Off-camera, Hogestyn was battling pancreatic cancer.
And I made the choice to, Okay, lets tell the story.
But [the story] had to be told.
Drake Hogestyn as John Black in ‘Days of Our Lives’Evans Vestal Ward/Peacock via Getty Images
It was extremely difficult and painful for us to tell it for the cast, for everybody.
Drake was a big part of the show.
Always a team player and pretty good-looking, too.
Drake was still with us, she told the outlet.
I know Ken had promised him a place to come back.
He was looking forward to coming back, and he was fighting the good fight.
So we had not said good-bye to him yet.
And we werent thinking good-bye to him at that point.
Hogestyn died a day shy of his 71st birthday.
Recently,Hall revealed toPeoplethatlovely tribute shows have been filmed to honor her former co-star.
We bring Christmas to people that dont have one.
We bring Thanksgiving to people that dont have family.
We are there and when we lose a family member, you share it with us.
Weve lostBill [Hayes], weve lost Drake.
Youll share that with us.
