Born in Wandsworth, London, Hayes attended Sir Walter St John's Grammar School For Boys, Battersea. He was also in a theatrical troupe called Terry's Juveniles and his acting career stretches back to 1950 when he was "disappearing twice daily for £4 per week" performing the Indian rope trick in Maskelyne's Mysteries at the Comedy Theatre in London. He also appeared in Repertory Theatres in Surrey, Derbyshire and the Midlands. One of his earliest roles was in the BBC television adaptation of Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School.
His film roles include the young Victor Frankenstein in The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), Cecil Biggs in Bottoms Up (1960), Jimmy in The Young Ones (1961) with Cliff Richard, Cyril in Summer Holiday (1963), again with Cliff Richard and 'Brother' Willy in Crooks in Cloisters (1964). He also performed voices on children's cartoons such as SuperTed, The Dreamstone, Little Dracula, Alfred J. Kwak, Pongwiffy and Budgie the Little Helicopter.
In 1974-1981, Hayes featured in It Ain't Half Hot Mum firstly as Gunner "Gloria" Beaumont for the first two series, then after Bombardier Solomon left he became Bombardier Beaumont.
Hayes presented awards at the annual Isle of Wight County Press amateur theatre ceremony on 9 November 2010, at Shanklin Conservative Club. Hayes is a member of the Grand Order of Water Rats and in 2004, was made King Rat.
Other roles include parts in EastEnders as Michael Rawlins. Carry On England, Love Thy Neighbour, The Thin Blue Line, Here Come the Double Deckers, Potter's Picture Palace and the final series of Drop the Dead Donkey. He also provided the voice to characters in the English translation of the cartoon Alfred J. Kwak. In March 2011, Hayes appeared as Mr Pink in the ITV1 comedy TV series Benidorm. His latest theatre appearance was in You're Only Young Twice (2012) He was also in the Doctor Who - The Companion Chronicles audio The Scorchies (2013).
