You felt the tears. You felt the grief. But did you know the actors were crying for real? Peter Reckell (Bo Brady) finally opens up about the heartbreaking, unprecedented reality behind John Black’s final scenes and Drake Hogestyn’s tragic passing.

“Days of Our Lives: The REAL Grief Revealed – Peter Reckell Delves into Fan & Cast Heartbreak for John Black”

Welcome back, Days of Our Lives faithful. This past week, it truly felt like we were saying goodbye to an old friend as Salem laid John Black to rest. But beyond the profound on-screen grief, a heartbreaking reality unfolded behind the scenes, honoring the late, beloved actor Drake Hogestyn in a uniquely poignant and deeply resonant way.

The Final Farewell: Raw Emotions Unveiled

In a moment that brought favorite Salemites and fans alike to tears, Bo Brady delivered the last, incredibly moving speech to bid farewell to John. Peter Reckell, the esteemed actor behind Bo, intimately understands the profound emotional journey the audience has been navigating. He openly acknowledges the powerful, almost unparalleled effect that soap operas and their iconic characters can have on our very lives.

Drake Hogestyn: The Man Behind the Legend

John Black’s on-screen death was not merely a plot device; it was a heartbreaking necessity dictated by Drake Hogestyn’s courageous off-screen battle with pancreatic cancer, which he tragically lost in September of 2024. Although Hogestyn had been off-screen for months by the time these recent funeral scenes were filmed, his passing occurred shortly after Days of Our Lives meticulously laid John to rest within the story. This meant that the actors’ grief while creating these scenes was as raw and real for them as it was for the millions of viewers watching at home.

As each beloved character — from Eric and Carrie to Belle, Brady, Marlena, and Bo — took their turn at eulogizing John, his absence was palpable. We could not only feel their pain; we experienced it alongside them, grieving a character we had intimately “known” in our living rooms for nearly 40 years.

The Unrivaled Impact of Soap Operas

Peter Reckell believes it’s the very nature of soap operas that has fans openly weeping this week, as they cope with the dual loss of both John Black and Drake Hogestyn.

“We [in the cast] understand how much these characters mean to our audience. They are just more impactful than any other kind of medium,” Reckell shared with Soap Opera Digest. “When you have characters in your living room every day…the relationships that the audience develops with these characters are just so powerful to them.”

Reckell candidly noted that he’s witnessed countless fans expressing their profound sadness on social media, even some voicing anger at how things had to tragically play out.

“I think people have got to realize that and not put blame on anybody, the writers or whatever, because it’s just part of grief,” Reckell advised with empathy. “And talk to your friends, if it’s online or people you watch the show with, because these are really powerful and impactful circumstances that are happening. Just as if a relative of yours was passing, this is how powerful this is.”

This deeply emotional farewell to John Black serves as a poignant reminder of the extraordinary bond between Days of Our Lives, its legendary characters, and its devoted fanbase.

Catch all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives weekdays on Peacock, and continue to share your memories and grief, knowing you are not alone.