JokersUpdates.com: Days of Our Lives - ‘Days of Our Lives’: Deidre Hall Details How Drake Hogestyn Won the Role of John Black (VIDEO)

‘Days of Our Lives’: Deidre Hall Details How Drake Hogestyn Won the Role of John Black (VIDEO)
Stephanie Sloane
JUNE 26, 2026, 4:06 PM

Ten years into Deidre Hall‘s legendary run as Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives, a new leading man arrived in Salem — and together they would become one of daytime television’s most beloved supercouples.

On January 24, 1986, Drake Hogestyn, a former minor-league baseball player, made his debut as a mysterious, bandaged stranger known as “The Pawn.” Loosely inspired by Jason Bourne from Robert Ludlum’s bestselling novels, the amnesiac character had a questionable past and was recovering from facial reconstructive surgery.

For Hall, who screen-tested with potential scene partners, Hogestyn immediately stood out. “We did the test, and he was wonderful,” she told Swooon in a special video looking back at her five decades in Salem. “And when that day was over, they called me upstairs and said, ‘Okay, we had seven guys here. What do you think?’ And I thought, ‘Oh, my heart’s in my throat. Oh, my gosh.’ I said, ‘Well, I’m hoping that you’re thinking it’s Drake.’ He said, ‘We were hoping you would think it was Drake, too.’ He was so clearly the winner and was everybody’s choice.”

After escaping Victor Kiriakis’ (John Aniston) clutches, the Pawn made his way around town and adopted the name John Black after spotting it on a Vietnam War memorial.

For clip access:

https://www.tvinsider.com/1272299/days-of-our-lives-deidre-hall-drake-hogestyn-john-marlena-first-meeting-details/

Rio: "Warriors...Come out to playay!!!!!!!!!"