As the search for John Black continues on Days of Our Lives, the life and legacy of his late portrayer, the beloved Drake Hogestyn, was recently celebrated at the PanCAN Purple Stride event. The April 26 walk was a fundraiser for pancreatic cancer, and Hogestyn’s reel-life and real-life families came together on Team Hogey’s Home Runners to raise awareness for the disease that claimed the life of the daytime icon last September. During the event, two of Hogestyn’s daughters, Whitney Herndon and Alex Corwin, chatted with Access Hollywood, sharing some of their favorite memories of their dad.

Father Figure

In addition to Whitney and Alex, Hogestyn and his wife, Victoria, are also parents to another daughter, Rachael, and a son Ben Hogestyn (ex-Lucas, General Hospital; ex-Harry, Bold and Beautiful). “He was the best dad we could have ever asked for,” Herndon said. “Him and my mom gave us the best childhood ever. Some of our favorite family memories is all of our trips together, family vacations.”

A standout memory for Corwin was the unconventional approach Hogestyn took to getting his four kids ready to take on the road. “He taught us how to drive in reverse,” she shared, “because he said, ‘If you can drive backwards, you can drive forwards.’ ”

Hogestyn wasn’t just the dad that his kids could count on; he was a go-to for their friends as well. “He was just the drop-everything-you’re-doing, no questions asked type of dad,” stated Corwin. “He would pick us up, all hours of the night, for whatever reason. And our friends would call him when they weren’t with us, and he would go pick them up.” Corwin added that it was important to Hogestyn that his children’s friends knew they could rely on him, too. “He just wanted to make sure everyone was safe,” she explained. “He wanted to be that father figure for everyone.”

Guest Of Honor: Less than a year before his death, Hogestyn was showered with love at a family celebration marking his 70th birthday.

Grandfather of the Year

In recent years, Hogestyn’s daughters shared, the late actor adored being Papa to his seven grandchildren. “Him and my mom loved being grandparents,” noted Herndon. Not surprising, he went all out when it came to Halloween with her kids. “We do a big theme costume, my parents would be involved,” she said. “And our dad would get into character. He would memorize the songs of whatever character he was dressed as.”

Hogestyn passed away in September 2024, just one day shy of his 71^st birthday. The year prior, the Hogestyns celebrated the actor’s 70^th birthday with a family party — unaware that it would be his last. “It was the best birthday we could have had for him, right before we found out he was sick,” Corwin shared, adding, “It felt like it was meant to happen that way. We were all together; we had the most amazing celebration.”

Although Hogestyn’s death has been difficult for the whole family, Herndon and Corwin are doing their best to keep his memory alive for his grandchildren. “Our kids really miss him. That’s been really hard,” admitted Herndon. Added Corwin, “We talk to our kids about him every day, so he will never be forgotten. He’s in our hearts forever.”

For a look back at Hogestyn’s life and career in photos, click here, and click here to relive six of John Black’s most iconic storylines.