Days of our lives spoilers: SAD NEWS – Christie Clark shares heartbreaking loss
Christie Clark will reprise the role of Carrie Brady on Days of our Lives on May 28 as part of the show’s goodbye to John Black (Drake Hogestyn) storyline.
For Clark, who began working with Hogestyn in 1986, it was an emotional homecoming knowing he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
“I knew what was happening with Drake, and I knew he wasn’t well enough to come and work, so that was sad,” Clark begins.
“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. And, my God, he was just a man of unbelievable beauty inside and out.
So, I was just gutted that it was happening to him — the most fit, loving, gorgeous man who appreciated life. It was just heartbreaking.”
Hogestyn passed away on September 28, 2024, and his impact on Clark’s life was significant. “I don’t know many more beautiful souls that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting,” she reflects.
“He just was so kind to everyone on the set, cast, and crew. He just made everyone feel good, and he made you proud to be a human. He taught me some good lessons on how to be a good person, and I think for me, that is the ultimate goal.
The actress reflects fondly on her deep bond with the late Drake Hogestyn, describing him as a second father and someone who taught her kindness on set.
Their close friendship was filled with years of laughter and practical jokes. She deeply regrets not seeing him during her recent trip to Los Angeles due to his declining health.
Hogestyn passed away just five days after she finished filming. His death, though not unexpected due to terminal cancer, left a powerful emotional impact on everyone involved.
Despite the sad circumstances, she found comfort in returning to the Days of Our Lives studio. For her, the show feels like home, and reuniting with longtime castmates like Deidre Hall and Martha Madison was heartwarming.
After nearly four decades of playing Carrie on and off, slipping back into the role came naturally—especially since she recently resumed acting classes after a 25-year break.
Living in England with her husband and three daughters, she’s rediscovered her passion for acting and is working with a new agent, focusing on mastering new accents to expand her opportunities in British and American productions.
Returning to Days after a four-year hiatus wasn’t difficult. She credits her acting classes for helping her reconnect with Carrie Brady’s world quickly
. Walking through the studio evoked vivid memories from the past, especially scenes set at the pier, the Brady pub, and Marlena and Roman’s house.
Watching old episodes on YouTube and revisiting her Carrie journal helps her reconnect emotionally with the character.
Although she’s still recognized in the U.S. for her soap work, she enjoys a more anonymous life in England, where many people don’t realize Days of Our Lives is a real show. However, she notes that the soap remains very popular in places like South Africa and Australia.
And that’s just fine with Clark. “Growing up and being a working actor is not the norm,” she reflects. “So being on Days was the perfect balance for me, really.
Rather than being a famous TV star and movie star that is recognized all around the world, it was ideal, because you have a little bit of fame.”
While she is open to coming back to Salem again — “I don’t ever want to say never, because I think you never should,” Clark notes — her focus is currently elsewhere.
“I feel like I want to move on,” she offers. “I’m sad to say that, and I felt that way before the Drake thing, and then I thought, ‘I have to go back for Drake.’ I would probably go back, because it’s family, but I want to work on other stuff right now.”
