Drake Hogestyn, the “Days of Our Lives” star who appeared on the show for 38 years, died Saturday, his family confirmed. He was 70.
The actor was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and his family said in a statement that Hogestyn died after “putting up an unbelievable fight” against the disease.
“He was the most amazing husband, father, papa, and actor. He loved performing for the ‘Days’ audience and sharing the stage with the greatest cast, crew, and production team in the business,” the statement, signed “The Hogestyn Family,” continued. "We love him and we will miss him all the Days of our Lives.”
Hogestyn died the day before what would have been his 71st birthday.
The actor played the beloved character John Black in over 4,200 episodes of the popular soap opera, joining in 1986. He broke into the television world just four years before with a role in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." He appeared in several other projects throughout his career, but he is most synonymous with his long-running soap opera role.
His final appearance on the show was in an episode that aired on Sept. 9. On "Days of Our Lives,'' Hogestyn's John and Marlena Evans (played by Deidre Hall) were a longtime super couple.
“This is a very difficult one for all of us,” said Ken Corday, the executive producer of “Days of Our Lives.” "Hogey was the ultimate team player and there are not sufficient words to express how deeply he will be missed. His impact on our show, personally and professionally, was profound and will forever remain unmatched."
Hogestyn is survived by his wife Victoria; their four children, Rachael, Ben, Whitney and Alexandra and their partners; and seven grandchildren.
Before his foray into acting, Hogestyn was a baseball player and played for a New York Yankees-affiliated minor league team.
Several “Days of Our Lives” cast members have shared tributes to Hogestyn on social media, including Alison Sweeney, who played Sami Brady until 2014.
“Drake was an incredible man. He was funny, generous and thoughtful. He cared about every single scene, every person. He loved Days, the fans, and shared that passion with everyone on set," Sweeney wrote on Instagram. "My heart breaks for his family, they meant everything to him. He was such a huge part of my life at Days. I will miss him terribly and treasure every story, every joke & every hug.”
Kristian Alfonso, who played Hope Williams Brady, shared a video montage featuring photos of her and Hogestyn. In the caption, she wrote that Hogestyn was a “hero” for the cast.
“I’ll always remember you as a loving, loving father, husband and dear friend but mostly an incredible, passionate human being, generous and immensely kind, always,” she wrote on Instagram.
FILE - Actors Drake Hogestyn, left, and Deidre Hall, from the daytime series "Days of Our Lives," pose during the 48th Monte Carlo television festival in Monaco on June 10, 2008. Hogestyn, who played John Black for nearly four decades, has died from pancreatic cancer at age 70. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau, File)
FILE - Actors Deidre Hall, left and Drake Hogestyn of the TV series "Days of Our Lives" appear during the 48th Monte Carlo television festival in Monaco on June 8, 2008. Hogestyn, who played John Black for nearly four decades, has died from pancreatic cancer at age 70. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau, File)
FILE - Mary Beth Evans, left, and Drake Hogestyn present the award for outstanding daytime talk series host during the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, in Los Angeles. Hogestyn, who played John Black for nearly four decades, has died from pancreatic cancer at age 70. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
LONDON (AP) — In his first public remarks since he was released from prison, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Tuesday that he has been freed after years of incarceration because “I pled guilty to journalism.”
“I am not free today because the system worked,” Assange said during his address to the of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France. He has been giving evidence to its Parliamentary Assembly, which includes parliamentarians from 46 European countries, on his detention and conviction and their effects on human rights.
“I am free today after years of incarceration because I pled guilty to journalism, Assange said. “I pled guilty to seeking information from a source.”
Assange was released in June after five years in a British prison. He pleaded guilty to obtaining and publishing U.S. military secrets in a deal with U.S. Justice Department prosecutors.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
LONDON (AP) — Wikileaks founder Julian Assange will make his first public statements since he was released from prison when he addresses the Council of Europe on Tuesday.
Assange, 53, is expected to give evidence to the legal affairs and human rights committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France.
The Parliamentary Assembly, which includes parliamentarians from 46 European countries, said the hearing will discuss Assange's detention and conviction “and their chilling effect on human rights" ahead of a debate on the topic on Wednesday.
WikiLeaks said in a statement that Assange will attend the hearing in person “due to the exceptional nature of the invitation.”
Assange was released in June after five years in a British prison after he pleaded guilty to obtaining and publishing U.S. military secrets in a deal with Justice Department prosecutors that concluded a drawn-out legal saga. Prior to his time in prison, he had spent seven years in self-imposed exile in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he claimed asylum on the grounds of political persecution.
The Australian internet publisher was accused of receiving and publishing hundreds of thousands of war logs and diplomatic cables that included details of U.S. military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan. His activities were celebrated by press freedom advocates, who heralded his role in bringing to light military conduct that might otherwise have been concealed.
Among the files published by WikiLeaks was a video of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack by American forces in Baghdad that killed 11 people, including two Reuters journalists.
But critics say his conduct put American national security and innocent lives — such as people who provided information to U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan — at risk, and strayed far beyond the bounds of traditional journalism duties.
The years-long case ended with Assange entering his plea in a U.S. district court on the Northern Mariana Islands, an American commonwealth in the Pacific.
Assange pleaded guilty to an Espionage Act charge of conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified national defense information. A judge sentenced him to the five years he had already spent behind bars in the U.K. fighting extradition to the United States.
Assange returned to Australia a free man in late June. At the time his wife, Stella, said he needed time to recuperate before speaking publicly.
His appearance on Tuesday comes after the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly published a report on Assange's detention in a high-security U.K. prison for five years.
The assembly's human rights committee said Assange qualified as a political prisoner and issued a draft resolution expressing deep concern at his harsh treatment.
FILE - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange leaves federal court in Saipan, Mariana Islands, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
