The saying, “Life imitates art,” unfortunately, rings true for the Days of Our Lives cast this week. On June 9, the daytime soap began mourning the loss of Drake Hogestyn’s longtime character, John Black, in a collection of episodes that were filmed concurrent with the actor’s final days last fall. Before Hogestyn died on Sept. 29 following a battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 70, he and his family gave their blessings for his storyline to come to an end.
“Drake, as the consummate storyteller that he is, said, ‘Absolutely. You gotta tell the story,’” Eric Martsolf, who played his son Brady, told Variety in a recent interview. “Drake knew what he was facing. He understood that this is a story fans would want to be told. So Drake graciously said, ‘Yes, let’s do it.’ But knowing that this man was on the planet, and we were literally taping his funeral and his death, that was hard. It was really hard.”
Martsolf recalled experiencing true feelings of grief on set.
Because the cast knew that Hogestyn was in his final days off-camera, Martsolf said emotions while filming were high. “There was literally zero acting going on during those three days,” he shared. “Everyone was holding hands to the point where our hands were getting white.”
The cast wanted to acknowledge Hogestyn’s nearly 40-year run on the show. Hogestyn starred on the beloved series for 38 years until stepping back in 2024 due to his illness. His onscreen daughter, played by Martha Madison, noted that it was important that his character’s sendoff was a meaningful one.
“For us, it felt like our responsibility and an honor to do it the very best that we knew how,” she explained. “The fact that we were losing Drake at the same time, it was very hard on us emotionally, as we’re losing someone we really love. We didn’t really have to perform. It wasn’t like we were having to dig for anything. It was just all right there.”
“None of us were able to really see him or be with him towards the end,” she added. “This was our opportunity to do it as a family, and do it together. And I thought it was so beautifully written — all of the flashbacks and really honoring his whole 40-year career on that show. It was all just very special.”
Hogestyn’s TV children also felt like part of his family off-screen.
Madison worked alongside Hogestyn off and on for 19 years, and said that she “looked up to him so much.”
“I admired everything about him — his deep commitment to his work and to his family, his joy and playfulness and his ability to bring people together,” she gushed, tearfully. “I just admired him so much, and I don’t think that he was even aware of the impact that he was having on all of us.”
Similarly, Martsolf developed a deep respect and bond with Hogestyn throughout his 16 years on the show. When giving his eulogy for John as Brady, the Passions alum confessed it felt like he “lost a father figure” in real life as well.
“Drake and I were buddies. He usually started the day with a story. He just had so many life experiences,” he reminisced, citing Hogestyn’s first career as a professional baseball player. “I mean, he was a Yankee at one point, for God’s sake!”
“Fans should tune in because we’re going to say goodbye to one of the most iconic men ever to hit daytime television,” Martsolf continued. “He was the epitome of a soap opera star on and off the stage, and the man deserves eyeballs, and he deserves that tribute.”
Have you ever watched a TV show scene and felt that it was just too real—as if the actors weren’t acting at all? That’s exactly what happened on the set of ‘Days of Our Lives’ when the cast filmed the funeral of Drake Hogestyn’s beloved character, John Black.
What made it unforgettable? Drake Hogestyn was actually battling for his life in real life at the time. This wasn’t just a character’s send-off—it was a possible farewell to a real friend.
Let’s dive deep into what really happened behind the cameras and how this emotional day changed the cast forever.
The Legacy of Drake Hogestyn as John Black
A Soap Icon for Decades
For over 30 years, Drake Hogestyn brought John Black to life—filling millions of homes with intrigue, suspense, and drama. From secret agent missions to epic love stories, fans couldn’t get enough of him.
Why Fans Loved John Black
He wasn’t just a character; he was the heartbeat of Salem. Tough but vulnerable. Mysterious but deeply loving. The perfect mix of danger and warmth.
The Sad Twist of Real Life
A Health Crisis Behind the Scenes
What most viewers didn’t know? While the cameras kept rolling, Drake was privately fighting a serious health scare—so serious that even the producers weren’t sure he’d make it back to the set.
When Reality Reflected Fiction
As scripts were being written to kill off John Black, the cast was grappling with the very real fear of losing Drake himself. Can you imagine having to mourn your friend for real while pretending to mourn his character on screen?
How the Cast Prepared for the Funeral Scene
The Day They Dreaded
Every actor knew this day was coming. The day they’d have to stand beside John Black’s fictional casket—while wondering if they’d ever see Drake alive again.
Tears That Weren’t in the Script
Many cast members confessed: the tears you saw on screen were real. There was no acting. No pretending. Just raw emotion.
Emotional Reactions from Co-Stars
Deidre Hall’s Heartbreaking Confession
Deidre Hall (Marlena Evans), who shared decades of screen time and a close off-screen friendship with Drake, admitted:
“I wasn’t sure if I was mourning John… or Drake. It broke me.”
James Reynolds Reflects on the Scene
James Reynolds (Abe Carver) shared how heavy the mood was:
“There was silence between takes. No joking. No small talk. Just… sadness. Real sadness.”
Fans Noticed the Difference
Social Media Explodes with Emotional Reactions
Fans instantly sensed something was different. Tweets poured in:
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“This is the most heartbreaking scene I’ve ever seen in soaps.”
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“I felt like they were saying goodbye to Drake, not John.”
Viewers Were Moved to Tears
Even those who rarely cried during shows admitted to bawling during this unforgettable episode. Why? Because real life heartbreak slipped through the screen.
Production Secrets Revealed
Directors Struggled to Call “Cut”
The director later revealed:
“I almost couldn’t call ‘cut.’ I didn’t want to break that moment. It felt holy.”
Producers Rewrote the Script
Originally, John Black was meant to stay dead—but when Drake’s condition improved, they changed the ending. A soap opera miracle… mirroring real life.
Drake Hogestyn’s Miraculous Recovery
A Turn for the Better
Against all odds, Drake fought back. His health improved dramatically—and he surprised everyone by walking back on set months later.
A Return No One Expected
His comeback? One of the most emotional moments in soap history. Life imitating art, or maybe the other way around.
The Scene That Made Soap Opera History
Why This Scene Stands Out
Thousands of funeral scenes have aired on TV, but this one is legendary because of what was happening behind the camera.
The Legacy of the Moment
This scene is now considered one of the most powerful, authentic moments in daytime TV history—a rare, perfect storm of life and fiction blending together.
Cast Reflections After the Scene
A Healing Experience
Ironically, playing out the funeral gave the cast a chance to grieve—just in case they really lost Drake.
Stronger Bonds Than Ever
Many actors said they’d never felt closer as a cast. The shared pain, fear, and eventual relief made them more like family than ever before.
What Fans Can Learn From This Story
Cherish Your Loved Ones
Like the cast, we’re reminded: you never know when the last goodbye could happen.
The Power of Hope
Drake’s fight showed everyone that miracles do happen. Even when the script says the end is near—real life can surprise you.
Conclusion: When Soap Operas Get Too Real
It’s not often that fiction and reality crash into each other so hard that the whole world feels it. But when Drake Hogestyn’s real-life health battle mirrored John Black’s death, something unforgettable happened on the set of ‘Days of Our Lives’.
The cast cried real tears. The crew whispered real prayers. And the fans felt every second of it.
This wasn’t just acting. It was life—and its fragility—played out on daytime television.
