R.I.P., Drake Hogestyn: Stephen Nichols and Others Remember Late Days of Our Lives Star: ‘He Exuded Joy’

Days of Our Lives is mourning the loss of Drake Hogestyn, who since 1986 played John Black on the long-running soap, after his death on Saturday following a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 70.Stephen Nichols, who played Steve Johnson aka Patch, on Monday posted an Instagram video of himself and Hogestyn joking around. “Just being in Drake’s presence was enough to get a jolt of positivity,” Nichols wrote. “He was one of those special souls who exuded joy and love for life.” (Read his full remembrance below.) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stephen Nichols (@stephen_e_nichols)“With such a heavy heart, I can’t really find the words today about the passing of this sweet, kind man,” Mary Beth Evans, who plays Days‘ Kayla, wrote on Instagram on Sunday. “From the first day we met in the green room of Days of Our Lives in 1986, we were fast friends. Drake’s love and devotion to his forever sweetheart Victoria, his children and grandchildren was one of his most endearing qual...