‘Days’ Stephen Nichols Breaks Silence On Drake Hogestyn’s Death
Stephen Nichols worked alongside Drake Hogestyn on Days Of Our Lives for nearly 40 years. He broke his silence on what it’s like on set without his longtime co-star. Keep reading to find out what keeps Nichols going through the grief.
Stephen Nichols Reacts To More Days Of Our Lives
The soap opera community and fans have been hit hard by the loss of several beloved cast members in the last few years. John Aniston (Victor Kiriakis) passed away in 2022. General Hospital and The Young & The Restless star Billy Miller died from suicide in 2023. No one was prepared for Days star Drake Hogestyn’s death in September 2024. He passed away surrounded by his friends and family after a private battle with cancer.
Days of Our Lives fans will soon say goodbye to Doug Williams after beloved actor Bill Hayes’ death earlier this year. The character peacefully passes away later this month. But there is some good news amid all the heartbreak.
Peacock renewed the longtime soap for another season. The show will air on the streaming service through at least 2026. Stephen Nichols shared his reaction with Michael Fairman TV on the ‘Day of Days’ fan event this month.
“What always comes up for me is I think it’s fortunate for us that we’re on a streaming platform now, because that’s where everything is going. The fact is, we brought 2 million viewers to Peacock right off the bat. Right out of the gate. So that’s a boon for us. I think we’re gonna keep going past 61 (seasons).”
‘F**k Cancer’
Days of Our Lives kicked off Season 60 in August. With Drake Hogestyn’s help, the show plotted how to write John Black off amid the actor’s illness. Along with Deidre Hall, Stephen Nichols worked with the late actor for almost four decades. “F**k cancer!,” Nichols exclaimed during the interview. He added, “I’ve lost several people just in the last three years to cancer. It’s tough.”
However, he’s handling the loss of Drake Hogestyn the best he can. “The memory of Drake inspires me to keep going, to keep fighting, to keep working hard. That’s his legacy. Everyone you meet who knew him will say he was the hardest working, most enthusiastic, most kind person you’ll ever meet,” Stephen Nichols said.
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He continued, “Now that he’s gone, I can honor him by trying to emulate those qualities.”
Abigail Klein Shares Experience Working With Drake Hogestyn
The loss of Drake Hogestyn was felt by everyone on the Days set, no matter how long they’d worked with him. Abigail Klein, who plays Stephanie Johnson, sang the late actor’s praises.
“I’m just grateful to have known him, and to have worked with him even as short of a time as it was. I’ll forever be grateful for that,” she said.
Days of Our Lives won’t be the same for the cast or viewers without Drake Hogestyn. Share your favorite memories of him in the comments.
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