Days of Our Lives Star Useless at 70

Drake Hogestyn, the beloved Days of Our Lives star who performed John Black for 38 years, has died. He was 70.

The actor was simply in the future shy of his 71st birthday when he died on Sept. 28, 2024, PEOPLE confirms.

The favored cleaning soap opera shared an announcement from the actor’s household on social media.

“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Drake Hogestyn,” it reads. “He was thrown the curve ball of his life when he was recognized with pancreatic most cancers, however he confronted the problem with unbelievable energy and willpower. After placing up an unbelievable struggle, he handed peacefully surrounded by family members.”

The assertion continues: “He was probably the most wonderful husband, father, papa and actor. He cherished performing for the ‘Days’ viewers and sharing the stage with the best forged, crew, and manufacturing group within the enterprise. We love him and we’ll miss him all of the Days of our Lives.”

The message was signed, “The Hogestyn household.”

“It is a very tough one for all of us,” Days of Our Lives government producer Ken Corday mentioned in an announcement to PEOPLE. “Hogey was the last word group participant and there should not adequate phrases to specific how deeply he will likely be missed. His affect on our present, personally and professionally, was profound and can endlessly stay unmatched.”

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Hogestyn initially sought a profession as an expert baseball participant, even signing with the New York Yankees and enjoying for one in all their farm groups till he was injured in 1977.

Hogestyn’s first massive function got here within the early Eighties within the CBS sequence Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. He initially joined Days of Our Lives in 1986 as a mysterious character generally known as “The Pawn” earlier than changing into a fan favourite as John Black.

John turned one-half of a number of beloved pairings through the years, however few have been extra standard than his reference to Marlena Evans, performed by Deidre Corridor. Collectively, they gained a Cleaning soap Opera Digest Award for Favourite Couple in 2005.

Hogestyn wasn’t simply identified for his long-running function although. He and his childhood sweetheart, Victoria Submit, wed in 1986 and remained married for 37 years. They welcomed 4 youngsters — daughters Whitney, Alexandra and Rachael, and son, Ben — and have seven grandchildren.

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The actor’s DOOL costars have been fast to take to social media to share their reminiscences.

“Drake was an unbelievable man,” Alison Sweeney wrote on Instagram. “He was humorous, beneficiant and considerate. He cared about each single scene, each particular person. He cherished Days, the followers, and shared that zeal with everybody on set. My coronary heart breaks for his household, they meant the whole lot to him. He was such an enormous a part of my life at Days. I’ll miss him terribly and treasure each story, each joke & each hug.”

Kristian Alfonso wrote, “I’ll all the time keep in mind you as a Loving, Loving father, husband and Expensive pal however largely an unbelievable, passionate human being, beneficiant and immensely form, At all times …… Thank youuuu for the love you gave us all on a regular basis Drake on set and off you have been all the time our hero.”

Christopher Sean, who performed John’s illegitimate son Paul Narita, wrote a touching tribute on X alongside a photograph from the present of John and Paul hugging.

“I’ll all the time love you,” he mentioned. “You have been extra than simply my television father, in my eyes you have been my dad. Thanks for the whole lot you taught me and the love you gave me. The world misplaced a real Hero. Miss and love you a lot Drake. Relaxation in Peace Dad.”

Genie Francis famous, “So unhappy to listen to of Drake Hogestyn’s passing. Such a beautiful and sort man. It was a pleasure to work with him. I all the time cherished how a lot he cherished his spouse and youngsters.”