Drake Hogestyn, the beloved actor known for his iconic role as John Black on the long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives, has passed away at the age of 70. Hogestyn died on Saturday, September 28, 2024, after a battle with an undisclosed illness.
Born on September 29, 1953, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Hogestyn had a diverse career before becoming a household name. He attended the University of South Florida on a baseball scholarship and was even drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees. However, an injury in 1977 led him to pursue a career in acting.
Career Highlights
Hogestyn began his acting career by entering a Columbia Pictures talent search, where he was among the 30 selected out of 75,000 participants. His early roles included appearances in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Otherworld. In 1986, he joined the cast of Days of Our Lives as a mystery man known as 'The Pawn,' who was later revealed to be the presumed-dead Roman Brady. This role eventually evolved into his most famous character, John Black.
During his tenure on Days of Our Lives, Hogestyn became a fan favorite, particularly for his on-screen pairing with Deidre Hall, who played Marlena Evans. The duo formed one of the show's most enduring supercouples. Despite being 'killed off' the show in 2007, Hogestyn's character was brought back multiple times, reflecting the soap opera's tradition of reviving characters.
Hogestyn's contributions to Days of Our Lives were recognized with several awards and nominations, including winning the Hottest Male Star award at the Soap Opera Digest awards in 1994 and 1995, and the Favorite Couple award shared with Deidre Hall in 2005.
Personal Life
Hogestyn was married to his childhood sweetheart, Victoria, and they had four children together: three daughters, Whitney, Alexandra, and Rachael, and one son, Ben.
The passing of Drake Hogestyn marks the end of an era for fans of Days of Our Lives and the soap opera community. His legacy as John Black will continue to be celebrated by those who followed his character's many adventures over the years.
