Days of our lives spoilers: SHOCKING NEWS – Poor John, whose disappearance ended in tragedy
It wasn’t an easy decision for Days Of Our Lives to kill off John Black while his late portrayer, Drake Hogestyn, was battling pancreatic cancer.
And it was just as difficult for the late star’s castmates, Mary Beth Evans (Kayla) and Stephen Nichols (Steve), to tape the character’s funeral.
Which they promise will be an emotional tribute to the man who had been their friend and co-star for decades.
Along with DAYS executive producer Ken Corday, Nichols and Evans chatted with Access Hollywood during an on-set celebration of the soap’s 59th anniversary.
They opened up about the heartbreaking task of filming John’s funeral while Hogestyn was in the final months of his fight.
“We left the door open in case Drake had rallied and beat it and wanted to come back,” revealed Corday. “I was in contact with Drake through his entire illness and it was done with his approval.”
Knowing that their friend had given the green light to the storyline didn’t make it any easier for Nichols and Evans to say farewell to Hogestyn or his character.
“Every day, coming to work, was just difficult,” confessed Nichols, while Evans added on behalf of the entire cast, “We were all suffering.”
Although the tribute to Hogestyn — and his beloved character — was bittersweet, it will resonate with viewers, the actors suggest.
“I do believe, the way the story is told, the fans will be happy,” said Nichols. Added Evans, “There are a lot of flashbacks of him. It really honors him, which is really beautiful.”
Hogestyn passed away on Sept. 28 following a battle with pancreatic cancer, just one day before his 71st birthday.
The soap began John Black’s swan song last week in an episode where Marlena learned (on their wedding anniversary, no less) that her husband had been sent off to a new assignment as an undercover operative with the ISA security agency.
