Days of Our Lives star Drake Hogestyn’s death certificate released after passing from cancer aged 70

Days of Our Lives star Drake Hogestyn's death certificate released after passing from cancer aged 70

As I delve into the captivating journey of Drake Hogestyn, I am struck by the profound impact he left on the world of soap operas and beyond. His story is one of talent, resilience, and a deep-rooted love for his craft that shone brightly in every performance.


The death certificate for actor Drake Hogestyn, who played in Days of Our Lives, has been made public; he passed away 11 days ago due to pancreatic cancer, just a day before his 71st birthday.

According to the Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s report, the primary reason for the actor John Black’s demise was pancreatic cancer. However, additional factors that played a role in his passing were vomiting, dehydration, and overall body toxicity.

According to a report from TMZ, it’s been disclosed that Drake’s remains were cremated at the Rose Family Funeral Home located in Simi Valley.

The soap actor’s passing was announced by the show’s social media account last month.

‘It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Drake Hogestyn.’ the statement said.

Days of Our Lives star Drake Hogestyn's death certificate released after passing from cancer aged 70

‘He was thrown the curve ball of his life when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but he faced the challenge with incredible strength and determination.’

‘After putting up an unbelievable fight, he passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones.’

‘We love him, and we will miss him all the Days of Our Lives’, said the Hogestyn family. 

Hogestyn was remembered as ‘the most amazing husband, father, papa and actor.’ 

The producer of the show, Ken Corday, shared with People: ‘This is a particularly tough moment for everyone. Hogey was an exceptional team player, and there aren’t enough words to convey how much we’ll miss him. His influence on our production, both personally and professionally, was immense and will never be surpassed.’

Kristian Alfonso, who was both a former figure skater and a co-star on Days of Our Lives where she played Hope Williams Brady, posted a touching tribute to Hogestyn. In her post, she recalled him as a loving father, husband, and dear friend, but above all, an extraordinary, passionate individual, full of generosity and kindness. “I’ll always remember you,” she said, addressing him tenderly. “Rest in peace, my sweet friend.

1994 and 1995 saw Hogestyn receiving four Soap Opera Digest Awards for the category of ‘Hottest Male Star.’ Additionally, he was honored along with his co-star, Hall, in 1995 and 2005 for the award of ‘Favorite Couple.’

The soap opera “Days of Our Lives” has garnered numerous accolades over the years. It was bestowed with a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series in both 1978 and 2013, as well as People’s Choice Awards for Favorite Daytime TV Serial in 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2003.

The latest accolades received were the 2024 Writers Guild of America Award for Daytime Drama, along with a 2024 Daytime Emmy Award for Exceptional Daytime Drama Series.

Days of Our Lives star Drake Hogestyn's death certificate released after passing from cancer aged 70

Initially gracing our screens on “Days of Our Lives” back in 1986, Hogestyn portrayed the character John Black over a remarkable span of 38 years, starring in over 4,200 episodes.

Christopher Sean, his on-screen son, penned an emotional tribute: “I’ll always cherish you. To me, you were not just my TV father, but my dad as well. Thank you for the lessons you imparted and the love you bestowed upon me. The world has lost a genuine hero. I miss and adore you immensely, Drake. May you rest in peace, Dad.

On X, Kassie DePaiva, known for her role as Eve, expressed her condolences in these words: “I’m deeply grieved by this announcement. His life was truly remarkable. We’ll all miss him. The world was undeniably improved because he was part of it.

Alison Sweeney, known for her role as Sami Brady on Days, penned on X: ‘Drake was a truly remarkable individual. He was witty, benevolent, and considerate. His concern extended to every scene, everyone involved.’

Originating from Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1953, this individual later gained a baseball scholarship at the University of South Florida. There, he completed his education in microbiology and applied sciences.

In 1986, Hogestyn tied the knot with his longtime love, Victoria Post, and together they welcomed four children – Whitney, Rachael, Alexandra, and Ben. They also have the joy of being grandparents to seven little ones.

In a 2018 interview with Digest, he reminisced about falling in love with Victoria at age 15, she was 12. This happened on the baseball field, with her sitting on the handlebars of her friend Lisa Miller’s bike and me playing center field. As it turns out, fate has a sense of humor!

At that point, she startled me so much that I let out a loud “No!” because I have so many things on my plate. From then on, our relationship ended. Whenever I look at her, remember her, or think back to those times, I can picture her as a 12-year-old, a 13-year-old, a 14-year-old, and all the way up until she was 16. He concluded by saying this.

Initially, his academic focus was dentistry, with aspirations of becoming an oral surgeon. However, that plan changed when he decided to pursue a career in professional baseball instead, joining the New York Yankees minor league team.

Following the conclusion of his baseball career due to an injury in 1977, his debut leading role was in the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers television series.

His big break came as a result of a Columbia Pictures talent search involving 75,000 people. 

Initially, Hogestyn appeared on Days of Our Lives as the enigmatic character called ‘The Pawn’, but later became famous for portraying John Black.

In 2015, during an interview with Digest, the actor confessed that he felt overpowered as a novice on set, admitting, “On my first day, I spent the entire day there. I remained on the set throughout everyone’s scenes for a whole week, just to observe how they performed.

He recalled watching members of the cast such as Mac Carey, who played Tom Horton, and Frances Reid, who played Alice Horton. 

As a devoted fan, I can still vividly remember the moment when Deidre Hall, portraying Marlena Evans on-screen, guided me, saying, “Here’s how you handle this; here’s how you manage that.” That advice has stayed with me ever since.

Days of Our Lives star Drake Hogestyn's death certificate released after passing from cancer aged 70
Days of Our Lives star Drake Hogestyn's death certificate released after passing from cancer aged 70

In a podcast interview with Digest in 2022, Hall reminisced about an occasion when Drake came for an audition or screen test. He had previously agreed to evaluate everyone… Later on, people were questioning each other, “What do you think?”, to which Hall responded, “I don’t believe there’s any competition… I think it’s Drake. He possesses everything required. Out of all the individuals you invited, I believe he is your optimal choice.

“He had a dreamlike quality, and he was deeply committed to practicing, always striving for perfection in his work… From the start, I believe it made an immediate impact,” she remarked.

Among his fellow actors, Shelley Long extended an invitation for him to be part of the sitcom ‘Kelly, Kelly’. In this production, he assumed the character of Robert Hays.

Days of Our Lives star Drake Hogestyn's death certificate released after passing from cancer aged 70

After his time in Days of Our Lives, Hogestyn shifted to other romantic roles alongside actors like Genie Francis on General Hospital. In a 2015 interview, she described him as both “charming” and “humorous.

On X, Francis shared: “I’m deeply saddened by the news of Drake Hogestyn’s demise. He was an amazing and thoughtful individual, a joy to collaborate with. His affection for his family, especially his wife and kids, was always inspiring.

His other co-star Staci Greason said in a 2022 interview, ‘Drake really took me under his wing.’ 

Days of Our Lives star Drake Hogestyn's death certificate released after passing from cancer aged 70

From 2009, Hogestyn portrayed his leading character as Black, but budget cuts led to both him and Hall being let go. In 2011, they were rehired, and Hogestyn expressed, ‘Of course I had hoped for this, but I was overjoyed when it did happen… Upon my return, I felt nothing but warm welcomes. It moved me to tears.’

Hogestyn shared that during a text conversation with his mentor, he expressed: ‘It’s crucial to recognize when you’re at the peak of the roller coaster and get ready for whatever follows ahead.’

He noted that since the roller coaster ascends and descends, one needs to possess a robust, steadfast support system, a solid self-image, and a realistic outlook.

In May 2016, a star started suffering from brain injuries that prevented him from appearing on the show for many months. Upon his return to work in 2017 following the death of his friend Joe Mascolo, he remarked: “I truly believed he would live forever. I really did. After all, his parents lived well into their hundreds. It’s a bit surreal, as we deal with weddings and funerals on the show, we also face them in real life, and it can be quite overwhelming.

He went on to say: ‘I find life wonderful… Time keeps moving forward. Exactly that’s the point, it’s astounding. It’s incredible. Here, we lead a double existence, if you grasp my meaning? We not only live our daily lives, but we also inhabit another world, and let me tell you, it’s quite extraordinary. I wish everyone could share this experience. It’s incredibly rewarding and fulfilling, and I consider myself fortunate.’

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2024-10-10 00:20

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