Days of Our Lives’ John Black dies at age 70

Hogestyn would have been 71 years old on Sunday. USA TODAY has reached out to us for more information.

Alison Sweeney, aka Sami Brady, called him “An incredible man” in her tribute post on X. “He was funny, generous and thoughtful. He cared about every single scene, every person. He loved Days and the fans and shared that passion with everyone on set,” she wrote. “I will miss him terribly and cherish every story, joke and hug.”

Kristian Alfonso (Hope Brady) remembered him as “an incredible, passionate person, generous and extremely kind” and concluded: “Thank you for the love you gave to all of us every day, Drake, on set and off, you “You have always been our hero.”

Hogestyn, a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, began his career as a minor league baseball player until injuries ultimately forced him out of the game. He made his Days debut in 1986, playing Black, a police officer, private detective and secret agent, as well as half a soap supercouple with Marlena Evans (played by Deidre Hall).

The actor, a two-time winner of the Soap Opera Digest Awards for Best Male Actor, appeared on the NBC and Peacock soap until his death, taking a brief break from the show in the 2000s. He was a regular on the ’80s TV series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and had guest appearances on the series Otherworld and Criminal Minds. He most recently starred in the 2020 Hallmark film “Christmas Tree Lane.”