Nary a dry eye was found across Days of Our Lives fandom as viewers watched John Black take his last breath. Before Drake Hogestyn died in September 2024, he approved the storyline that would become John’s final sendoff. Many characters whose lives were connected to John returned to pay their respects and give him the hero’s exit that he deserved. Among them was Greg Vaughan’s Eric Brady, and the actor discussed his thoughts on John’s last story.
He Cherished Their Conversations
Vaughan spoke with TV Insider and explained that, “There’s not enough time in the day to tell you all the great things about Drake Hogestyn.” He praised his erstwhile co-star for putting his family first when he wasn’t at work, and then giving the show 100% of his energy and attitude. “I cherish the conversations and the stories we had,” he remarked, adding that they were in constant communication until Hogestyn’s end.
The actor further noted that participating in John’s final scenes was not something that they were running to work over, as it was a very somber occasion. He felt the day of shooting was extremely difficult for cast and crew alike, especially as many struggled to work on those scenes. And while he thought Eric’s return for the story was a nice gesture, he stated, “I wish it was under better circumstances.”
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He Will Be Forever Cherished
Despite the difficult time everyone had getting through the scenes, Vaughan praised Hogestyn’s family for their support. “Drake’s family, his wife, approved of this story, so I thought that was really just a wonderful gesture, and the way they wrote it was a nice touch.”
Because Hogestyn was also a father figure to him, Vaughan explained that the actor always had wisdom and advice to impart upon him. He felt blessed that Hogestyn had been in his life, and he appreciated how his friend always asked how Vaughan’s kids were doing. “He is dearly missed and very loved, and his memory will forever be cherished and remembered.”
