Drake Hogestyn, John Black on ‘Days of Our Lives,’ dies at 70

Drake Hogestyn, the Days of Our Lives prima who appeared connected the amusement for 38 years, died Saturday, his household confirmed. He was 70.

The histrion was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and his household said successful a connection that Hogestyn died aft “putting up an unbelievable fight” against the disease.

“He was the astir astonishing husband, father, papa, and actor. He loved performing for the Days assemblage and sharing the signifier with the top cast, crew, and accumulation squad successful the business,” the statement, signed “The Hogestyn Family,” continued. “We emotion him and we volition miss him each the Days of our Lives.”

Hogestyn died the time earlier what would person been his 71st birthday.

The histrion played the beloved quality John Black successful implicit 4,200 episodes of the fashionable soap opera, joining successful 1986. He broke into the tv satellite conscionable 4 years earlier with a relation successful Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. He appeared successful respective different projects passim his career, but helium is astir synonymous with his long-running soap opera role.

His last quality connected the amusement was successful an occurrence that aired connected Sept. 9. On Days of Our Lives, Hogestyn’s John and Marlena Evans (played by Deidre Hall) were a longtime ace couple.

“This is simply a precise hard 1 for each of us,” said Ken Corday, the enforcement shaper of Days of Our Lives. “Hogey was the eventual squad subordinate and determination are not capable words to explicit however profoundly helium volition beryllium missed. His interaction connected our show, personally and professionally, was profound and volition everlastingly stay unmatched.”

Hogestyn is survived by his woman Victoria; their 4 children, Rachael, Ben, Whitney and Alexandra and their partners; and 7 grandchildren.

Before his foray into acting, Hogestyn was a shot subordinate and played for a New York Yankees-affiliated insignificant league team.

Several Days of Our Lives formed members person shared tributes to Hogestyn connected societal media, including Alison Sweeney, who played Sami Brady until 2014.

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“Drake was an unthinkable man. He was funny, generous and thoughtful. He cared astir each azygous scene, each person. He loved Days, the fans, and shared that passionateness with everyone connected set,” Sweeney wrote connected Instagram. “My bosom breaks for his family, they meant everything to him. He was specified a immense portion of my beingness astatine Days. I volition miss him terribly and treasure each story, each gag & each hug.”

Kristian Alfonso, who played Hope Williams Brady, shared a video montage featuring photos of her and Hogestyn. In the caption, she wrote that Hogestyn was a “hero” for the cast.

“I’ll ever retrieve you arsenic a loving, loving father, hubby and beloved person but mostly an incredible, passionate quality being, generous and immensely kind, always,” she wrote connected Instagram.