Days of our Lives: Drake Hogestyn Last Episode & Cast Tributes to John Black Actor

You’re reading to DrinkFood. Hey, Days of Our Lives fans. I’m sure you know by now that Drake Hogestyn passed away this weekend on Saturday, September 28th, from pancreatic cancer. We shared the news here, but at that point, there weren’t many castmate reactions. Today, I have an update on Drake’s final air date as John Black, along with some touching tributes from his co-stars.

If you’ve heard that Days is shut down and wondered if it was tied to Drake’s death, it’s not. They are dark this week due to a pre-scheduled hiatus, so don’t read much into them not filming. I got that directly from Days of Our Lives PR on Monday. Now, let’s talk about co-star reactions to this tragic loss of the John Black actor, and then we’ll talk about his last episode.

Julie Williams actress, Susan Seaforth Hayes—who lost her beloved husband Bill Hayes earlier this year—said, “Drake was the easygoing hero every woman hopes to cross paths with in crisis or romance. Drake was the buddy every man hopes to never lose. He always gave his best, one of those Days icons that kept America tuning in for 60 years. His castmates were his greatest fans of all.”

Martha Madison, who played John Black’s daughter Belle Black, said, “Today the world lost a great man. Salem lost its greatest hero, and I lost one of my favorite scene partners. With a heart full of baseball, Drake embodied team spirit and mentored so many of us like a true team captain. He was also a cheerleader. One of my favorite memories was when I was super nervous, preparing a five-page deathbed monologue. After we finished the scene, both of us soaked in tears, he hugged me and whispered, ‘Kid, it was like hearing the crack of the bat on a long ball that flies into the stands and the crowd goes wild.’”

If you don’t know, Drake was drafted into a Yankees farm team as a third baseman before he was injured and transitioned into acting.

Stephen Nichols, who plays John Black’s best friend Steve Johnson, said, “My dear friend Drake has passed, and this loss is overwhelming. Drake was a man’s man with a huge heart. I never heard him say a negative word about anyone. He fought hard—that’s who he was, a man with an iron will who never gave up.”

Sami Brady actress, Alison Sweeney, said, “Drake was an incredible man, funny, generous, and thoughtful. He cared about every single scene and every person. My heart breaks for his family. They meant everything to him. He was such a huge part of my life at Days. I will miss him terribly and treasure every story, joke, and hug.”

Abe Carver actor, James Reynolds, kept his tribute short but moving: “Drake was my friend and castmate, and I’m grateful for the moments we shared. Our love to Victoria and their family.”

Eric Martsolf, who played Drake’s onscreen son Brady Black, shared that on his first day on the Days of Our Lives set, Drake placed a hand on his shoulder and said, “You got this, kid,” and continued to mentor him for 16 years. Martsolf said, “Our hallways at Days will never be the same without him. I was honored to portray his son.”

Christopher Sean, who played Paul Narita, said, “I will always love you. You were more than just my TV father; in my eyes, you were my dad. Thank you for everything you taught me and the love you gave me.”

Judi Evans, who played Adrienne and now Bonnie Kiriakis, said, “Drake was hilarious and approached his work with happy enthusiasm. He made the world around him a funnier, better, sweeter place.”

So many tributes poured in, too many to share in one video. What stood out in all of them was Drake’s legacy as a storyteller, mentor, father figure, and friend—someone who was kind, patient, funny, and truly a good man.

Now, regarding Drake’s last episode as John Black, I got a follow-up message from Days PR confirming that his last appearance aired on September 9, 2024. None of us knew it at the time, but his final scene was a touching moment where Brady Black told John that he had been released from jail due to insufficient evidence. In his last moment on-screen, Drake hugged Eric Martsolf as John hugged Brady. So far, there’s no information on how Days will handle John Black’s permanent exit now that Drake Hogestyn has passed away.

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