Longtime “Days of Our Lives” star Drake Hogestyn, who played John Black for nearly four decades, has died at age 70

Drake Hogestyn, a fixture on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives,” has died at 70 from pancreatic cancer. For nearly 40 years, he starred as John Black.

Drake Hogestyn, a Days of Our Lives veteran who played John Black for nearly four decades, has died. He was 70. The actor’s family shared a statement on the long-running soap opera’s official Instagram account, announcing he died after a battle with pancreatic cancer.