Family and friends have been rallying around Marlena, who has remained by her husband John’s bedside since the dreadful accident. While helping Steve and Shawn locate the drugs to save Bo, John was caught inside the lab as it exploded and now is fighting for his life. However, as viewers know, the storyline is the soap’s way of saying goodbye to the actor who played John for nearly 40 years.
Since 1986, Drake Hogestyn had captivated fans as one half of the supercouple “Jarlena” and when the actor passed away on September 28, 2024, at the age of 70, after a battle with pancreatic cancer, his death rocked the daytime industry. So, for the stars involved in John’s goodbye, the emotions and tears we see onscreen are very real and Hogestyn, as well as his character, will forever be missed.
More: Photos, Drake Hogestyn at PanCAN PurpleStride
This week’s video preview, showed the latest star to make a return, as we got a look at Carrie comforting Marlena, and Christie Clark recently talked to TV Insider about reprising the role she’s played since 1986 as well. Thinking back to having worked with him from the very beginning, Clark called Hogestyn her mentor, one she grew up with, one who gave her everything. “And, my God, he was just a man of unbelievable beauty inside and out,” Clark told the outlet then went on to express, “I was just gutted that it was happening to him — the most fit, loving, gorgeous man who appreciated life. It was just heartbreaking.”
After being gone for four years, look for Clark to step back into the role on Wednesday, May 28.
And if you want to know what else is set to go down in Salem this week, as well as on the other four soaps, view our preview gallery.
