‘DOOL’ Brings Back Fan Favorites For Heartbreaking Goodbye

ByJennifer Havener
'DOOL' Drake Hogestyn/Credit: YouTube

DOOL actor Drake Hogestyn passed away last year. The soap honors him this week with the return of fan favorites for a heartbreaking goodbye. Keep reading to find out who is coming back.

Steve Pleads For John To Be Saved

Drake Hogestyn joined Days Of Our Lives in 1986. Viewers were enthralled for decades with all the twists and turns his character, John Black, went through. Unfortunately, the character won’t see his way out of the latest mission that left him in the hospital.

During his search for a life-saving drug, the ISA Agent was involved in an explosion at a meth lab. The blast left him with burns over 30% of his body. Despite the grave injuries, John Black’s family isn’t giving up just yet. After all, the character has survived worse.

Drake Hogestyn
YouTube/Michael Fairman TV

The scenes this week are especially emotional because the cast knew that Drake Hogestyn was battling cancer and likely wouldn’t return to the soap. Stephen Nichols, who joined DOOL as Steve “Patch” Johnson around the same time as Drake Hogestyn, let his emotions show during a scene at the hospital’s chapel.

As Steve, the actor begged God to intervene and save John Black. But viewers could tell the heartfelt plea was for Drake Hogestyn, too.

DOOL Fan Favorites Return For Heartbreaking Goodbye

Unfortunately, Drake Hogestyn succumbed to cancer. Despite speculation that the show is recasting the role, John Black will succumb to his injuries, too. John Black’s family and close friends take turns at his bedside in the preview for this week’s episodes.

Christopher Sean, who plays John Black’s long-lost son, Paul, returned to the soap last week. John’s long-time friend Abe Carver (James Reynolds) tells him that they’re family.

John Black’s biological and honorary kids spend time with him. Chandler Massey (Will,) Greg Vaughan (Eric,) and Christie Clark (Carrie) all return to the show to say goodbye to their on-screen relative. Also present at John’s bedside are Brady (Eric Martsolf) and Belle (Martha Madison,) along with his devoted wife Marlena (Deidre Hall.)

Christie Clark Opens Up About Working With Drake Hogestyn

Carrie Brady isn’t technically John Black’s daughter. However, when John Black thought he was Roman, he acted as if she was his offspring. Their connection remained even after it was revealed that John wasn’t Roman. Christie Clark has played Carrie off-and-on since 1986.

The actress – who lives in Europe with her husband and three kids – opened up to TV Insider about the easy decision to return to the States to film the goodbye scenes. “I knew I had to come back, because it was for him, because he was my mentor, and really was the main principal actor I worked with and grew up with, and gave me everything,” she said.

She expressed regret that she didn’t get a chance to visit Drake Hogestyn while she was in L.A. filming the scenes. He died a few days after the cast filmed the heartbreaking goodbye scenes.

“Nobody knew that it was that serious, but everybody knew that it was going to happen because it was terminal cancer, so nobody was acting. It is just raw emotion for someone that we all loved,” she said about the real tears flowing during the hospital scenes.

As for returning to DOOL full-time, she said she would consider it but wants to explore other roles.

Share your favorite John Black storyline in the comments.

Jennifer Havener
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