Hogestyn — who starred in 'Days' for nearly 40 years — died at age 70 on Sept. 28 following a pancreatic cancer diagnosis

Hogestyn, who played John Black in Daves Of Our Lives for nearly 40 years, died Saturday (September 28) following an “unbelievable fight” with pancreatic cancer. It was long thought that Hogestyn’s first name was the inspiration for Joey Tribbiani’s (LeBlanc) Doctor Drake Ramoray in Friends.

Days of our Lives stars have come out in droves to honor the late great Drake Hogestyn. The soap legend, who played John Black for over 35 years, passed away this weekend. Social media has become flooded with those who had the privilege of knowing and working with him after news of his death broke.