# Kathryn Hays
**Kathryn Hays** (born Kay Piper; July 26, 1933 – March 25, 2022) was an American actress best known for playing Kim Sullivan Hughes on the CBS daytime soap opera *As the World Turns* from 1972 until the show ended in 2010, and for playing the mute alien Gem in the 1968 *Star Trek* episode "The Empath". She died in [Fairfield, Connecticut](https://www.edgepedia.org/fairfield-connecticut), at the age of 87.[1](https://www.thewrap.com/kathryn-hays-as-the-world-turns-and-star-trek-actress-dies-at-87/) • [2](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/bcrnews/name/kathryn-hays-obituary?id=34260281)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth name and date | Kay Piper, born July 26, 1933, in Princeton, Illinois; raised in Joliet, Illinois[1](https://www.thewrap.com/kathryn-hays-as-the-world-turns-and-star-trek-actress-dies-at-87/) • [3](https://bureauhistory.org/k-hays/) |
| Signature role | Kim Sullivan Hughes on *As the World Turns*, August 1972 to the final episode on September 17, 2010, a 38-year run[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0371624/bio/) • [3](https://bureauhistory.org/k-hays/) |
| Cast standing | Fourth-longest-appearing cast member of *As the World Turns* when the series went off the air[5](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/kathryn-hays-1934-2022-actress-known-for-as-the-world-turns-star-trek) |
| *Star Trek* role | Gem, a mute alien who heals others by absorbing their pain, in "The Empath", first broadcast December 6, 1968[6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/23337/kathryn-hays) • [1](https://www.thewrap.com/kathryn-hays-as-the-world-turns-and-star-trek-actress-dies-at-87/) |
| Series regular work | Elizabeth Reynolds on the NBC western *The Road West* (1966), one season of 29 episodes[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0371624/bio/) |
| Films | *Ladybug Ladybug* (1963), *Ride Beyond Vengeance* (1966), and *Counterpoint* (1967), opposite Charlton Heston[1](https://www.thewrap.com/kathryn-hays-as-the-world-turns-and-star-trek-actress-dies-at-87/) |
| Marriages | Sidney Steinberg (1957), actor Glenn Ford (1966–1969), and Wolfgang G Lieschke (1984; annulled 1985)[1](https://www.thewrap.com/kathryn-hays-as-the-world-turns-and-star-trek-actress-dies-at-87/) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0371624/bio/) |
## Early life and start in acting
Hays was born Kay Piper in Princeton, Illinois, to Roger and Daisy (Hays) Piper, and grew up in Joliet. She attended a summer arts program at [Northwestern University](https://www.edgepedia.org/northwestern-university) and received a scholarship offer at a junior college; at 18 she left college to work as a fashion model in Chicago, appearing in television commercials for Chicago's WGN-TV in the 1950s.[3](https://bureauhistory.org/k-hays/) A contemporary profile described her as giving up a career as one of New York's most glamorous high-fashion models to become an actress.[7](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-Album/Who%27s-Who-in-Television-No-16.pdf)
Sources disagree on her birth year: TheWrap, the Bureau County History Center, Television Academy, and WorldCat give July 26, 1933, while IMDb and TVmaze list 1934.[1](https://www.thewrap.com/kathryn-hays-as-the-world-turns-and-star-trek-actress-dies-at-87/) • [3](https://bureauhistory.org/k-hays/) • [8](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/kathryn-hays) • [9](https://entities.oclc.org/worldcat/entity/E39PBJckTyvY4p9RCbPhtkXPQq.html) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0371624/bio/) • [6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/23337/kathryn-hays) Obituaries reporting her death at 87 are consistent with the 1933 date.[2](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/bcrnews/name/kathryn-hays-obituary?id=34260281)
## Television and film career of the 1960s
Hays began her professional acting career in the early 1960s with guest appearances on prime-time series including *Hawaiian Eye*, *Surfside 6*, *Naked City*, *Route 66*, *Bonanza*, *[The Virginian](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-virginian-tv-series)*, *The Man from U.N.C.L.E.*, and *[Mannix](https://www.edgepedia.org/mannix)*.[10](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kathryn-hays-dies-longtime-world-195951098.html) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0371624/bio/) Her first soap role was Leslie Bauer on *Guiding Light* before she joined *As the World Turns*.[11](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/kathryn-hays.html)
In 1966 she co-starred as a pioneer's wife, Elizabeth Reynolds, opposite Barry Sullivan in *The Road West*, an NBC western that ran one season and 29 episodes.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0371624/bio/) Her three theatrical films were the Cold War thriller *Ladybug Ladybug* (1963), in which she played a school secretary; *Ride Beyond Vengeance* (1966) opposite [Chuck Connors](https://www.edgepedia.org/chuck-connors); and the World War II drama *Counterpoint* (1967), as cellist Annabel Rice, a former lover of [Charlton Heston](https://www.edgepedia.org/charlton-heston)'s character.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0371624/bio/)
**The Empath.** Her most recognized guest role came in 1968, when she played Gem in the *Star Trek: The Original Series* episode "The Empath", first broadcast on December 6, 1968. Gem was a mute alien capable of absorbing the pain and injuries of others and healing them while learning about compassion and sacrifice; without dialogue, Hays conveyed the character through expression and gesture.[6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/23337/kathryn-hays) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0371624/bio/)
## As the World Turns, 1972–2010
In August 1972 Hays joined CBS's *As the World Turns* as Kim Sullivan, later Kim Hughes, and remained with the show through its final episode on September 17, 2010.[10](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kathryn-hays-dies-longtime-world-195951098.html) • [3](https://bureauhistory.org/k-hays/) Over roughly four decades the character grew from a troublemaker into a family matriarch, and Hays became one of the serial's central performers; at the series' end her 38-year stint made her the fourth-longest-appearing cast member.[10](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kathryn-hays-dies-longtime-world-195951098.html) • [5](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/kathryn-hays-1934-2022-actress-known-for-as-the-world-turns-star-trek) One early storyline involving marital rape was controversial for discussing a topic rarely addressed on daytime television at the time.[10](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kathryn-hays-dies-longtime-world-195951098.html)
[Don Hastings](https://www.edgepedia.org/don-hastings), who played her screen husband Bob Hughes, said after her death that their relationship was close off camera as well: "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.[1](https://www.thewrap.com/kathryn-hays-as-the-world-turns-and-star-trek-actress-dies-at-87/)
## Stage work and later appearances
Hays appeared in Broadway productions including *The Irregular Verb to Love*, *The Moon Besieged*, and *Mary, Mary*, and in summer stock and regional theater, playing roles such as Desiree in *A Little Night Music* at the Equity Library Theater in New York.[10](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kathryn-hays-dies-longtime-world-195951098.html) • [2](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/bcrnews/name/kathryn-hays-obituary?id=34260281) Her later television work included *Law & Order* (1999) and a 2007 episode of *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*, her last screen appearance.[6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/23337/kathryn-hays) • [1](https://www.thewrap.com/kathryn-hays-as-the-world-turns-and-star-trek-actress-dies-at-87/)
In 2019 the city of Princeton, Illinois, placed a star for her in its Walk of Fame outside the [Apollo Theater](https://www.edgepedia.org/apollo-theater), only the second star so displayed there. In October 2020 she rejoined *As the World Turns* castmates in a reunion supporting live theater through the nonprofit Katonah Classic Stage, raising money for musicians and theater artists during the coronavirus pandemic.[3](https://bureauhistory.org/k-hays/)
## Personal life and death
Hays married Sidney Steinberg in 1957, with whom she had a daughter, Sherri. She was married to the actor [Glenn Ford](https://www.edgepedia.org/glenn-ford) from March 27, 1966, to June 26, 1969, making her his second wife, and to Wolfgang G Lieschke from January 15, 1984; that marriage was annulled in 1985.[1](https://www.thewrap.com/kathryn-hays-as-the-world-turns-and-star-trek-actress-dies-at-87/) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0371624/bio/) She died on March 25, 2022, in Fairfield, Connecticut, at 87; no cause of death was given. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sherri and Bob Mancusi, three grandchildren, and a great-grandson.[1](https://www.thewrap.com/kathryn-hays-as-the-world-turns-and-star-trek-actress-dies-at-87/)
## References
1. [Kathryn Hays, 'As the World Turns' and 'Star Trek' Actress, Dies at 87, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/kathryn-hays-as-the-world-turns-and-star-trek-actress-dies-at-87/)
2. [Kathryn Hays Obituary (2022), Legacy.com / Bureau County Republican](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/bcrnews/name/kathryn-hays-obituary?id=34260281)
3. [Kathryn Hays, Bureau County History Center](https://bureauhistory.org/k-hays/)
4. [Kathryn Hays Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0371624/bio/)
5. [Kathryn Hays (1934–2022), actress known for "As the World Turns," "Star Trek", Legacy/News](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/kathryn-hays-1934-2022-actress-known-for-as-the-world-turns-star-trek)
6. [Kathryn Hays, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/23337/kathryn-hays)
7. [Who's Who in Television No. 16, WorldRadioHistory](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-Album/Who%27s-Who-in-Television-No-16.pdf)
8. [Kathryn Hays, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/kathryn-hays)
9. [Kathryn Hays, WorldCat Entities](https://entities.oclc.org/worldcat/entity/E39PBJckTyvY4p9RCbPhtkXPQq.html)
10. [Kathryn Hays Dies: Longtime 'As The World Turns', 'Star Trek' Actress Was 87, Yahoo Entertainment/Deadline](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kathryn-hays-dies-longtime-world-195951098.html)
11. [Kathryn Hays, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/kathryn-hays.html)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1940s to 1960s › Surnames H*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license