Deidre Hall says Drake Hogestyn worked until he couldn’t
Deidre Hall says late Days of Our Lives costar Drake Hogestyn kept working through pancreatic cancer “right up until he couldn’t,” wearing turtlenecks and bulky sweaters on set after asking showrunner Ken Corday to let him continue. Hogestyn died at 70 in September 2024.
Key Takeaways
- Deidre Hall says Hogestyn never discussed his pancreatic cancer diagnosis on the Days of Our Lives set.
- Showrunner Ken Corday supported his wish to keep working; costumes hid his declining health.
- Hogestyn, 70, died Sept. 28, 2024; his onscreen character died eight months later.
- Hall calls the former baseball player a “team player” who “took care of everybody.”
In a new exclusive interview, celebrity breaking news audiences are hearing Hall, 78, reflect on her final memories with her onscreen husband. Hall and Hogestyn portrayed Marlena Evans and John Black, one of soap opera’s most beloved couples after they paired on the show in 1986. The actors worked together for nearly four decades.
What did Deidre Hall say about Drake Hogestyn’s final months?
Hall says Hogestyn “never discussed” his diagnosis at work. Still, the cast had warning signs even though the illness was not announced publicly at the time.
“Obviously, we had the warning,” Hall told People via AOL. “It was not announced, it was not made public, but we know him — we’re looking at him, we’re watching him, I’m hugging him.”
A father of four, Hogestyn died of pancreatic cancer on Sept. 28, 2024. His family confirmed the news in a statement shared by the Days of Our Lives Instagram account.
“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Drake Hogestyn,” the statement read. “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.”
How did Days of Our Lives support Hogestyn after his diagnosis?
Hall says Hogestyn spoke with Days showrunner Ken Corday about staying on the series after his cancer diagnosis. Corday asked what he wanted and pledged to do anything he could to help.
“Ken said, ‘I will do anything. What do you want?’ And Drake wanted to keep working, and so he said, ‘Then that’s what you’ll do,’” Hall recalls. “And they put him in turtlenecks and bulky sweaters and anything to kind of help him look fine, and he worked right up until he couldn’t.”
His character, John Black, died on the show in a storyline eight months after Hogestyn’s own death. Days of Our Lives streams exclusively on Peacock.
How did Hall describe Hogestyn as a costar and teammate?
Hall — who recently marked 50 years since joining Days — remembered Hogestyn, a former baseball player, as a collaborative partner. She says his athletic background showed in how he worked with the cast.
“He was a ball player, which means he was a team player, and did that really well,” Hall says. “He kind of took care of everybody and always wonderfully prepared, far better than I.”
Their decades-long Marlena-and-John pairing helped define modern Days lore for fans. Hall’s tribute underscores both Hogestyn’s determination to keep performing and the quiet care surrounding him on set until he could no longer continue.