's head against the fridge. Will is knocked out, and Ben then kills him by strangling him with the tie. (Will's end airs on October 9, 2015)

An Unbelievable Aftermath

Ben stuffs Will's body into a very large bag, and takes Will's body across town to Will's apartment. Amazingly, no one sees this. Ben breaks in to Will's apartments, and drops Will's body on the floor, and smashes up the apartment, staging the scene to look like Will was killed there. No one hears this. That evening Gabi comes home, sees Will's dead body, and screams.

The next day in Europe, Sonny is delighted to receive Will's message. He wants to get back with Will, and he is over the moon, thinking he and Will are back on. He is getting ready to fly back to America to be with Will, when his Uncle Victor rings to tell him the news. Sonny is destroyed by it. He flies back to Salem - but to bury his husband. On top of the devastation of Will's murder, Sonny is appalled that Will didn't get the chance to hear Sonny saying that he loved him, and know that he forgave him.

Also, the next day - in Salem - when Chad DiMera (who has been framed for the women's murders) hears of Will's murder on the news, he realizes that Ben is the real killer, and he goes around to Ben's flat to confront him. They have a long and bloody fist fight. Eventually Ben prevails, and he smashes Chad's head against the bed frame, cracking Chad's skull, and putting him into a coma. Abby walks into the apartment just after this, and Ben blames the fight on Chad, who he claims is the killer. Abby and Ben kiss. Unbelievably, no one in Salem - not Abby, not the police, not Will's husband, not any of Will's relatives - come to the obvious conclusion that as Will was last seen alive in Ben's apartment by Abigail, and Ben nearly killed Chad in the same apartment the next day, that Ben is very likely indeed to be the one who murdered Will. Unbelievably Will's relatives allow Ben to come to Will's funeral, and Abby even asks him to speak! Will's husband Sonny does not sit in the front row at his funeral, and none of Will's in-laws come to his funeral. Will's best friend T, (Tad Stevens), doesn't come, and isn't seen at all. Will's siblings don't come. Will's mother Sami has to be persuaded to come. Austin and Carrie and Billie don't come. Will's husband, and none of Will's relatives show any interest in finding out how Will died, not even Will's grandpa, Roman Brady, who is the police commissioner! The police don't enquire, or make a map of Will's last known movements - even though they have realized that Will's body was moved, and that he didn't die at home! They also don't bother checking Will's body and apartment for DNA or other telltale markers.

Sonny can't bear to stay in Salem, and he abandons Arianna and Gabi, and flies back to Paris. Sami abandons them too.

The lack of investigation into Will's death allows his killer to kill again. Ben abducts Abby, chains her up, and forces her to give birth in chains. Abby belatedly realizes that Ben is the killer of "those people", as she, Will's cousin and long-time friend, notably puts it. Ben kills the midwife, Wendy, and kidnaps the baby. He tries to kill Abby and Chad (who has come looking for Abby) but they escape - and Ben is arrested (on December 7). Will's killer is caught because his escalating craziness and aggression betray him, and not because of any concern to properly investigate the death of Will Horton.

Reception

Awards and Nominations

Gay Storyline

Luke Kerr of Zap2it opined that Will is an important role within the series. Rick Nelson of the Star Tribune said that Will's coming out storyline was addictive viewing. Anthony D. Langford of AfterElton.com said that Will suffered from "the fate of most TV gays" who are "basically nice guys" with an absence of dark characteristics. He added that this stereotype does not "exactly make riveting television". He later bemoaned the slow pace of Will's coming out storyline. He said that it was "hard to believe" that the scenes took one year air following their announcement and that "many wondered if the moment would actually come". Langford quipped that it would probably take another year for his family to find out. Pascal Parvis of Têtu noted that Will and Neil's kiss was "not a little" and said "What could be better" than the serial's first gay kiss lasting two episodes. Online blogger Perez Hilton described the scenes as "incredible" and "absolutely wonderful". He praised the serial and NBC for not "bowing down to bigoted pressure" and showing a "hot steamy make-out" session as opposed to a kiss. A columnist for The Huffington Post said that it was fortunate that the "much-hyped" scene was more than a kiss. Sara Bibel of Xfinity said that Will and Neil got the "full soap treatment" because other soap operas pan the camera away during same-sex kisses. Bibel said that the subject of homosexuality is no longer "taboo or groundbreaking", but said it was a development for a soap that is usually "socially conservative".

Joachim Ohnona from Pure People said that it took the serial more than ten thousand episodes to air their first gay kiss. He added that it was "better late than never" and opined that some would call it a "non-event" for the soap opera. Dan Avery of Queerty said that the serial "made television history yesterday when it became the absolutely last show to show two men kissing". Avery felt it took too long to show the gay kiss and quipped "he’ll get some bed scenes by 2016". Entertainment Weekly's Lynette Rice branded the storyline as "Project Get-Fans-Talking" and "the latest effort to remain relevant at a time when soaps are desperately losing their luster". Langford later criticized the storyline for not developing fast enough. He said that Will's scenes with Marlena were "nice" because Massey and Hall have "terrific chemistry".

Will Horton's romance with Sonny Kiriakis has been generally well received by critics and the audience. TV Guide said that "while it took 45 years for the show to introduce its first openly gay character (Sonny) and another year and a half to have him find a male partner (Will), the wait was well worth it. This steamy, star-crossed saga has had drama to spare (Paranoia! Blackmail! Impossible parents!), but its real success lies in the fresh, easy charm of these two young men." TV Source Magazine named Will and Sonny Best Couple of 2012 in the Days of Our Lives series, saying "One of the most refreshing things about Will and Sonny’s relationship is it's portrayed just as any heterosexual couple would be. Watching them grow from friends to being in love was one of the highlights of the year for DAYS."

See also

• Will and Sonny
• Supercouple
• Brady family
• Horton family
• Roberts family
• The Celluloid Closet

References

1. "Media: Will & Sonny: Days of Our Lives' new supercouple!". E Wall Streeter. American Media, Inc. March 17, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
2. "The Daytime TV Power Couple That May (or May Not) Surprise You". July 4, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
3. ^ Di Lauro, Janet. "Profile of Will Horton". About.com. (The New York Times Company). Retrieved March 5, 2012.
4. ^ Di Lauro, Janet (2003). "Nice to Meet You: Christopher Gerse (Will, Days)". Soap Opera Digest. (Source Interlink). Archived from the original on February 18, 2010. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
5. "Days: Patton Out, Massey In". Soapnet. (Disney-ABC Television Group). Retrieved March 5, 2012.
6. ^ Jacobs, Damon L. (August 30, 2011). "We Love Soaps TV 3.08 On The Set Of Days With Chandler Massey". We Love Soaps. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
7. "DAYS Casts Star's Brother". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc. February 8, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
8. Branco, Nelson (June 5, 2013). "2 DAYS STARS LEAVING!". Soap Opera Uncensored (72): 8. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |chapter= ignored (help)
9. Kroll, Dan J (June 18, 2013). "Massey repeats, as Alderson wins first Emmy in first nomination". SoapCentral. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
10. Rudolph, Christopher (June 18, 2013). "Chandler Massey, 'Days Of Our Lives' Star, Wins Second Emmy For Gay Teen Portrayal". The Huffington Post. AOL. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
11. Fairman, Michael (July 2, 2013). "The Ken Corday Interview – Days of our Lives". On-Air On-Soaps. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
12. Fairman, Michael (July 26, 2013). "DAYS Chandler Massey: "If they decide to bring someone else to play Will, I won't be upset and bitter. I want what is best for WilSon!". On-Air On-Soaps. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
13. SOD (August 23, 2013). "Exclusive! Chandler Massey Off DAYS - Effective Immediately!". Soap Opera Digest. Soapoperadigest.com. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
14. SOD (September 12, 2013). "DAYS's Jen Lilley Reveals New Will". Soap Opera Digest. Soapoperadigest.com. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
15. Cliffford, Kimbra (November 14, 2013). "'DAYS Freddie Smith Speaks Out About the Chandler Massey/Guy Wilson Recast". Soap Opera Digest. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
16. Clifford, Kambra (December 20, 2013). "From Massey to Wilson: Actor Switch Dates Revealed for 'DAYS' Will Horton". Soap Opera Network. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
17. "Days-of-Our-Lives COMINGS & GOINGS". Soaps.com. October 30, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
18. Days of Our Lives. Season 50. Episode 12, 474. December 1, 2014. NBC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
19. Lewis, Errol (December 4, 2014). "Guy Wilson Returns Full-Time To 'Days of our Lives". Soap Opera Network. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
20. Goldberg, Michael (September 16, 2015). "Confirmed: Guy Wilson Leaving 'Days of our Lives'". Serial Scoop. United States: Blogger (Google). Retrieved September 16, 2015. {{cite web}}: templatestyles stripmarker in |website= at position 1 (help)
21. "Comings and Goings: Guy Wilson (Will Horton)". Soap Opera Digest. (Vol. 40, No. 42). October 19, 2015. p. 11.
22. Di Lauro, Janet (August 15, 2011). "Will out as Sonny's Love Interest on Days of Our Lives?". About.com. (The New York Times Company). Retrieved March 5, 2012.
23. ^ Rice, Lynette (October 31, 2011). "'Days of Our Lives': Another Salem character comes out of the closet - Exclusive". Entertainment Weekly. (Time Inc.). Retrieved March 5, 2012.
24. Proud, Amelia (February 24, 2012). "Days of Our Lives makes US daytime soap opera history by featuring gay kiss". Daily Mail. (Associated Newspapers). Retrieved March 8, 2012.
25. ^ Hernandez, Greg (December 7, 2011). "Actor relishes gay role on US soap opera". Gay Star News. (Gay Star News Ltd). Retrieved 5 March 2012.
26. Tereszcuk, Alexis (February 23, 2012). "Actor opens up about Days of our Lives gay kiss". RadarOnline.com. (American Media). Retrieved March 9, 2012.
27. ^ Logan, Michael (February 24, 2012). "Days of Our Lives Scoop: Lucas Beds Sami! Bryan Dattilo Dishes His Return to Salem". TV Guide. (TV Guide Network). Retrieved 5 March 2012.
28. Sonny said Will wasn't of drinking age in February 2012. Plus, Will's age was listed as 20 on Ariana's birth certificate in June 2013.
29. New Years Eve 2013 is mentioned on December 27/30, 2013. Will kept on mentioning his surprise birthday party through mid-late December 2013.
30. Will's grave marker, listed his birth year. October 19, 2015.
31. Garrett, Tommy (May 16, 2010). "Daytime Emmy Nominations Announced". Canyon News. (Glen Kelly). Retrieved March 4, 2012.
32. "38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Nominations Announced". About.com. (The New York Times Company). May 13, 2010. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
33. Bowe, Jillian (March 2, 2012). "BREAKING NEWS: 2012 Daytime Emmy Pre-Noms Announced!". Zap2it. (Tribune Media Services). Retrieved March 9, 2012.
34. Townsend, Megan (June 17, 2013). "Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards: Chandler Massey and 'Days of Our Lives' Win Big". glaad.org. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
35. Nordyke, Kimberly (June 22, 2014). "Daytime Emmy Awards Winners 2014: Complete Results List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
36. Kerr, Luke (December 7, 2009). "Days' Dylan Patton out, Chandler Massey in as Will Horton". Zap2it. (Tribune Media Services). Retrieved March 5, 2012.
37. Nelson, Rick; Peck, Claude (March 3, 2012). "Withering Glance: TV tackles Broadway musical in 'Smash'". Star Tribune. (The Star Tribune Company). Retrieved March 4, 2012.
38. Langford, Anthony D. (September 1, 2011). "Langford On Soaps: Blame It On Irene!". AfterElton.com. (Logo). Retrieved March 31, 2012.
39. Langford, Anthony D. (February 15, 2012). "Langford on Soaps: Will Finally Says He's Gay on "Days Of Our Lives"". AfterElton.com. (Logo). Retrieved March 4, 2012.
40. Parvis, Pascal (February 24, 2012). "A first gay kiss on the soap "Days of Our Lives"". Têtu (in French). (MPPC). Retrieved March 5, 2012.
41. Hilton, Perez (February 24, 2012). "Days Of Our Lives Airs Their First Gay Kiss!!!". Perezhilton.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
42. "'Days Of Our Lives' Gay Kiss: Will And Neil's Steamy Smooch Makes Daytime Soap History". The Huffington Post. (AOL). February 24, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
43. Bibel, Sara (February 23, 2012). "Deep Soap: 'Days of Our Lives' Has First Gay Kiss". Xfinity. (Comcast). Retrieved March 9, 2012.
44. Ohnona, Joachim (February 24, 2012). "'Days of Our Lives': First gay kiss after 46 years of broadcasting!". Pure People (in French). (Disney Co). Retrieved March 5, 2012.
45. Avery, Dan (February 24, 2012). "Days of our Lives has first gay kiss—Finally!". Queerty. (Five3Five Media). Retrieved March 5, 2012.
46. Rice, Lynette (February 22, 2012). "'Days of our Lives': Time for first gay kiss! -- PHOTO". Entertainment Weekly. (Time Inc.). Retrieved March 9, 2012.
47. D. Langford, Anthony (March 14, 2012). "Langford on Soaps: Is "General Hospital" Getting A Gay?". AfterElton.com. (Logo). Retrieved March 14, 2012.
48. Lewis, Errol (November 16, 2012). "According to TV Guide Magazine 'GH' is 'Hot Again,' While 'DAYS' Has 'Hotter Nights'". soapoperanetwork.com. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
49. TVSource, Team (January 28, 2013). "Best of 2012: Soap Opera Edition". tvsourcemagazine.com. Retrieved June 3, 2013.

External links

• Character profile at About.com

• Days of Our Lives characters
• Fictional gay males
• Fictional writers
• Fictional characters introduced in 1995