Drake Hogestyn, best known for his nearly four-decade portrayal of John Black on the long-running soap opera “Days of Our Lives,” passed away on Saturday, just one day before his 71st birthday. The actor had been battling pancreatic cancer, according to a family statement shared by the show. His death occurred in Los Angeles, as confirmed by the show’s publicist, Andrea McKinnon.
Hogestyn made his first appearance on “Days of Our Lives” in 1986, a series that premiered in 1965 and is set in the fictional town of Salem. Initially, he played Roman Brady for a few years, but it was his role as John Black that earned him the most recognition. Over the years, Hogestyn appeared in more than 4,200 episodes, captivating fans with his portrayal of the rugged, heroic character who worked as a spy, private investigator, and mercenary.
John Black’s relationship with Dr. Marlena Evans, a psychiatrist played by Deidre Hall, was central to the show. The on-screen couple’s romance won them the Soap Opera Digest Award for Favorite Couple in 2005. Hogestyn himself once remarked on the enduring love between their characters, saying, “It’s, like, I’ll always love her.”