DAYS of our Lives star Drake Hogestyn’s last episode air date has been revealed – with fans left ‘devastated’ by the update.
It was announced over the weekend that actor Drake, who played John Black in the show, had died of pancreatic cancer just a day before his 71st birthday.
Days of our Lives star Drake Hogestyn’s last episode air date has been revealed[/caption]
Drake is pictured with Deidre Hall during their characters’ wedding in 2005[/caption]
His passing was announced by the soap’s social media accounts on Saturday night.
While Peacock subsribers had initially expected to see more of Drake in the pre-recorded show, one fan account has claimed the event has been and gone.
Along with a photo of his last appearance, alongside Eric Martsolf’s character Brady Black, a Facebook post shared today read: “SOME ADDITIONAL SAD NEWS TO REPORT…DRAKE HOGESTYN’S FINAL EPISODE AS JOHN BLACK AIRED ON SEPTEMBER 9…
“I got the sad confirmation from ‘Days’ tonight that Drake Hogestyn’s final episode as John Black has already aired, on Monday, September 9.
“His final scene was with Eric Martsolf (Brady) and Leo Howard (Tate) at the Townhouse.
“Tate updates John that Holly has yet to read his text. John: ‘She will. And I am sure that she’s going to take you up on it when she is ready.’
“Brady opens the door. John’s last line of dialogue (to Brady) is: ‘Does this mean that…’
“Brady tells John that Justin has dropped all the charges. John happily laughs and hugs Brady (pictured below).”
Fellow viewers rushed to the comments section, with some claiming the update made things “even sadder”.
One wrote: “So sad to hear his final episode has already aired. I at least thought we would see him until early 2025. Rest in peace Drake, you will be greatly missed.”
Another added: “This makes it even sadder. I was hoping to see him on scene a few more times. Loved this guy so much!”
A third agreed: “So very very sad. Drake was such an outstanding actor and an integral character in the fabric of days of our lives. It will never be the same. He was part of our family of every person who viewed days.”
Celebrities on Days of Our Lives
Days of Our Lives has been airing since 1965.
Here are a list of celebs who have appeared on Days of Our Lives.
- Christina Applegate (1972)
- Kathie Lee Gifford (1975)
- Pat Sajak (1983)
- Pamela Anderson (1992)
- Lisa Rina (1992 to 1995)
- Mila Kunis (1994)
- Tara Reid (1995)
- LeAnn Rhimes (1995)
- Jensen Ackles (1997 to 2000)
- Ashley Benson (2004 to 2007)
- Kyle Richards (2013)
Drake made his first appearance on Days of Our Lives in 1986, portraying the beloved character John Black for an impressive 38 years and featuring in over 4,200 episodes.
His on-screen son, Christopher Sean, paid tribute to him, saying: “I will always love you. You were more than just my tv father, in my eyes, you were my dad. Thank you for everything you taught me and the love you gave me. The world lost a true hero. Miss and love you so much, Drake. Rest in Peace, Dad.”
Kassie, who played Eve on the show, expressed her sadness on X, writing, “I’m so saddened by this news. What an amazing life he lived. He will be missed. He made the world a better place.”
Alison, who portrayed Sami Brady, also shared her thoughts on X: “Drake was an incredible man. He was funny, generous, and thoughtful. He cared about every single scene, every person.”
The show’s producer, Ken, told People, “This is a very difficult one for all of us. Drake was the ultimate team player, and there are not sufficient words to express how deeply he will be missed. His impact on our show, both personally and professionally, was profound and will forever remain unmatched.”
Kristian, a former figure skater and co-star who played Hope Williams Brady, shared a video tribute and said, “I’ll always remember you as a Loving, Loving father, husband and Dear friend but mostly an incredible, passionate human being, generous and immensely kind. Love you … Rest in Peace my sweet friend.”
Drake was honored with four Soap Opera Digest Awards, including Hottest Male Star in 1994 and 1995, and Favorite Couple with his co-star Deidre Hall in 1995 and 2005
Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1953, Drake earned a baseball scholarship to the University of South Florida, where he studied microbiology and applied sciences.
He married his childhood sweetheart, Victoria, in 1986.
The couple had four children, Whitney, Rachael, Alexandra, and Ben, as well as seven grandchildren.
In a 2018 interview, Drake fondly recalled falling in love with Victoria when they were just teenagers, saying, “That moment she just shocked me, and I just screamed, ‘No! I have too much to do with my life,’ and from then on, that was it.”
Originally pursuing a career in dentistry, Drake’s path took a different turn when he was recruited by the New York Yankees minor league team.
However, after sustaining an injury in 1977, he transitioned to acting.
His breakthrough role came as part of a Columbia Pictures talent search that involved 75,000 hopefuls.
Drake ultimately landed the role of John Black on Days of Our Lives, where he became a fan favorite and an enduring star.
The actor regularly posted selfies with his co-stars on Instagram[/caption]
Drake is seen in 2011[/caption]
