Drake Hogestyn: Remembering The Legendary John Black of Days of Our Lives | Tribute
Hey Days fans,
Today we’ve gathered here to share truly devastating news about the passing of John Black actor, Drake Hogestyn. Today we will honor the life and legacy of a man who touched the hearts of millions. Drake, the iconic actor behind Days’ John Black, has left this world at the age of 70 last Saturday, just a day before he was about to turn 71. This is D’s Gossip Queen, and with a heavy heart, we will talk about Drake’s on- and off-screen journey that will never be forgotten.
The official Days of Our Lives Peacock Instagram released a statement about the sad news, mentioning the long health battle he was fighting, which was not known to his fans. As per the statement, Drake had gone through a difficult time after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. They went on to say that he faced the challenge with incredible strength and determination. The Hogestyn family also mentioned that Drake passed peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
He 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 ended the statement by saying, “We love him and we will miss him all the days of our lives.” This truly was an emotional and heartbreaking update. As soon as the news broke, fans of Drake rushed to the comments and expressed their grief.
One fan wrote, “I am beyond devastated. I have watched him on Days since I was 10 years old. Rest in peace Drake Hogestyn. Prayers for the DOOL family.” Longtime viewers of the show know that we first met Drake Hogestyn in the Days family in 1986 as The Pawn, before becoming a fan favorite as John Black. Over the years, his portrayal of John became central to some of the soap’s most iconic romances, particularly with Marlena Evans, played by actress Deidre Hall. Their love story earned them widespread acclaim, including a Soap Opera Digest award for Favorite Couple in 2005, cementing their place in soap opera history.
Along with living his life exceptionally as an actor, Drake also lived an amazing life in the real world. He was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and studied in college through a baseball scholarship at the University of South Florida. He was truly good at everything he did—exceptional in his studies, too—where he majored in pre-dentistry with a double major in microbiology and applied sciences. Though he had wished to become an oral surgeon, Drake was an extraordinary athlete as well. He was drafted by two major league teams and played third base for one of their farm teams until 1977, after which he was injured and had to stop playing for his own good.
Now I know what you’re thinking—how did this man go from aspiring to be an oral surgeon and playing baseball to acting? Well, rumor has it that this man of many talents entered a talent search at Columbia Pictures in the late ’70s, and he was selected in the top 30 from 75,000 applicants. Oh my God, how great is he? We are sure going to miss watching him on screen.
Before Days put him under contract in 1986, the actor did some small TV roles starting in 1982, then began the journey of John Black. Along with his long-standing onscreen love Marlena, the pair took small breaks from the soap, but always found their way back to Salem. After suffering budget cuts in 2008, he rejoined in 2011, which made fans happiest.
As for his real life, Drake married his childhood love, Victoria, and the couple has four kids: Ben, Rocco, Alexandra, and Whitney Hogestyn. Tributes flooded in after news of his passing, with many remembering the joy, humor, and wisdom he brought to everyone around him. Co-stars called him a friend and a mentor. He wasn’t just John Black—he was Drake Hogestyn, a man who gave everything he had to his craft and, more importantly, to the people he loved.
Tributes from his co-stars poured in after the passing of their beloved colleague. Newcomer Julie Dove, who plays the role of villainous Connie, said, “Rest peacefully Drake. You are a gift to so many. Sending love to the Hogestyn family.” Days executive producer Ken Cord said, “This is an incredibly difficult moment for all of us. Drake was the epitome of what it means to be the ultimate team player, and words cannot express how deeply everyone will miss him. His impact on our show, both professionally and personally, was significant and will always be unparalleled.”
Martha Madison, who portrayed the role of John’s onscreen daughter, Belle Black, shared an emotional message on social media. She wrote, “Today the world lost a great man. Salem lost its greatest hero, and I lost one of my favorite scene partners.” Eric Martsolf and Christopher Sean, who played John’s sons on the soap, also shared their heartfelt memories.
Despite the circumstances behind his tragic death, a rep for the longtime soap opera confirmed that Hogestyn’s final episode aired weeks earlier on September 9th. His portrayal of John Black will forever be etched in the hearts of fans, and his legacy will live on in the soap opera world. Fans remember Drake Hogestyn’s incredible contribution to Days of Our Lives and await a fitting tribute in future episodes.
