Hogestyn — who starred in 'Days' for nearly 40 years — died at age 70 on Sept. 28 following a pancreatic cancer diagnosis

Hogestyn, who played John Black in Daves Of Our Lives for nearly 40 years, died Saturday (September 28) following an “unbelievable fight” with pancreatic cancer. It was long thought that Hogestyn’s first name was the inspiration for Joey Tribbiani’s (LeBlanc) Doctor Drake Ramoray in Friends.

Drake Hogestyn, a fixture on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives,” has died at 70 from pancreatic cancer. For nearly 40 years, he starred as John Black.