Donald Drake Hogestyn
Back in his hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Drake Hogestyn had every intention of becoming a doctor if his career as a professional baseball player didn't pan out. A gifted athlete, scholarships provided his college education. He not only graduated with a double major in microbiology and applied sciences from the University of South Florida, but was also drafted by two professional baseball organization: the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees. Drake signed with the Yankees as a third baseman and was climbing the farm system ladder when he sustained a career ending injury.
At the same time, Columbia Pictures was heading up a national talent search. The director in charge encouraged Drake to fly to Los Angeles to participate in an intensive four-month acting training workshop. Drake's wonderment as to why he was chosen was met with a "You act like a ball player, you don't play like one" response from the director. Looking back, Drake thinks he may have had a point.
He also received the Best Actor award five years in row from Soap Opera Update.
For his portrayal of The Pawn, John Black, Roman Brady, Roman II, Romulus, John Stevens, Father John and Mercenary John, Drake has received Best Actor Awards from as far away as Australia, South Africa and Germany. He also received the Best Actor award five years in row from Soap Opera Update and Hottest Male Star for two years running from Soap Opera Digest. Drake tops the Daytime TV Readers Poll with more number one rankings than any other actor in the history of soap operas.
Drake surfs, snowboards, works on his old '61 Corvette and '57 T-Bird and generally spends all his free time with his wife Victoria and their four children: Rachael, Ben, Whitney and Alexandra, at their beach home in Malibu.
Days of our Lives
John Black
January 10, 1986 to
October 26, 2007;
January 8, 2008 to
January 23, 2009;
September 26, 2011 to Present
Generation
Jack Breed
1985
Beverly Hills Cowgirl Blues
Rod
1985
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Brian McFadden
1982
Daytime Emmy Awards Pre-Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actor (2005)
Soap Opera Digest Awards Winner, Hottest Male Star (1994)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Fort Wayne, Indiana
DATE OF BIRTH: September 29, 1953
HEIGHT: 6' 2"
MARITAL STATUS: Married; Victoria Post [Dec 31, 1986 to Present]
CHILDREN: Four children
Attended the University of South Florida on a baseball scholarship and majored in pre-dentistry
Drafted by the New York Yankees and he played third base for their farm team until he was injured in 1978
News Archive: DAYS refutes rumor, says Hogestyn staying put [Sep 15, 2004]
News Archive: DAYS rep confirms Koslow inked to new contract [Nov 1, 2004]
News Archive: Fan storms Hogestyn home, attempts exorcism. [Jan 8, 2007]
News Archive: Whispers of Hogestyn's firing growing louder. [Sep 10, 2007]
News Archive: Hogestyn out as John is killed in hit-and-run. [Oct 14, 2007]
News Archive: DAYS stunner: Deidre Hall, Drake Hogestyn fired. [Nov 17, 2008]
News Archive: Deidre Hall, Drake Hogestyn to make short-term DAYS return. [Jun 2, 2011]
News Archive: LISTEN: Deidre Hall, Drake Hogestyn visit Soap Central Live. [Aug 5, 2011]
News Archive: Drake Hogestyn back at work on DAYS. [Oct 21, 2013]
News Archive: Yikes! John's father is a serial killer! [Feb 27, 2016]
News Archive: DAYS exec confirms Drake Hogestyn injured; wishes star a speedy recovery [Jul 20, 2016]
News Archive: UPDATE: Lawyers set record straight on why Drake Hogetyn is absent from DAYS [Jul 25, 2016]
News Archive: DAYS' Drake Hogestyn in "terrific shape" after recovering from on-set accident [Nov 6, 2016]
News Archive: DAYS' Drake Hogestyn hit with tragic loss over the holidays [Dec 30, 2016]
News Archive: Drake Hogestyn on DAYS' new material under head writer Ron Carlivati: "I get goosebumps" [Jun 12, 2017]
News Archive: Drake Hogestyn staying put at DAYS, lands primetime role [Jan 21, 2018]
News Archive: DAYS' Lauren Koslow and Drake Hogestyn celebrate important milestones [Jan 25, 2018]
News Archive: PHOTOS: Drake Hogestyn celebrates 4,000 DAYS episodes [Apr 4, 2018]
News Archive: Days of our Lives' Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn appear in NFL Tide commercial [Sep 12, 2019]
News Archive: Tide drops second soapy commercial featuring Days of our Lives' Drake Hogestyn and Deidre Hall [Sep 25, 2019]
News Archive: Deidre Hall, Drake Hogestyn preview the "unusual time jump" headed to Days of our Lives [Sep 26, 2019]
News Archive: Days of our Lives' Drake Hogestyn joins Hallmark film Christmas Tree Lane [Aug 3, 2020]
News Archive: Days of our Lives launches spinoff series, Beyond Salem, with the return of Lisa Rinna, Carrie and Austin, and a new Sonny [Jul 26, 2021]
