Actor Drake Hogestyn, known for his iconic role on “Days of Our Lives,” passed away just one day before his 71st birthday. The beloved star, who had appeared in nearly 4,300 episodes of the long-running series, had his family share a heartfelt statement on the show’s social media platform Saturday evening.
“With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Drake Hogestyn. His battle with pancreatic cancer marked the greatest challenge of his life, but he faced it with incredible strength and determination. After an extraordinary fight, he passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones,” the statement read.
The family expressed, “He was an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather, and actor. Drake loved performing for ‘Days’ fans and cherished sharing the stage with the industry’s finest artists, crew, and production team.”
Hogestyn first took on the role of John Black in 1986, portraying an undercover agent for a fictional intelligence agency. His character captivated audiences with a dramatic backstory—John was originally Roman Brady (played by Wayne Northrop), who had been presumed dead for two years. After undergoing plastic surgery and battling amnesia, he reappeared as a new man. He and Deidre Hall’s character became one of television’s most beloved couples.
In 2009, Hogestyn took a brief hiatus from “Days of Our Lives” but returned in 2011, much to the delight of fans. Many of his current and former co-stars expressed their grief over his passing. Alison Sweeney, who left the show in 2022, shared her heartbreak on X, writing, “[Drake] cared about every scene, every person.”
His on-screen son, Christopher Sean, called him a “true hero,”
While his TV daughter, Martha Madison, penned a moving tribute on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DAfKI85peo0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“Madison recalled, ‘One of my most cherished memories with Drake dates back to several years ago. “He knew I was incredibly nervous about delivering a five-page deathbed monologue, and when we finished the scene (tears and noses running), he hugged me and whispered, ‘Kid, that was like the crack of a bat hitting a long ball that flies into the stands, and the crowd goes wild.’”
Australian actor Dan Feuerriegel, who joined the series in 2021, shared how warmly Hogestyn was welcomed on set.
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