♥ 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 Television, 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