♥ Ongoing Days 1998 ♥ Note on soap magazine publication dates and content of articles/interviews regarding multiple soap stars: Many of the monthly or every other month (and sometimes quarterly) magazines back in the 1980's would be on the newsstands a long time before the date on the actual magazine. We've noticed, for instance, that DAYTIME TV magazine did an interview with Drake in late 1986 about his upcoming wedding, which was scheduled for December 1986, yet the interview didn't appear until the July 1987 issue several months later. Therefore, it might be a bit confusing to read about his "upcoming" wedding in an interview dated July 1987 when you happen to know he was married in December 1986. We've tried to date the articles to match the date on the magazine, regardless of when the events talked about took place. Hopefully it will make sense as you go along! We've also edited some of the articles/interviews to just include John's storyline, since this is a Drake/John website. We've left out comments and sections about other actors or storylines unless they're involved with John's storyline. This too should be very apparent and clear when we've done that so it makes sense and you don't have to skim through a long article to find the "John parts." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Stormy Days Are Ahead But Drake Hogestyn Is Well Prepared! Back off, El Niño! DAYS OF OUR LIVES' Drake Hogestyn (John), who lives with his family in the coastal town of Malibu, California, says he's prepared for any bad weather that may head his way. "I've already put out sandbags, in case we have mudslides," he reports. "Hopefully, we'll be okay." Hogestyn is taking precautions because he knows what can happen in Malibu when it rains. During a fierce storm three years ago, Hogestyn found himself unable to get home when an access bridge to the area was shut down due to mudslide damage. "I managed to talk my way through all the roadblocks and got to the bridge," he remembers. "I could see my wife Victoria at the other end of the bridge, and we were talking back and forth on cell phones. But there was no way the police would let anybody across." Hogestyn decided to take an alternate route to his house. But first, he says, "I had to talk my way back through the roadblocks." Then it still took him over two hours to get home over the mud-covered roads. The bridge has since been rebuilt, so at least that shouldn't present a problem during this year's El Niño storms. Considering all of the action/adventure that his character John has been through over the years, getting through a mudslide should be like a walk in the park. It's great that Hogestyn is in tip-top shape for whatever he might encounter this winter. But just in case, he can find solace in the fact that he has a comfy bed in his dressing room...if it happens that he gets stuck at the studio. SOAP OPERA UPDATE, 1/20/98 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Finally Together: John Makes His Proposal! Marlena Accepts! Drake's Vow: "Marlena Is John's Beginning, Middle And Ending" Their Future: A New Mystery Brings Them Closer Than Ever... The Home Run Kid - After Twelve Years In Salem Drake Hogestyn Has Come To Delight In Stealing Hearts Instead Of Bases: As Drake Hogestyn walks through his somewhat cramped DAYS OF OUR LIVES dressing room, he spots his answering machine. Its message counter numbers a whopping twenty-seven. "I'm sure that a few of those are from my wife," he laughs. "We're supposed to go out to dinner tonight, but I had better call her to tell her I'm going to be late." Victoria Hogestyn won't be surprised that her husband will be a little tardy. Coming home late is not uncommon for the actor. After all, playing one of daytime's most beloved heroes - the intrepid John Black - isn't a typical nine to five job. On the contrary, it comes with a rigorous taping schedule to keep and numerous fan events to attend - a combination that leaves Hogestyn with precious few moments to call his own. What time he does have, he often uses to work out in his dressing room while watching a baseball game on television. "(Being busy) goes with the territory," he concedes. "But I like to work hard. I like coming in to work every day and giving as much time to the job and to the fans as I can." Batter Up: Long before Hogestyn took on his daytime alter ego, he made his living in a much different field - the infield, to be exact - as the third baseman for the New York Yankees' farm team. But the Indiana native's dreams of reaching the major leagues were shattered, literally, when he broke several bones in his foot while sliding into home plate. "This was pretty much the end of my baseball career," he says, removing his shoe and proudly pointing to toes contorted by surgeries. "Things happen for a reason. It was time for a change." On a whim, Hogestyn responded to a talent-search advertisement placed in a local paper, and out of seventy-five-thousand respondents, was among the thirty who were chosen. After a failed series and a pilot that never left the ground, he got his big break in 1986 when he landed the part of DAYS' John, a man who had no memory of his past. "It sounded like a great role," he remembers. "John was a mysterious man who was wrapped up in a lot of adventure. I liked it from the beginning, and I still like it because I've been doing this for twelve years." Who's On First? John would turn out to be one of the most intriguing, if not the most confusing, characters in daytime, and allow Hogestyn to try on a number of identities - The Pawn, then John, Roman Brady, Forrest Alamain, Father John, and eventually plain ol' John again. But, as Hogestyn explains, it's been the identity crises that have kept his man of a half-dozen names interesting. "Even after all this time, there still are pieces missing from John's life that he can't fill in," the actor says. "He was truly a pawn in Stefano's sick game, yet he has managed to live through it." Hogestyn acknowledges that much of John's survival has depended on Dr. Marlena Evans - the only real constant in his perplexing life. It wasn't long after he joined DAYS before he and her portrayer, Deidre Hall, became a supercouple of historic proportions. "Marlena is John's beginning, middle and ending," acknowledges Hogestyn. "When he was The Pawn and then thought that he was Roman and then thought that he was John, she stood by him. She was the one woman who would never deceive him." Out Of Bounds: Of course, there has been no shortage of women who have lied to John - repeatedly. In fact, Hogestyn says that he often finds himself defending his character's somewhat gullible nature. "Yes, John is trusting," he concedes. "But he believes in the women he falls in love with. He trusts them absolutely until they prove him wrong. Unfortunately for him, they almost always do." Of all of the women who have done John wrong, it's his relationship with Kristen Blake DiMera that Hogestyn, and most fans, will remember the most vividly. John's refusal to believe that she wasn't the good girl he once fell in love with led to a bizarre storyline of surrogates, sisters and secret rooms. However surreal the plot was, Hogestyn appreciated the levity it provided, and the chance to work with an actress who was able to play as many parts as he has. "Working with Eileen (Davidson) was so much fun," he reminisces. "It was a great story, and every day on the set was a comedy scene. That's part of what makes this job so much fun." Rounding Home: With Kristen keeping company with sultans in a far-off land and Roman bowing down to John and Marlena, the road is finally clear for John and his Doc to pick up where they left off months ago - and get married. Hogestyn is pleased to see his character unite with Marlena, but is cautious, as fans should be, not to get too comfortable with their happiness. "There always has to be an open door to trouble," he says. "I know that people want John and Marlena to be together, but in soaps, that's not how it works. Something or someone is bound to come along and cause trouble," he teases. "It's part of the game." Mary Ann Giorgio, NBC SOAPS IN DEPTH, 5/12/98 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Female Trouble The Names Of All The Girls John's Loved Before Could Fill The Yellow Pages John Black has been in love with almost as many women as he's had identities. Unfortunately, when it comes to choosing a safe soulmate, he hasn't exactly batted a thousand. Consider... Marlena Evans: She first wed John because she thought he was Roman; he wasn't. Their marriage ended when she "perished" in a plane crash. Diana Colville: This reporter tried to marry John twice. (OOPS! This is wrong. Diana came to Salem in 1987. John found out that he was really Roman in 1986, so in reality this sentence should say "This reporter tried to marry Roman twice" not "This reporter tried to marry John twice.") They broke up for good after she accidentally shot and almost killed him (Good idea). Isabella Toscano: John, as Roman, married this heroine because he thought that Marlena was dead; she wasn't. (OOPS! This is wrong. John married Isabella because he was deeply in love with her and longed to share his life with her and the unborn baby that they had created with their love. John had known that Marlena was alive for nine months prior to him marring Isabella, so we're not sure where this reporter is getting that John married Isabella because he thought Marlena was dead, but that is very much incorrect. In our opinion this is a typo and it should say that "John, as Roman, proposed marriage to this heroine because he thought that Marlena was dead" not "John, as Roman, married this heroine because he thought that Marlena was dead.") Later, Isabella died for real. Danielle Stevens: She claimed to be John's first wife, but turned out to be the jewel thief Romulus. Rebecca Morrison: John dated this District Attorney to get over Marlena. When he fell for Kristen, Rebecca left town. Kristen DiMera: At first, her engagement to her adopted brother, Tony, kept her apart from John. But finally, it was her scheming that turned him off. So, Who Is John Black Really? The answer to this deceptively simply question would send most genealogists screaming from the room - with good reason! John probably is the most frequently rewritten character in daytime history. Just take a moment and pore over these, but a few of his identities - secret, real and/or assumed: The Pawn: In 1986, the nasty Victor Kiriakis brought to Salem a mystery man nicknamed The Pawn. (OOPS! This is wrong. In 1985 a man was being closely guarded by a mercenary named Petrov, who was working for Stefano. Petrov's prisoner was secretly given reconstructive surgery in Miami and wrapped in gauze bandages. Petrov handed over his prisoner to Victor and the prisoner was taken by van to Salem. That man was The Pawn AKA John Black. This sentence should say "In 1985, the nasty Victor Kiriakis brought to Salem a mystery man nicknamed The Pawn" not "In 1986, the nasty Victor Kiriakis brought to Salem a mystery man nicknamed The Pawn.") Victor nursed the injured, mute fellow back to health, and hid the fact that the mystery man was the presumed-dead Roman Brady. When Patch Johnson discovered The Pawn, he introduced him to Dr. Marlena Evans, who would help him regain his memory. John Black: Patch called the mystery man John Doe. But while John was working in a soup kitchen, someone asked him what his last name was. (OOPS! This is wrong. John had wandered into a soup kitchen and met a man named Brother Francis and asked him about a job. He wasn't working in this soup kitchen like this article states. Brother Francis asked him what his name was not just what his last name was as explained in this article.) Not knowing how to answer, he took the name Black from a plaque on a wall dedicated to veterans. Roman II: Marlena used hypnosis on John, and his past began to resurface. His knowledge of Stefano, as well as incidents that only Roman would know, made her suspect that John was her deceased husband. Her suspicions were confirmed when Marlena found a file from a plastic surgeon with before-and-after pictures of Roman and John. John Black became Roman Brady (Roman II) and he and Marlena renewed their wedding vows. When Orpheus sought revenge and kidnapped Marlena, Roman II gave chase, and found her on a tropical island. Roman II killed Orpheus, but watched in horror when the plane that Marlena was on exploded. Roman II eventually accepted Marlena's death and fell in love with Isabella Toscano. Later, his world turned upside down when Marlena returned to Salem after being in a coma for five years. John Black: Marlena remembered hearing Roman's voice while on the island, but Roman II said that was impossible; he was in Salem the entire time. The two went back to the island to investigate and found the real Roman, who had been held captive all this time. Back in Salem, it was discovered that Roman II was not a Roman at all, so he started using the name John again. Forrest Alamain: While investigating jewel thief Romulus, John rediscovered a broken locket that he'd had for years. Devious Lawrence Alamain had a similar locket, which led to the discovery that John was actually Forrest Alamain, Lawrence's long-lost brother and Vivian's nephew. John inherited much of their fortune, but kept the name John Black. Father Black: After Kristen Blake left her husband, Tony DiMera, for John, she discovered that her lover was actually an ordained priest. John balked at the idea, but renewed his vows to God to save Marlena, who was possessed by Satan at the time. John Black Again: After playing exorcist for his former wife, John relinquished his vows to the church and started planning a life with Kristen...which prompted a terminally-ill (and chronically inventive) Tony to frame John for his own murder. While awaiting his fate in prison, John realized that he loved Marlena, not Kristen, and always had. Although he eventually was cleared of all charges, he had to muddle through an uproariously elaborate scheme by Kristen - and then the return from the dead of Roman (a second time!) - to get back together with Marlena. Through all of this, he kept his chosen name...the one that has become synonymous with all that is decent in Salem. Mary Ann Giorgio, NBC SOAPS IN DEPTH, 5/12/98 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Fanning The Fire No matter how long his DAYS are, Drake Hogestyn always makes time for his audience. Sure, lots of people like John's portrayer because he is a talented actor, and because he brings an element of romance to daytime that even Cupid couldn't. But folks love this actor because he loves them back. He's as happy to pose for a picture with an admirer as he is to be photographed for a magazine cover. And even-though he has a wife and kids and a busy life of his own, he always is willing to take time out to participate in a fan event. "He seems to enjoy it," notes Hogestyn booster Ian Rooney of Sacramento, California. "And heaven knows, we do!" Mary Ann Giorgio, NBC SOAPS IN DEPTH, 5/12/98 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Until Next Time Back in 1991, when Wayne Northrop reprised his role of Roman, fans weren't the only ones confused. Since Drake Hogestyn had joined the cast five years earlier, he and Deidre Hall had been acting as if he was Roman! "I'm not sure we ever got over it," confides the actress. Even now that Hogestyn has settled into his "new" part of John and Josh Taylor is playing Roman, the veterans sometimes have identity crises. "Drake will still say on occasion, 'I've circled all the Roman parts on my script today,'" Hall relates. "And it's very hard for me to call Drake John. I'm only now just able to do it, because I didn't for so long." SOAPS IN DEPTH, 8/25/98 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Drake Surrenders It All To The Planet Planet Hollywood Exhibits DAYS Memorabilia! The ever-popular Drake Hogestyn (John) has once again made his mark on the planet, this time by donating cherished DAYS possessions in the exciting place, Planet Hollywood New York, that displays celebrity, film, and television memorabilia. Drake was on hand at the famed restaurant surrendering his own pair of shiny, black leather cowboy boots, as well as the hourglass that is shown in the beginning of DAYS' opening credits. A huge crowd of devoted DAYS fans gathered for this event, anxious to get a glimpse of Drake in person, as well as the goods he donated to the restaurant. Planet Hollywood now recognizes how terrific DAYS really is and how important it is for fans to see a bit of DAYS while they dine out! Picture Captions: Doesn't Drake look just gorgeous next to this DAYS OF OUR LIVES poster? Since 1986, when Drake first appeared on the show, our faces just lit up when he was on screen. Twelve years later he still gives us the same affect! Maybe Planet Hollywood should display a huge poster of Drake, too! Drake Hogestyn proudly displays his donation of DAYS OF OUR LIVES gear to Planet Hollywood New York. While DAYS has been on the air for over thirty years, its popularity has only grown throughout the years! We couldn't think of a more dynamic personality to represent the whole cast better than Drake! Thumbs up for Drake who, after donating these precious goods, Planet Hollywood presented him with their own black leather jacket! Planet Hollywood knows that Drake's a very special guy (like we've all known for years!) and thanked him immensely for his contributions! What a guy! Drake ranks up there with the very best of the celebrities as he majestically posed with his prized possessions! It's great to know that Planet Hollywood wants DAYS displayed in their restaurant! Soon everybody's favorite place to go will be where they could get a taste of their favorite show! EVERYTHING DAYS OF OUR LIVES, DAYTIME DIGEST, 9/98 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ Salem's Sexiest Resident: Get To Know The Real Drake Hogestyn! Get To Know The Real Drake Hogestyn: A Look Into Drake's Grand Slamming Pre-DAYS Life! One of the supreme leading daytime personalities of today is the notably impressive Drake Hogestyn. Exuding raw talent every step of the way, Drake proves that with hard work, perseverance, and practice, the world holds no bounds. From being inducted in the minor leagues to becoming one of the most recognized and revered daytime personalities, Drake is unsurpassable! While interviewing him, I was sent on an intriguing voyage that encompassed decades of the life of this gifted actor. Now, in the first of a candid two-part interview, let's journey together into Drake's pre-DAYS life and discover the makings of this superstar. DAYTIME DIGEST: Tell me about your college experience playing baseball. Drake Hogestyn: I was scouted as a pitcher out of high school and I went to college with a pitching scholarship, but I decided I didn't want to do that. I loved the competition of just always one-on-one - all the time, but I didn't like the idea of pitching a game and then sitting. I also wanted to contribute in a couple of ways - either fielding or hitting. I faked an arm injury, so that I couldn't pitch anymore. As a freshman (in college), I started and had a great season and all the scouts started watching and the next year the Cardinals drafted me as the number two pick in the nation. I didn't actually play with the Cardinals, however. I told them, 'You know what, let me finish out my season here, and I'll put up good numbers, and I said, by then, by the time my season ends in junior college, you know, I'll be right able to come into minor league and into your camp, and be ready to play.' And they said 'Okay.' First game of the season, I tore all the cartilage out of my right knee. I went through rehabilitation and came back eight weeks later and missed a lot of the season, but made the U.S. All-Stars team. They said 'We're really not sure that your leg is one hundred percent healed, and you lost a little time and your stealing bases are down, but we'll still take you into the minor leagues.' And I said 'No, I don't think so. I'm going to go on and finish school.' And so I went to the University of South Florida, and that's where George Steinbrenner would come out to watch our games. I was team-captain in my junior and senior year, and had run the league and had two really good seasons, and so the Yankees drafted me. When I was with the Yankees, in the minor leagues, I played third base. I was a senior in college, and by that time they don't sign you for any money. They know you want to sign so badly, they don't need to invest any bonus money in you or anything else. Well, what are you going to do? You don't have any bargaining chips for school! So I signed. DAYTIME DIGEST: Do you ever regret not pursuing major league baseball? Drake Hogestyn: Of course I do, but I also was a realist and I knew I was always considered a fringe talent. I wasn't really a prospect. I mean any time you're playing professional baseball, I don't care what level of the minors - you always believe there's a chance. But being a realist, you have to put some really tremendous numbers on the board to elevate yourself to a higher league. I guess it was time to move to a different career. But I could play this game a lot longer, and a lot of my buddies now are, of course, out of the big leagues and they call me up out here in Hollywood and want to know how they could get in this business! DAYTIME DIGEST: How did you go from the minor leagues to becoming an actor? Drake Hogestyn: It was basically a national talent search by Columbia Pictures, who were scouting the country for a bunch of actors. They were going to find about thirty people and put them in a workshop for eighteen weeks and give five contracts out. And a bunch of us ballplayers threw our name in a hat and I started getting phone calls from some guy. At the end of the season, I told him it was a joke and he said, 'Well for a joke, come on in and talk to me,' and I did. He made me an offer to come out to Los Angeles in the off-season, and I went out there. I was just amazed at the workshop. Since I didn't have any former background, I didn't have any bad habits, so I could incorporate everything the people were telling me. I could take what people were giving me and I could try to make it my own. But you know what, it's kind of funny about acting, and my take on it is if you can do it, you can do it. You must operate under a theory, 'Well, if I don't make a fool out of myself, someone else is going to!' I mean, I see so many actors who like to work in a framework that feels really comfortable for them, but if they try to break out of that framework, sometimes they feel uncomfortable and have to pull themselves back in. But if you can get out of that framework and really take chances, and explore yourself, it's unlimited what you can do. That's what's exciting about acting, it's exploring yourself. DAYTIME DIGEST: Did you ever want to be an actor? Drake Hogestyn: Not at all. I came out there (to California) for a few months. This was in the off-season and I've never been to California, and planned on playing baseball and going back for spring training, but then I was offered a contract, and it changed the spin of the ball! DAYTIME DIGEST: What was your first acting job? Drake Hogestyn: We were targeted for a series called FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. It was a short-lived series, but the bottom line was I got my Screen Actor's Guild card working opposite Don Johnson and Kim Basinger. I was basically a sailor guy trying to pick up on her (Basinger) and he (Johnson) walked in and swung me aside and said, 'Back off!' and my line was 'What the hell's going on here?' And that's my first line in Hollywood, 'What the hell's going on here?' After FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, I became a waiter at the Sand Castle Restaurant in Malibu. I was working in the restaurant, making a lot of money on tips, but I needed to get out if I were to do anything in this business. So I auditioned for a play and got it. The play was received very poorly, but on the front page of the Calendar Section of the LOS ANGELES TIMES, three wonderful paragraphs were written (about me), saying 'with better material, he could do this, that, and the other.' At the same time, I was writing a screenplay called NATIONAL PASTIME about minor league baseball. My friend and kid actor, Rob Lowe, read what I was writing and took it to his agent and they called me in as a writer, saying 'This is fantastic and we'd like to buy it.' I said, 'I haven't thought about selling it, but maybe one day I could do it.' They said 'You're an actor?' I said 'Yes, I am.' They set me up for an audition in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS at that moment. Two days later I was doing the series. That was for a year. I came back and did a lot of episodic work, until I got the call from a casting agent to do a role on CRAZY LIKE A FOX. I walked in and she (the agent) threw the script across the room and said, 'You might be right for that, but you're perfect for this part on DAYS OF OUR LIVES!' I auditioned for DAYS and it was supposed to be a short run as the part of The Pawn/John Black. But here I am, twelve years later... Editor's Note: To learn more about Drake's continued success, as well as his thoughts and feelings about life and show business, look for Drake in a future issue of DAYTIME TV! Debra LiCausi, EVERYTHING DAYS OF OUR LIVES, DAYTIME DIGEST, 9/98 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ John's Dramatic Decision! DAYS: Will John Marry Marlena? Or Will His Search For The Past Give Him A Future With Hope? SOAPS IN DEPTH Cover Story - DAYS OF OUR LIVES, The Loves Of His Lives: Drake Hogestyn reflects upon the off-camera heartbreaks that tore him apart from - and brought him back to - his wife, and looks to the future of John's romance with Marlena. Drake Hogestyn is in considerable pain at the moment. No, his DAYS alter ego, durable superman John Black, hasn't been injured in a bid to thwart the incessant evildoing of Stefano DiMera. Rather, the actor himself is nursing a severely torn hamstring, the result of a water-skiing accident that occurred while he was visiting his parents in Connecticut several weeks ago. "The last time that I skied was in 1982," he explains, "but my brother wanted to try out his new boat. I was doing fine...but then I got a little cocky and saw this jump. It was small, but..." Hogestyn laughs ruefully. "Well, let's just say my jump was spectacular at best. I was hoping the injury wasn't as severe as it was, but I shredded the total back of the hamstring." Any other person - say, a mere mortal - would have rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, but Hogestyn kept his cool. "I just said, 'Give me a beer,'" he recalls with a chuckle, "and then I went back to Mom and Dad's house." It's just this combination of self-deprecating wit, wry humor and daredevil mentality that has transformed the former Yankee baseball player into one of the most beloved cast members at DAYS, where he has worked steadily for the last twelve years. Sums up colleague Bryan Dattilo (Lucas): "Drake is the biggest personality around here. He's the kind of guy who is always fun to hang out with." Hogestyn has channeled this off-screen charisma onscreen, and as a result, has transcended his character's startling string of mistaken identities (The Pawn, John Black, Roman Brady, Father John, and Forrest Alamain) to maintain his status as a leading man among leading men. In fact, even back in 1986, when he made his DAYS debut, he made a splash, despite the fact that he was replacing popular Wayne Northrop (ex-Roman) as a love interest for Deidre Hall (Marlena). "Fans were clamoring for (John) to be Roman," recalls Hall. Years later, much to the shock of viewers, it was revealed that John wasn't Roman and never had been. Hogestyn was surprised, too, but says that he welcomed the life-swapping plot twist. "I had an emotional attachment to the character of Roman, but (the new storyline) was brought up to me," he recalls. "I thought that it would give me an opportunity to expand the role of John Black and really go back into who he is." Yet the transition from Roman back to John didn't come without at least a few regrets. Though Hogestyn's job didn't change, Roman's...er, John's did. "For about a year-and-a-half, I second-guessed that decision a little bit," he admits. "I always said that day on the pier when there was a Roman I and a Roman II and Abe talked me into relinquishing my job as Police Commander just for the time being to get this settled...if I would have known I was going out of the cop shop forever, I would have done a little more kicking and screaming. I enjoyed playing a cop. It gave me something to do." A Wedding For John And Marlena? Having something to do historically hasn't been a problem for Hogestyn, who as John has been involved in such frontburner plots as discovering that he was a priest, performing an exorcism (a daytime first), and being set up for murder by whacko Tony DiMera. Lately, John and fellow amnesiac Hope Brady have been working toward filling in the blanks in their respective memories. In fact, this week, John clashes with Stefano, warning his long-time nemesis that both he and Hope are determined to uncover the mystery of their missing years - and nothing will stand in their way. "There's obviously more story to be told," hints Hogestyn. However, whether that tale will continue Marlena and John's love story is another question entirely. Ironically, since Roman stepped aside in April to allow John and Marlena's relationship to flourish, the couple's romance has been toned down. And rumors have been rife that John actually might find happiness in the arms of Hope rather than Marlena. For his part, Hogestyn says that he wouldn't oppose a John/Hope romance, mainly because it would give him "something emotional to play." At the same time, Hogestyn is quick to add that he doesn't want to shortchange DAYS fans who have been rooting for John and Marlena to make it to the altar for years. "I'm concerned with the John/Marlena situation (because) it's been so long in coming, and now that it's here, it's not really here." "You'd like to see the audience have some sort of release," he continues. "Even though the John/Marlena relationship hasn't always been on the frontburner, it has been on the back of everyone's mind. No matter who else they have been involved with, there was always this eyes-across-the-smoky-room thing going on between John and Marlena. I just trust that (the writers) have got some good plans down the line." A True Love Story: No one knows the importance of a good love story more than Hogestyn, whose own relationship with his wife, Victoria, has all the makings of a classic romance novel. They first met, says Hogestyn, at a baseball game in their home state of Indiana when she was just thirteen and he was fifteen. (OOPS! This is wrong. This should say "she was just twelve and he was fifteen" not "she was just thirteen and he was fifteen" like this article states.) "There was this girl riding a bike, and Victoria was sitting on the handlebars. I saw her...and just dropped into this coma." Hogestyn revived long enough to run after his dream girl when her friend pedaled away. "I whistled for my buddy, Steve, to follow me with his car," recalls Hogestyn. "So here were these girls on this bike, I'm running after them in my spikes, and Steve was driving behind me. I must have run a mile...then they jumped off the bike and ran into this house. Victoria's mother came to the door and said, 'Don't you ever follow my daughter home again.'" As fate would have it, Hogestyn's buddy had an uncle who lived next door, and the two teenagers whiled away the time until Hogestyn had another chance to talk to Victoria. For the next several years, puppy love progressed between the two. "I would sneak out of my bedroom window at two in the morning and ride my bike from the north of town all the way to the south end of town to drop a note in her mailbox," he remembers. "It was the romance of kids. We started out as friends, but she was the only woman I've ever been in love with." Yet their love affair came to an abrupt halt when, years later, athletic Hogestyn was drafted by the New York Yankees. "I went to the University of South Florida (to become a dentist), and the day I took my dental board exams, I was drafted by the New York Yankees," he explains. "I signed, and Victoria said, 'See Ya.' It was the biggest heartbreak of my life. I obviously loved her and obviously loved baseball, but the two weren't going to work at the same time." "I had left her for four years for college, and it wasn't fair to Victoria to ask her to wait," he continues. "A long time ago, she had told me that her dream was a station wagon, a white picket fence and three or four children. It was really, really rough to let her go." That said, the reality of what Hogestyn had given up with Victoria didn't sink in completely until more than three months later when he was playing his first professional baseball game in upstate New York. That evening, with his family in attendance, he hit a grand slam home run and he felt like he was on top of the world. Then his mother gave him a newspaper clipping announcing that Victoria had gotten married. "You know, this is something you reflect on later," he says. "To pursue a game that I really loved, I made a choice and lost the woman that I loved." Reflecting On Days Gone By: Hogestyn played the game that he loved until an injury forced him off the field. Then, like many athletes, he made a play for Hollywood, where he eventually snagged a role in the series SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS. After the show folded following a single season, Hogestyn hit the audition circuit again. This time, he landed a role in ABC's hot project GENERATION, beating out pal Richard Dean Anderson. "It was funny," he remembers. "The casting people said whoever didn't get GENERATION would get the lead of Henry Winkler's new project, MACGYVER. I got GENERATION, and Rick got MACGYVER." GENERATION bombed, and Hogestyn found himself working more as a waiter than an actor, but then he met a psychic at a Christmas party. "She laid this huge mind-trip on me," he says. According to Hogestyn, the psychic told him that he would land a role in a play, he would not live on water (he had just purchased a Catalina cruiser, where he planned to reside), and the love of his life would soon call him. Two weeks later, Hogestyn did receive a call from Victoria at 4:30 AM. "Things were not the best in Victoria's life, and she said that she needed to talk to a friend," he recounts. "What is so weird is that I have never had a listed number. Victoria guessed that I might be in Malibu because I always had to live by the water. She called information, and for whatever reason, they spit out my number." While Hogestyn and Victoria began to reconnect after a seven-year separation (they married in 1984), the psychic's other two predictions also came true: (OOPS! This is wrong. Pardon the interruption but Drake and Victoria got married in 1986, not 1984.) His new boat had to be scrapped after an accident, and he landed a role in a local play. And though the production was critically panned, his performance in particular was applauded. As a result, this catapulted his career along until he tested for DAYS. Hogestyn aced his audition - no sweat. But he still almost didn't make the final cut. What was the holdup? Believe it or not, it was the head-turner's looks. "(Singer) Ricky Nelson had died in a plane crash that New Year's Eve," he remembers, "and all they could say was that I looked like him." Drake's Future - And John's: Of course, the only resemblance Hogestyn has had to worry about lately is being mistaken for his alter ego, John. However, whether this will continue to be the case remains to be seen - after all John's past is still a blank, and another identity may yet be revealed. If that should happen, Hogestyn hopes that the answers to John's past will be satisfactory for everyone concerned. "I wouldn't like to see the character of John Black slide without a very strong payoff in the next round of 'who am I?'" he says. As far as Hogestyn himself is concerned, he's eyeballing the future, too, and looking beyond DAYS. The handsome actor says that other projects have been discussed on and off throughout the years, but he's been loyal to DAYS. However, he is prepared for any changes that may come in the future. "I've had a great run on DAYS, I've covered a lot of story, and DAYS has been good to me," he notes, "but I've always said that when you're on top of the roller-coaster, you know what's coming next." What may in fact be coming next for Hogestyn is taking on the job of Producer. "I'm wondering at this stage of my career whether I should start expanding in a different direction than acting," he says. "If I decide to produce, I want to look for projects that are fun, interesting...that the whole family can enjoy." Regardless of where his professional ambition takes him, Hogestyn still can claim to hit a grand slam as successful actor, happy husband and devoted dad. "To be honest with you, it doesn't seem like I've made any real conscious decision in my life," he says. "I've been flexible and doors opened. I've been very lucky and very blessed." Picture Captions: "My parents taught me to keep my nose clean," says Hogestyn. "Deidre and I are each other's safety nets," says Hogestyn of leading lady Hall. "Staci (Greason) is a free spirit," recalls Hogestyn of Isabella's portrayer. "They share the loss of their pasts," says Hogestyn of Hope and John. "I've always liked intrigue," admits the actor, with Eileen Davidson (Ex-Kristen, etcetera). For Your Information: Question Answer Hometown Fort Wayne, Indiana Family Married with four children First Base Drafted by the New York Yankees until an injury sidelined him in 1978 Second Base One of thirty aspiring actors to win Columbia Pictures' National Talent Search Program Third Base Landed role of the taciturn sibling in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS opposite pal Richard Dean Anderson, Peter Horton (THIRTYSOMETHING) and River Phoenix Homerun Landed role as The Pawn in DAYS in 1986 (Please Note: In our opinion, this should say "Landed role as The Pawn on DAYS.") Favorite DAYS Storylines "At the very beginning when I started on the show, it was very powerful, very strong, when everyone thought I was Stefano and I had Marlena," Hogestyn recalls. "My second favorite storyline would be the death of Isabella. It was powerful merely from the standpoint that the girl was going to die. We couldn't even say the dialogue because the emotions were so close to the surface. There was a lot of great work done there." Julie McElwain, NBC SOAPS IN DEPTH, 10/6/98 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♥ NBC Gossip Choice Chatter! DAYS OF OUR LIVES... Field Of Dreamers: You can count Drake Hogestyn (John) in as one of the boys of summer: Like the rest of the country, the former baseball player tuned in for the record-breaking, home run seasons of St. Louis Cardinals' Mark McGwire and Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa. "I knew the record would be broken," Hogestyn explains. "Athletes today are bigger and stronger and faster." That said, the actor adds that he longs for days gone by. "I am hoping that some of the romanticism of the old days will return," he sighs. "I carry around a Roger Maris baseball card with me. It's not in my pocket, but it's in my valise. And I have a huge photo of Babe Ruth up in my dressing room. I talk to him all the time; he is my therapy." But the Babe isn't Hogestyn's sole source of mental well-being. When it comes to off-set centering, Hogestyn credits lifting weights and surfing with his son, Ben, as being truly therapeutic. "If you want to know what keeps me young," Hogestyn muses, "it's my kids." SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 10/27/98