Hey Days fans, this is Belinda from DrinkFood, and I have some truly sad news to share with you. John Black actor Drake Hogestyn just passed away on Saturday, September 28th, the day before what would have been his 71st birthday.
The official Days Peacock Instagram account released a statement this evening from the Hogestyn family, sharing that he had passed away and about the long health battle that Drake has been waging that wasn’t public knowledge. They said that Drake Hogestyn was thrown the curveball of his life when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. They said he faced the challenge with incredible strength and determination.
His family said Drake was the most amazing husband, father, Papa, and actor. They said he loved performing for the Days audience and sharing the stage with the greatest cast, crew, and production team in the business. They added, “After putting up an unbelievable fight, he passed peacefully surrounded by his loved ones.”
They closed the statement saying, “We love him and will miss him all the days of our lives.”
With the news breaking so late in the day, there hasn’t been a lot of actors’ responses yet. I’m sure there will be more pouring in, and we’ll share those with you in another update. But for now, actor Dan FAL, who plays EJ DiMera, said, “Drake always made me feel part of the family; such a true gentleman. He will be greatly missed.”
Newcomer Julie Dove, who played Connie Vsky, that you probably know is a super fan of Days in her own right, said, “Rest peacefully, Drake. You were a gift to so many. Sending love to the Hogestyn family.”
Executive producer Ken Cord said, “This is a very difficult one for all of us. Hogi was the ultimate team player, and there are not sufficient words to express how deeply he will be missed. His impact on our show, personally and professionally, was profound and will forever remain unmatched.”
And of course, if you’re a longtime watcher, you know that we first met Drake Hogestyn on Days of Our Lives back in 1986 when John Black was first introduced as the pawn character. They brought him back recently as John Black was struggling with his past as an assassin and lost memories—really gripping storyline.
Personally, you know Drake Hogestyn lived an amazingly rich life. He was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and went to college on a baseball scholarship at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He majored in pre-dentistry—an incredibly smart man. He had a double major when he graduated in microbiology and applied sciences, and he was planning to be an oral surgeon.
But he was also such a talented athlete that he was drafted by two major league teams. He ended up selecting the New York Yankees and played third base for one of their farm teams up until he was injured in 1977 and had to stop playing.
So how did this amazing man go from oral surgery aspirations to baseball to acting? Well, Drake Hogestyn entered a talent search for Columbia Pictures way back in the late ’70s, and he was one of just 30 aspiring actors out of 75,000 applicants that were chosen. He landed a few TV roles between 1982 and 1986 when Days of Our Lives put him on contract.
Drake and his scene partner Deidre Hall, who plays Marlena Evans, of course, were on the show for years and years with brief breaks. But then they were victims of budget cuts in 2008. However, they brought John and Marlena back to Days in 2011, which thrilled fans.
Drake Hogestyn, in his real life, had married his childhood sweetheart, and he and Victoria Hogestyn had three daughters and one son.
One of Drake’s most riveting storylines in recent years was the exploration of John Black’s backstory when Days of Our Lives cast his real-life friend Dick Van Dyke to play his father. The two were gym buddies, and Dick asked Drake if there were any parts on Days for “old guys.” So they wrote him one and cast Dick Van Dyke and Drake Hogestyn as father and son, seen partners for many weeks. It was incredible work.
And of course, today we found out we have lost a legend with Drake Hogestyn’s passing at age 70, one day before his 71st birthday.
And of course, with Days of Our Lives shooting six to seven months ahead, I expect in an upcoming episode we will get an in memoriam card at the beginning or end of one of these episodes. But it’ll be well into 2025 before they can script an on-screen death for John Black and a true tribute to fan-favorite actor Drake Hogestyn.
We wish the Hogestyn family peace in this very sad time.
