In a heartfelt Soap Opera Digest exclusive, Days of Our Lives icon Peter Reckell (Bo Brady) opened up about the profound emotional impact fans are feeling in the wake of both the on-screen death of John Black and the real-life passing of his portrayer, the legendary Drake Hogestyn.
Peter Reckell Reflects On Fans’ Grief Over The Death Of John Black
Hogestyn passed away on September 28, 2024, at the age of 71, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. His death sent shockwaves through the soap opera world, marking not just the loss of a character, but a television icon whose presence had anchored Days for decades.
Reckell, long admired for his own legacy on the show, spoke candidly about the emotional weight fans are carrying.
“The fans are going through so much with Drake’s passing and his character’s [death],” Reckell told Soap Opera Digest. “We [in the cast] understand how much these characters mean to our audience. They are just more impactful than any other kind of medium.”
Reckell noted the intimate bond fans form with soap opera characters over years — often decades — of daily storytelling.
“When you have characters in your living room every day — it used to be several times a week, I don’t know what it is these days, probably a little less — the relationships that the audience develops with these characters are just so powerful to them.”
The loss of John Black comes during an especially painful time for the Days family, which has recently mourned the passing of other daytime greats, including Bill Hayes (Doug Williams) and John Aniston (Victor Kiriakis).
“When something happens with [the character of] John and with having Drake pass away when he was so young, it hurts that much more,” Reckell reflected. “And [it comes] on top of Bill and John passing. People have to realize that because of that powerful connection, you go through the grief — and sometimes part of that grief is anger and sadness.”
Fans have taken to social media in droves, sharing memories, tributes, and emotional messages in honor of Hogestyn and his iconic portrayal. Reckell acknowledged those heartfelt responses and encouraged the community to honor Drake’s legacy with love and compassion.
“John’s death has taken a toll on fans,” he said. “But we need to come to terms with it emotionally — and honor what he gave us by remembering him with love.”
Drake Hogestyn’s portrayal of John Black — a man of action, romance, and resilience — leaves behind a legacy that will forever be etched in the hearts of viewers. As the Days of Our Lives community continues to mourn, Peter Reckell’s words offer comfort and clarity: grief is simply love that has nowhere to go.
And that love? It’s proof of just how much Drake Hogestyn — and John Black — meant to so many.
