Drake Hogestyn, a beloved star of the long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives, has passed away at the age of 70.
The actor, best known for portraying John Black for nearly four decades, had been battling pancreatic cancer, his family revealed in a statement shared on the show’s verified Instagram account.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Drake Hogestyn’s passing,” the statement read. “He was dealt the greatest challenge of his life when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but he faced it with immense courage and resilience.
After fighting a brave battle, he passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones. Drake was an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather, and actor.”
“He cherished his time performing for the Days audience and working with the most talented cast, crew, and production team in the industry. We love him deeply and will miss him for all the Days of our Lives.”
Hogestyn, pictured here in October 2023, was 70 years old at the time of his death. “He would have turned 71 on Sunday,” the family noted.
Alison Sweeney, known for her role as Sami Brady, paid tribute to Hogestyn on X (formerly Twitter), calling him “an incredible man.” She wrote, “He was funny, generous, and thoughtful.
He cared deeply about every scene and every person. He loved Days, the fans, and shared that passion with everyone on set. I will miss him terribly and will forever treasure every story, joke, and hug.”
Kristian Alfonso, who played Hope Brady, remembered him as “an extraordinary, passionate human being, generous and incredibly kind,” adding, “Thank you, Drake, for the love you gave us all every day, on set and off. You were always our hero.”
Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Hogestyn originally pursued a career in minor league baseball before an injury ended his playing days.
He made his debut on Days of Our Lives in 1986, portraying John Black—a character who took on roles as a police officer, private investigator, and secret agent, and who was one half of the iconic soap supercouple alongside Marlena Evans, played by Deidre Hall.
A two-time winner of the Soap Opera Digest awards for Hottest Male Actor, Hogestyn remained a fixture on the NBC and Peacock soap until his death, taking only a brief hiatus in the 2000s.
His career also included a regular role on the 1980s TV series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and guest appearances on Otherworld and Criminal Minds. His final role was in the 2020 Hallmark movie Christmas Tree Lane.
