John Black’s death on “Days of our Lives” hit hard—not just because we lost a fictional hero but because of what it meant for the people who knew and loved Drake Hogestyn.

For nearly 40 years, John Black saved lives, beat the odds and always came home to Marlena. But his final act of heroism—saving Bo—was one he wouldn’t survive.

John Black was the heartbeat of Salem—the other half of one of daytime’s most iconic couples, and a dependable constant through the wildest soap storylines imaginable. Watching him take his final breath wasn’t just painful—it felt personal.

The way he died was classic John Black: Heroic, self-sacrificing and driven by love for family.

He fought to get the medicine Bo needed, making it back from another secret mission just in time to help Steve and Shawn bypass the lab’s security system. That final act was pure John Black—saving a friend no matter the cost.

Bo lives because of John Black, and in a way, that legacy is fitting. John always put others first. But knowing that his final moments were—in some manner—also a goodbye from Drake Hogestyn makes it even harder to watch.

Drake Hogestyn last appeared on the show in September and died a few weeks later following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, which he kept away from the public spotlight. “Days of our Lives” films about eight months ahead, so, at the time, Hogestyn was leaving the show for medical reasons, likely planning to return.

He approved the storyline of John Black’s death, and that’s what makes this even more gut-wrenching.

Eric Martsolf, who plays John Black’s son Brady Black, said filming the funeral scenes didn’t feel real.

“It felt very unnatural to film a funeral of a character and a man who you knew was still with us,” Martsolf said in an interview.

By all accounts, Drake Hogestyn was a mentor, a father figure, a steady force behind the show.

I don’t think we’ll ever see a character like John Black again. He and Marlena were the gold standard for soap supercouples. Their love survived death, amnesia, possession and plot twists that defied logic—and it still felt grounded.

We didn’t just say goodbye to a character. We said goodbye to a legacy.