Days of Our Lives Cast Recalls Filming Drake Hogestyn's Funeral Scene as He Was Dying in Real Life

Published: June 10, 2025

The episodes throughout the week of June 9 pay tribute to Drake Hogestyn as the cast mourns the loss of him and his character of nearly 40 years, John Black.

Hogestyn died at the age of 70 in September 2024 from pancreatic cancer, around the same time the soap opera filmed his character's funeral.

His former castmates told Variety that their emotions in the show are genuine because they were "losing someone we really love".

Eric Martsolf, who played his son Brady, told Variety in a recent interview, "Drake knew what he was facing. He understood that this is a story fans would want to be told. So Drake graciously said, 'Yes, let's do it.' But knowing that this man was on the planet, and we were literally taping his funeral and his death, that was hard. It was really hard."

Martsolf recalled experiencing true feelings of grief on set. Because the cast knew that Hogestyn was in his final days off-camera, Martsolf said emotions while filming were high.

"There was literally zero acting going on during those three days," he shared. "Everyone was holding hands to the point where our hands were getting white."

The cast wanted to acknowledge Hogestyn's nearly 40-year run on the show. Hogestyn starred on the beloved series for 38 years until stepping back in 2024 due to his illness.

Martha Madison, who played his on-screen daughter, noted that it was important that his character's sendoff was a meaningful one.

"For us, it felt like our responsibility and an honor to do it the very best that we knew how," she explained. "The fact that we were losing Drake at the same time, it was very hard on us emotionally, as we're losing someone we really love. We didn't really have to perform. It wasn't like we were having to dig for anything. It was just all right there."

Hogestyn's TV children also felt like part of his family off-screen. Madison worked alongside Hogestyn off and on for 19 years, and said that she "looked up to him so much."

"I admired everything about him — his deep commitment to his work and to his family, his joy and playfulness and his ability to bring people together," she gushed, tearfully. "I just admired him so much, and I don't think that he was even aware of the impact that he was having on all of us."

Similarly, Martsolf developed a deep respect and bond with Hogestyn throughout his 16 years on the show. When giving his eulogy for John as Brady, the Passions alum confessed it felt like he "lost a father figure" in real life as well.

Days of Our Lives airs new episodes weekdays on Peacock.

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