“Days of our Lives” actor Drake Hogestyn has handed away, someday earlier than what would have been his 71st birthday.
The household of the longtime cleaning soap star, who had appeared in almost 4,300 episodes, shared an announcement on the present’s social media Saturday night.
“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Drake Hogestyn. He was thrown the curve ball of his life when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but he faced the challenge with incredible strength and determination. After putting up an unbelievable fight, he passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones.”
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“He was the most amazing husband, father, papa, and actor. He loved performing for the Days audience and sharing the stage with the greatest cast, crew, and production team in the business,” the household wrote.
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Hogestyn took on the function of John Black – an spy for a fictional intelligence unit – in 1986. His character garnered curiosity for its dramatic backstory; Black was really Roman Brady (performed by Wayne Northrop), who had died two years earlier on the present. After cosmetic surgery and amnesia, he reappeared as a brand new man. He and Deirdre Corridor have been married on the present and have been considered one of tv’s most beloved {couples}.
The actor briefly exited “Days of our Lives” in 2009, solely to return in 2011.
A number of of Hogestyn’s present and former costars mourned the actor. Alison Sweeney, who left this system in 2022, shared her heartbreak on X, writing partly, “[Drake] cared about every single scene, every single person.”
His TV son, Christopher Sean, known as Hogestyn a “true hero.”
His TV daughter, Martha Madison, wrote a heartfelt tribute on Instagram.
“One of my favorite memories of Drake was from not too long ago,” she wrote partly. “He knew I was super nervous as I was preparing to deliver a five page deathbed monologue, and after we finished the scene (both soaked in tears and snot), he gave me a huge hug and whispered, ‘Kid, it was like that moment when you hear the crack of the bat against a long ball that flies into the stands and the crowd goes wild.'”
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Australian actor Dan Feuerriegel, who solely joined the collection in 2021, famous how welcoming the veteran actor was on set.
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Hogestyn is survived by his childhood sweetheart Victoria and their 4 youngsters, in addition to grandchildren.