Hayes began his production career in 1976 as Director of Development for Aaron Spelling Productions where he developed both dramatic series and television movies. He quickly moved into the role of Associate Producer overseeing post-production on all movies-of-the-week and pilots before serving as producer on 66 episodes of Vegas. He then wrote and produced 65 episodes of T.J. Hooker for Spelling/Goldberg Productions and Columbia Pictures, continuing with Spelling through 1985 as Supervising Producer of Finder of Lost Loves. This series marked his directorial debut.

In 1985 Hayes was appointed Executive Vice President, Creative Affairs, at Paramount Pictures Network Television. In this capacity he was responsible for overseeing business affairs, casting and all development and production of comedy and drama series, miniseries and movies for television. During his tenure at the studio, projects developed and/or produced included Star Trek: The Next Generation, Macgyver, Dear John, Bronx Zoo, Cheers, Family Ties and Mission Impossible. From 1989 through 1991 Hayes had an exclusive production deal with Paramount and served as creative consultant on Dolphin Cove for CBS, Executive Producer/Writer on Earth Force for CBS and Executive Producer/Writer on Mission Impossible for ABC.

After his years at Paramount, Hayes executive produced Official Denial, The Thirteenth Floor, Dirty Work and Meteorite, two-hour movies for Wilshire Court Productions and the USA Network. He also executive produced the NBC telemovie The Flood for Warner Bros. and NBC. From 1993-1995, he co-created and executive produced 44 episodes of Time Trax with Harve Bennett for Lorimar Television and the PTEN Network.

In 1995 Hayes became President and Executive Producer for Village Roadshow Pictures Television where he executive produced In Pursuit of Honor, an HBO Premiere Movie starring Don Johnson; Sahara, starring Jim Belushi, for the Showtime Network; the four-hour miniseries The Thorn Birds-the Missing Years, with the David Wolper Organization starring Richard Chamberlain, for CBS. He oversaw the production of Alliance Atlantis's NightMan, a syndicated series produced by Alliance Atlantis, in association with Glen Larson Productions and Tribune Entertainment. He was Executive Producer of the syndicated series Flipper, and served as Executive Producer for the miniseries 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, starring Michael Caine and Bryan Brown for the ABC Television Network.

On January 1, 1999 Coote/Hayes Productions was established. During this year, Hayes, along with his partner Greg Coote, will executive produce four TV series: Beastmaster co-produced with Alliance Atlantis, The Lost World in association with John Landis' St. Claire Entertainment and Telescene Film Group, the 4th season of Flipper in association with MGM and 46 half hours of The Aquanauts for the Discovery Channel in association with Great North Productions.

Hayes and Coote also executive produced two 2-hour pilots this year with Telescene Film Group: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde in association with Francis Ford Coppola, and Fearless, co-produced with Roger Donaldson.

A four-hour miniseries of On the Beach has been ordered from Showtime and will be co-produced with Southern Star. Two other major miniseries are in active development: Saigon with Phil Noyce directing, and Robert Hughes' The Fatal Shore with Bruce Beresford.

CAST LIST