The long and storied journey of John Black on Days of Our Lives is coming to an emotional close. Fans are bracing themselves for the departure of this beloved character, a storyline crafted with the blessing of the late Drake Hogestyn, who embodied John Black for over four decades and more than 4,200 episodes. Hogestyn, who sadly passed away at the age of 70 on Saturday, September 28, from pancreatic cancer, played the iconic role from 1986 until 2024. His death certificate, obtained by PEOPLE, also noted vomiting, dehydration, and whole body toxicity as contributing factors.
Executive producer Ken Corday revealed to Soap Opera Digest the delicate process of portraying John Black’s death while Hogestyn was still alive and battling his illness. “We were rolling the dice, because it’s difficult to tell a story of someone’s death or a character’s death while the actor is still alive — albeit [Drake] was fighting, like a tiger, a very difficult disease,” Corday explained. He further elaborated on the necessity of addressing John’s absence from the show, as the character hadn’t been seen for nine months. Corday made the decision to move forward with the storyline, ensuring it would be a respectful and meaningful farewell to a character deeply woven into the fabric of Days of Our Lives.
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Drake Hogestyn in ‘Days of Our Lives.’. Evans Vestal Ward/Peacock via Getty
Crucially, Corday sought and received Hogestyn’s approval for the storyline before proceeding. “I wanted to make sure Drake signed off on this, and he was totally in favor of it,” Corday shared. “He trusted me.” This collaboration underscores the respect and consideration given to Hogestyn and his legacy. Corday acknowledged that had Hogestyn recovered, the storyline would have taken a different path. However, the narrative of John Black’s passing became a poignant way to honor both the character and the actor. Corday poignantly described the experience as “extremely difficult and painful for us to tell it — for the cast, for everybody. Drake was a big part of the show. The consummate actor. Always a team player and pretty good-looking, too.”
The emotional weight of filming John Black’s final scenes was palpable for the cast. Stephen Nichols, known for his role as Steve, confessed to Soap Opera Digest that portraying John’s death was “the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” Nichols initially wrestled with the storyline given Drake’s ongoing life, but ultimately found solace in Hogestyn’s approval. “[He] gave his blessing to the storyline beforehand to Ken. So if it was okay with him, then I felt that I had to do my part,” Nichols explained.
Deirdre Hall, who has portrayed Marlena Evans alongside Hogestyn for decades, echoed the sentiment, describing the filming of John’s final moments and funeral as deeply challenging. Despite the difficulty, Hall expressed immense pride in the final product. She offered a glimpse into the moving tribute awaiting viewers: “It’s just beautifully done. You’re going to see a whole career of flashbacks that will take you back to [John and Marlena’s] first handshake at Shenanigans, when he first rescued her, the pier scene,” she revealed. “It will go through all the years. There’s a lot of history and a lot of heart.” These flashbacks promise to be a poignant journey through John and Marlena’s iconic romance and John Black’s rich history on Days of Our Lives.
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Drake Hogestyn with Deidre Hall in ‘Days of Our Lives.’. Evans Vestal Ward/Peacock/Getty
The news of Drake Hogestyn’s passing was first shared by his family in a statement released by Days of Our Lives on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, September 28. The heartfelt statement conveyed the strength and determination Hogestyn displayed in the face of his pancreatic cancer diagnosis, noting he “passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones.”
Corday, in a statement to PEOPLE on Sunday, September 29, emphasized the profound impact of Hogestyn’s loss on the Days of Our Lives family. “Hogey was the ultimate team player and there are not sufficient words to express how deeply he will be missed,” he stated. “His impact on the show, personally and professionally, was profound and will forever remain unmatched.” As Days of Our Lives prepares to air John Black’s farewell, it is clear that it will be a deeply emotional experience for both the characters within Salem and the viewers who have followed John Black’s journey for so many years. The tribute promises to be a fitting send-off for a daytime television icon.
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