Longtime” Days of Our Lives” actor , Drake Hogestyn, who played , John Black , on the shampoo for almost 40 years, died Saturday.
He was 70.
The reason was liver cancer, his family announced in a blog on the drama’s Instagram profile.
” It’s with heavy hearts that we announced the departure of Drake Hogestyn”, the home said. He was given the” ball of his life” after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but he forged ahead and fought back.
They claimed he had started an “unbelievable battle,” but that he finally “passed happily surrounded by loved ones.”
Sunday would have been Hogesty n’s 71st day, a truth that” Days of Our Lives” acknowledged in a separate article with a picture of the director’s 70th a year ago, surrounded by home.
For 38 years , Drake Hogestyn , was  , John Black, starting on , Jan. 24, 1986, and continuing for more than 4, 200 shows, as a mystery man who was by turns a noble spy, ruthless, officer, P. I. and secret representative, as Variety described it.
He also starred in” Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” on , CBS  , and some TV shows during the 1980s and 1990s.
His soap opera character was iconic enough that the fictional” Days of Our Lives” character played by Joey Tribbiani ( Matt LeBlanc ) on” Friends”, Dr. Drake Ramoray, shared his name.
” This is a very difficult one for all of us,”, Days of Our Lives “executive producer , Ken Corday , told People”. There are no words to express how much Hogey may be missed. He was the team’s best player. His influence on our show, personally and professionally, was deep and will always be unequaled.”
Tributes poured in from co-stars past and present.
” I will usually appreciate you, “wrote , Christopher Sean, who played Black’s illegal son , Paul Narita”. You were more than just my TV dad, to me, my parents. Thank you for anything you taught me and the like you extended me. A real Hero was lost in the world. Miss and cherish you thus little, Drake. Rest in Peace Dad.”
Allison Sweeney, who played , Sami Brady, mourned” an extraordinary guy” who was” humorous, generous and attentive.”
Hogesty n’s community and victims included his family of 37 times,  , Victoria Post, four kids and seven children, People reported.
” He loved performing for the Time audience and sharing the stage with the greatest solid, staff, and production staff in the business,” the family said in their speech”. We are in love with him and will lose him for the duration of our lives.
___
© 2024 New York Daily News
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.