Drake Hogestyn, the beloved actor best known for his portrayal of John Black on “Days of our Lives” has died. He was just 70 years old.
Hogestyn passed away on Saturday, September 28, just one day shy of celebrating what would have been his 71st birthday, after losing his battle against pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by his family and loved ones.
“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Drake Hogestyn,” said the Hogestyn family in a statement. “He was thrown the curve ball of his life when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but he faced the challenge with incredible strength and determination. After putting up an unbelievable fight, he passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones.”
“He was the most amazing husband, father, papa, and actor,” the family statement continued. “He loved performing for the ‘DAYS’ audience and sharing the stage with the greatest cast, crew, and production team in the business. We love him and we will miss him all the Days of our Lives.”
Born Donald Drake Hogestyn in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on September 29, 1953, Hogestyn joined the cast of “Days of our Lives” in 1986, playing the roles of John Black and Roman Brady on the popular NBC daytime drama series. Throughout his nearly 40-year run on the series, he played opposite actress Deidre Hall, who plays Marlena Evans on the series. The pairing was known to fans as “Jarlena,” and was recently named the 12th Greatest Couple of all time by Soap Opera Digest. The publication also awarded Hogestyn and Hall for Favorite Couple in 2005, with Hogestyn also winning the award for Hottest Male Star in 1994 and 1995. He received additional nominations in the category in 1997 and 1998.
Evans Vestal Ward/Peacock
In 2021 and 2022, Hogestyn took his John Black character to “Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem,” the spinoff series that ran for two seasons on Peacock. Later that year, the streaming service became the exclusive home for the parent series.
“This is a very difficult one for all of us,” noted “Days of our Lives” executive producer Ken Corday in a statement. “Hogey 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.”
Hogestyn is survived by his wife Victoria, their four children Rachael, Ben, Whitney and Alexandra, and their partners, along with seven grandchildren.
R.I.P. Drake Hogestyn (September 29, 1953-September 28, 2024).