The Strong John "The Pawn" Robicheaux Black Thread

[DisneyBoy]

So much to say...but mostly, thank you Drake.

 

[SouthernChick]

My favorite love interest of his was Marlena, with my favorite stories being the Pier reunion, the tale of two Romans, the affair, Maison Blanche, the Posession, A Lady in a Cage, and the Kristen/Susan saga. Mainly, 1991-1997.

In recent years, I’ve loved John as a father and grandfather.

Edited September 29 by SouthernChick

[DisneyBoy]

Edited September 29 by DisneyBoy

[Sunrain]

Still couldn’t sleep after hearing the news of Drake’s passing. So I decide to type out my humble impression about this popular yet humble human being and the journey his character took me.

I’d like to share my little discovery of an anecdote about Drake first. He had been voted as the “best kisser” by his female collogues in the past. Someone asked him about it, this was his response: “I don’t use tongue, I don’t leave spit and my wife is watching.” It was one of many examples why they adored him and why there were no women who didn’t have chemistry with him. Drake possessed this fascinating ability to connect with his co-stars and breath life into the characters he was assigned to play with his RL qualities. He was always able to have fun with his female collogues and they felt comfortable around him on screen e.g. playing softball.

If you asked me who is my favorite love interest for him, you wouldn’t get a straight answer from me. I think Olivia, Diana, Yvette, Isabella, Rebecca etc. had brought out the best in him. Those relationships surely had their complexities but they were generally built on equal partnership. Those female characters didn’t have to be stifled to be with John or fear being treated as hormonal tools who longed for his touch or some sessions of erotic therapy with him. Most of them wouldn’t have to worry about him waking up in the middle of night feeling unsatisfied and turn to a married person for sex (soap writing could be beyond embarrassing sometimes). They shared a streak of strong and indepedent personalites which did a number on John (LOL could you imagine his “sore-loser pout face” after beaten by females in games and then they laughed at him?) I could go on and on about why I like his relationship with those women but will stop here.

Last but not the least, I liked Drake because of his humble nature. Some actors became divas or worse gropers on set once their popularity reached its peak. Drake still remains his true self all these years despite his immense popularity. You never heard anything bad or controversial about him unlike some collogues of his.

Edited September 29 by Sunrain

[CanaryFan98]

In retrospect he probably should've stayed Roman and the Bradys would be in better shape.

Since it's way too late for that I definitely preferred John best with Isabella. When he was Roman it was Diana.

However, I never realized how big a part of the show he was until these past 24 hours. He's really one of the first few characters you think of when it comes to Days and it's hard to image him not being there when the last sand goes through the Hourglass.

[DisneyBoy]

 

 

Edited September 29 by DisneyBoy

[DisneyBoy]

Edited September 29 by DisneyBoy

[DisneyBoy]

Edited September 30 by DisneyBoy

[DisneyBoy]

[DisneyBoy]

[DisneyBoy]

 

[DisneyBoy]

[DisneyBoy]

Edited September 30 by DisneyBoy

[DisneyBoy]

[DisneyBoy]

Edited September 30 by DisneyBoy

[DisneyBoy]

[DisneyBoy]

Edited September 30 by DisneyBoy

[DisneyBoy]

Edited September 30 by DisneyBoy

[DisneyBoy]

  

[DisneyBoy]

 

[Retired at last]

He was one beautiful man. RIP.

[DisneyBoy]

Hands up if you think DOOL should bring  Dick Van Dyke back for John's memorial.

[Ohiopirate02]

11 minutes ago, DisneyBoy said:

Hands up if you think DOOL should bring  Dick Van Dyke back for John's memorial.

If Dick wants to and is able, then he needs to be there. 

[CanaryFan98]

2 hours ago, DisneyBoy said:

Hands up if you think DOOL should bring  Dick Van Dyke back for John's memorial.

Unfortunately I'm hearing these days he isn't that well either. 

[Nique]

I'm heartbroken about Drake Hogestyn 💔 He was one of the best humans to walk the face of the earth devoted to his craft no matter how stupid or dumb it was. Never once phoned it in even when he could have. He embodied John, RoJohn, Roman with a rare sensuality, sexualness, heat, heart, confidence and strength. He was confident in his love rather it was his all consuming soulmate in Marlena, Isabella as he was in his unconditional love, support and acceptance of his children who he adored and loved more than life. He was as confident in his goofiness as he was in his manhood, stealthy. No matter the pain of losing Sami and Eric, the rejection from Sami once the affair came out, her hatefulness, childishness he never once faltered in his love for her. His longing for the days of past, when she would run to him, confide in him he never let it stop him from reaching out. His patience was a thing of beauty, right along with his acceptance of things never being the same. He never had a problem with laughing at himself no matter how silly it was. His everlasting love for the child of his heart, his pumpkin the decades bond with Carrie a love so unconditional in it's acceptance almost 4 decades equivalent is one of the most defining characteristics of John Black. His love for his baby girl, their bond, their shared love of gossiping, his fierce protectiveness of her, as she was to him, their unconditional bond, he was larger than life, a mystical super hero with rouge looks and undeniable strength he was the ultimate girl dad, beloved daddy to his Belle, Isabella,Tink who had him wrapped around her fingers💔😭

Above else his brotherhood with Abe, Bo that manage to stand the test of time through tragedy, heartbreak, situations beyond their control, his empathy even for his enemies able to see the big picture on both sides ie: Lexie, the baby switch, her trying to take Issac at his christening showed the best of John and his epic larger than life portrayal. Was he the best actor? No but he craved out a niche as one of the greatest heroes daytime has ever saw. He could be strict, joking and loving at the same time rather it was with his brain dead son Brady, his Samantha, his pumpkin and his Izzy. When he was on he was on he could do it all drama, comedy, toughness, heartbeat, sexuality, heat without missing a beat. He was simply the best onscreen and off their will never be another John Black and Drake Hogestyn. Appreciate your legends why you have them. I know he is up there tickling god making him laugh and cry 😢 Swing for the fences in heaven Drake your time here is done. Rest Easy 🙏🏿🙏🏿

[methodwriter85]

7 hours ago, CanaryFan98 said:

Unfortunately I'm hearing these days he isn't that well either. 

That is why I am so glad he won that Daytime Emmy, because it's probably going to be the final cap on his long and illustrious career. 

[CanaryFan98]

8 hours ago, methodwriter85 said:

That is why I am so glad he won that Daytime Emmy, because it's probably going to be the final cap on his long and illustrious career. 

Yeah he's going to be 99 in December. It is also why it bothered me that Bill/Kristian didn't get that final scene that Ron wanted to write for them when Bo/Hope were around last year. I mean Bill was 97 you don't know how long he can hold on at that point.

[DisneyBoy]

Who killed that happy ending for Bope? Who decided to have him shot and in a coma instead?

[brisbydog]

42 minutes ago, DisneyBoy said:

Who killed that happy ending for Bope? Who decided to have him shot and in a coma instead?

Albert. Ron wrote the happy ending and Alaar nixed it

[DisneyBoy]

Wow. Just...wow.

I never knew who the culprit was. Where was this info shared?

[brisbydog]

4 hours ago, DisneyBoy said:

Wow. Just...wow.

I never knew who the culprit was. Where was this info shared?

Ron said it in an interview last year

[Retired at last]

I imagine that if Dick Van Dyke could make it, he would. But, he is so frail now and is probably just hoping to make it to 100. This is yet another example of how the ridiculous filming schedule ruins yet another milestone moment. By the time they get around to writing, casting, and filming John Black's funeral, I don't see that happening. Which is kind of good, because even reading the summary of THAT show would destroy me!  On a positive (?) note - maybe this gives Deidre Hall a chance to take a Botox break so that she would be able to muster up some kind of facial reaction?

[CanaryFan98]

On 10/6/2024 at 3:30 PM, Retired at last said:

I imagine that if Dick Van Dyke could make it, he would. But, he is so frail now and is probably just hoping to make it to 100. This is yet another example of how the ridiculous filming schedule ruins yet another milestone moment. By the time they get around to writing, casting, and filming John Black's funeral, I don't see that happening. Which is kind of good, because even reading the summary of THAT show would destroy me!  On a positive (?) note - maybe this gives Deidre Hall a chance to take a Botox break so that she would be able to muster up some kind of facial reaction?

He hasn't commented on Drake's passing either. Now he's not obligated to either but I did notice that and also nobody seemed to ask about his response either. Plus I've been hearing he's not well and it does make me wonder tbh.

[DisneyBoy]

If he isn't doing well, he might not have been told. You never know.

[CountryGirl]

I posted this in the Milestones thread but thought it fitting to post here.

I am still so gutted over the loss of Drake Hogestyn.

He was the only Roman Brady for me and truly owned that role, but when Wayne was brought back, Drake was more than up for the challenge of revisiting his John Black roots. And no offense to Wayne, but it was such sweet satisfaction that it would be John and Marlena in the end, as the chemistry between Drake and Deidre Hall was (will always be) out of this world.

While he was gone far, far too soon, what an amazing life he had, a double science major in college, with plans of becoming an oral surgeon, only to pivot to a baseball career, being drafted by both the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees, known then by his first name of Don (Drake is his middle name).

An injury would end his baseball dreams while playing for the Yankees farm team but then he was plucked from a group of 75,000 hopefuls for an actor training program by Columbia Pictures (one of only 30).

He had a few roles, including his role on Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, which is available on YouTube, but not finding real success when he got the call for Days and thought this was the end of the road for him. He won the role of The Pawn on Days, which was supposed to be very short-term, but his undeniable connection with Deidre made TPTB go in a different direction and determine he was Roman Brady, returned from the grave, and the rest is history.

I also loved his romance with Isabella and that Drake succumbed to the same thing that Izzy B died from is just...tears.

I also think about how much he loved and was loved in return. Falling for his wife, Victoria, on a baseball field in Fort Wayne, Indiana, when he was 15 and she was 12, and their four beautiful children, including Ben, who followed in his father's acting footsteps. Though it's hard to believe it of my first daytime crush, he was a grandfather of seven. 

But definitely the most foxy of silver foxes.

Bidding Drake a fond, if teary-eyed, farewell, and a hearty "fuck you!" to cancer.

But I won't end on that note. I'll end on the scene that my whole life long will be the one I will always remember above the thousands of others I've been privileged to watch over the years. 

You know the one.

A certain pier in Salem in 1991.

Starting at the 2:16 mark. 

RIP, Drake. You were one of the good ones. 💔🥹

[CanaryFan98]

On 10/7/2024 at 6:10 PM, DisneyBoy said:

If he isn't doing well, he might not have been told. You never know.

Yeah I can believe that also especially at his age. When my mom was sick my grandmother was battling dementia and there was no point in telling her so we didn't. 

[DisneyBoy]

A really beautiful tribute by SN and Access Hollywood.