When Hollywood stars pass away, the headlines usually focus on their iconic roles, their awards, or the dramatic plot twists of their characters. For Drake Hogestyn, the legendary John Black on Days of Our Lives, the narrative often circled back to his chemistry with Deidre Hall. But off-screen? The real story was much quieter and infinitely more stable. Drake Hogestyn wife, Victoria Post, wasn't just a spouse; she was the childhood sweetheart who stayed by his side through every career pivot, from the minor leagues to the soundstages of Burbank.
People always talk about the "supercouple" of John and Marlena. Honestly, the real supercouple was Drake and Victoria. They were married for 37 years. In a town where marriages often have the shelf life of a carton of milk, that’s basically a lifetime.
Who Is Victoria Post?
Victoria Post met Drake long before he was a household name. They were childhood sweethearts. Think about that for a second. Before the "John Black" amnesia storylines, before the international spy missions, and even before Drake was trying to make it as a professional baseball player for the New York Yankees organization, there was Victoria.
They officially tied the knot on December 31, 1986.
It was a big year for Drake. He had just joined Days of Our Lives in January of that year. While his character was busy trying to figure out his identity in the fictional town of Salem, Drake was cementing his own identity as a family man. Victoria has largely stayed out of the blinding glare of the paparazzi. She wasn't an actress chasing her own star on the Walk of Fame. She was the anchor.
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The Woman Behind the "John Black" Legacy
You've probably seen her in old red carpet photos from the 90s, looking effortlessly elegant at the Daytime Emmy Awards. But beyond the flashbulbs, Victoria Post was raising a family. The couple had four children:
- Whitney
- Alexandra
- Rachael
- Ben
Ben Hogestyn actually followed in his dad’s footsteps for a bit, appearing as Lucas Jones on General Hospital. Kirsten Storms, who played Belle Black (Drake’s TV daughter), even dated Ben for a few years. It’s kinda wild how the soap world and the real world overlapped like that. Storms later mentioned how she spent a ton of time with Victoria and the kids, describing the Hogestyn household as incredibly warm and centered.
Victoria wasn't just "the wife." She was the person Drake credited for keeping him grounded when the fame got weird. In interviews, Drake would often light up the moment her name came or when he talked about his kids. He once famously said his two greatest loves were his family and the Yankees. Victoria was the heart of that first one.
Facing the "Curveball" of Pancreatic Cancer
In 2024, the world was rocked by the news that Drake Hogestyn had passed away. He died on September 28, just one day before his 71st birthday. The cause? Pancreatic cancer.
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The family's statement was gut-wrenching. They called it the "curveball of his life." For Victoria, this wasn't just the loss of a famous actor; it was the loss of her partner of nearly four decades. She was there in their Malibu home when he passed peacefully, surrounded by the family they built together.
Imagine the strength it takes to navigate a private health battle while your husband is still appearing on television screens daily. Drake’s final episode actually aired on September 9, 2024, just weeks before he died. Victoria and the kids were his support system during that grueling final year.
Why Their Marriage Worked
- Privacy: They didn't sell their personal lives to the highest bidder.
- Consistency: She was with him before the fame, which kept him humble.
- Family First: They prioritized their four children and seven grandchildren over the Hollywood party scene.
Life After Loss: Victoria's Path Forward
Since Drake’s passing, Victoria has remained private, which is exactly how she lived most of her life. The Days of Our Lives cast, including Deidre Hall, has spoken out about how much Drake adored his wife. Hall recently shared that Victoria and the children were "truly the center of his life."
It’s easy to get caught up in the "Marlena and John" fantasy. But if you want to understand the man behind the leather jacket, you have to look at the woman who was there through the minor league bus rides and the long days on set.
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Victoria Post is the silent architect of the Drake Hogestyn legacy.
While the show continues to honor John Black with tributes and flashbacks, Victoria is the one holding the real memories. The teeball games with the grandkids (like their grandson Thomas Drake), the quiet mornings in Malibu, and a marriage that actually lived up to the "until death do us part" vow.
Actionable Insight for Fans: If you want to honor Drake’s memory, the family has often encouraged supporting cancer research. Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to detect early. Familiarizing yourself with the symptoms—like jaundice, unexplained weight loss, or persistent abdominal pain—is a practical way to turn a celebrity tragedy into personal health awareness. Furthermore, watching the special Days of Our Lives tribute episodes on Peacock is a great way to see the history that Victoria helped Drake build over nearly 40 years.