Star Trek Actress Kathryn Hays Passes Away At 87-Years-Old

Kathryn Hays was best known for her decades-long role as Kim Sullivan Hughes on CBS’ ‘As the World Turns’ and for appearing in Star Trek’s Season 3. The soap opera icon has passed away. She was 87-years-old.

Hays died in Fairfield, Connecticut on March 25, according to TV Line. No cause of death has yet been stated. Her longtime on-screen husband Don Hastings, known to the audience as Bob Hughes released a statement after news broke of her passing.

“Our relationship as Bob and Kim was as close as Kathryn and my relationship, except we were not married,” the 88-year-old actor said. “We were more like brother and sister and we were great friends. Our biggest squabble was that she always wanted to rehearse and I wanted to take a nap. This is a huge loss to all who knew her.”

Kathryn made her debut on As The World Turns in 1972, and remained in the role of Kim Sullivan for 54 years, until the show ended in 2010. “I always say … it was the longest job I ever had,” she said in 2020, while on YouTube talk show The Locher Room. “Actors never have long jobs like that. I mean, they would play on Broadway a certain amount of times or whatever. But it was the longest job and the best partner I ever had.” Her longstanding role earned her a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019.

Kathryn was born Kay Piper on July 26, 1933, in Princeton, Illinois but raised in Joliet. As a young woman, she enrolled at the prestigious Northwestern University. Kathryn’s first marriage was to Sidney Steinberg in 1957, and welcomed a daughter Sherri. Hays was also married to Glenn Ford from 1966 – 1969, and to Wolf Lieshke from 1984 – 1986.

Kathryn did numerous television guest starring roles over the years, including on one episode of Star Trek dubbed “The Empath.” She played Gem, a mute alien who had the incredible ability to heal wounds with her touch. The performance got her a primetime Emmy Nomination.

She had a career on Broadway as well, appearing in “Ladybug, Ladybug,” “The Irregular Verb to Love” and “Hot September,” in addition to other productions. She will be remembered by her grandchild Kate, Cameron and Garrett Wells.

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