Donald Drake Hogestyn (/ˈhʌdʒstən/; September 29, 1953 – September 28, 2024) was an American actor best known for his long-running role as John Black on the American soap opera Days of Our Lives.
Early life
Hogestyn was born on September 29, 1953, in Fort Wayne,
Indiana, where he graduated from North Side High School. He attended the
University of South Florida in Tampa on a baseball scholarship, majoring in
pre-dentistry. He graduated with a double major in microbiology and applied
sciences. He was then drafted by two professional baseball organizations: the
St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees. Hogestyn signed with the Yankees
and played third base for one of their farm teams until he was injured in 1977.
Career
Hogestyn began his acting career by entering a Columbia
Pictures talent search that included 75,000 people. Hogestyn was among the 30
selected, and his first starring role was on the prime-time series Seven Brides
for Seven Brothers. After a few minor roles (one as Kort, leader of the Micro
Workers in the episode 'Princess Metra' on the 80s television series
Otherworld), Hogestyn joined the cast of Days of Our Lives in 1986. He
initially played a mystery man referred to simply as "The Pawn." However,
it was soon revealed that The Pawn was the presumed dead Roman Brady. Hogestyn
quickly became a fan favorite and enjoyed many pairings, the most popular of
which was with longtime co-star Deidre Hall. In 1998, while starring on Days,
Shelley Long enlisted Hogestyn to join her for the upcoming series Kelly,
Kelly. He was set to star in both until the filming of the pilot episode of
Kelly, Kelly conflicted with his schedule on Days, and the role went to Robert
Hays.
In 1991, Wayne Northrop agreed to return to Days to reprise
his role of Roman. In order to keep both actors on the show, Drake's story was
retconned, and his past was rewritten. Despite this change, Hogestyn remained
one of the show's most popular actors. The pairing of John Black and Marlena
Evans (Deidre Hall) is one of the show's enduring supercouples.
In November 2008, it was announced that Hogestyn, along with
Hall, had been fired from Days of Our Lives, with budget cuts cited as the reason
for their exits. In July 2011, it was announced that Hogestyn and Hall would
reprise their roles as John and Marlena, respectively, in an attempt to "refresh"
the soap. Hogestyn made his final appearance in the role during the episode
released on September 9, 2024, due to the soap's advanced taping schedule and
his death on September 28 of the same year.
Personal life and death
Hogestyn and his wife, Victoria, had four children.
Hogestyn died from pancreatic cancer at his home in Malibu,
California, on September 28, 2024, a day before his 71st birthday.
Filmography
1982–1983 Seven
Brides for Seven Brothers Brian
McFadden Main role
1985 Otherworld Kort 1
episode
1985 Generation Jack Breed Television
film
1985 Beverly Hills
Cowgirl Blues Rod Television film
1986–2009, 2011–2024 Days
of Our Lives John Black Series regular
1992 One Stormy
Night John Black Television film (NBC)
1993 Night Sins John Black Television film (NBC)
2018 Criminal Minds Senator Alfred Mayhew 1 episode
2020 Christmas Tree
Lane Benjamin Reilly Television film (Hallmark Channel)
2021–2022 Days of
Our Lives: Beyond Salem John Black Limited series (Peacock)
2021 Days of Our
Lives: A Very Salem Christmas John
Black Peacock original film
Awards, honors, and nominations
Soap Opera Digest awards and nominations:
Winner, Hottest Male Star (1994)
Winner, Hottest Male Star (1995)
Nominated, Hottest Male Star (1997)
Nominated, Hottest Male Star (1998)
Nominated, Hottest Romance (1998) shared with Deidre Hall
Nominated, Favorite Couple (1999) shared with Deidre Hall.
Winner, Favorite Couple (2005) shared with Deidre Hall
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