The long-running soap opera “Days of Our Lives” will pay tribute to late actor Drake Hogestyn in special episodes airing next year. Hogestyn spent nearly four decades portraying John Black on the NBC series. He passed away in September at age 71 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. The show will also pay respects to Bill Hayes, another veteran actor who died in January at 98 years old.
Hogestyn first joined the cast in 1986 as the mysterious John Black. His character was involved in many compelling storylines opposite Deidre Hall’s Dr. Marlena Evans over the following decades. Hall, who has played Marlena for over 40 years now, said viewers can expect to see “hours of flashbacks” celebrating Hogestyn’s memorable performances and the iconic romance between Marlena and John Black.
“Days of Our Lives” continues to engage audiences while breaking new ground. The show recently marked 15,000 total episodes, achieving an extraordinary milestone in television history. It remains a staple of the daytime lineup on NBC after over 5,000 weeks of airing new episodes.
According to Hall, the soap opera provides an emotional connection for many fans, acting as a stand-in for holidays and family traditions. She said the show aims to honor the legacies of longtime cast members like Hogestyn and Hayes who were important parts of viewers’ lives for so long.
The tribute episodes will celebrate the contributions of Hogestyn and Hayes over multiple decades. Fans will be able to reminisce about memorable scenes and storylines from their fan-favorite characters. “Days of Our Lives” maintains its commitment to honoring its extended family of cast and crew even as it continues to push creative boundaries in the daytime genre.
