Days of Our Lives spoilers and updates reveal Alison Sweeney was a teenager when she started on Days of Our Lives as Sami Brady in 1993. She was a fan of the show before being cast, and suddenly, she was acting alongside the stars she had admired.
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Days Of Our Lives Spoilers: Alison Had A Torrid Teenage Crush On Her Sometimes TV Stepfather
Drake Hogestyn, who portrayed Sami’s stepfather John Black when married to Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall), sadly passed away from pancreatic cancer on September 28, just one day before his 71st birthday.
While John and Sami often had a rocky relationship, Hogestyn and Sweeney’s bond was quite different; Sweeney recalls, “Drake is a big part of my time on Days.
She continues, “I remember meeting him on my first day-I had such a crush on him!-I watched when John and Izzy (Isabella Toscano, played by Staci Greason) were together. I didn’t tell him for years, but when I finally did, he was very gracious about it.”
DOOL Spoilers: Hogestyn Led Others By Example On Set
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Hogestyn set a strong example on set, which guided Sweeney during her early days in Salem. “I gained a lot from him, not just from his jokes and playful conversations, but also from his professionalism,” she shares. “He was always punctual, his work ethic was unmatched, and he not only embodied it but also encouraged the next generation of actors to adopt it.
I also saw how generous he was-he never focused on himself; he always aimed to share his knowledge with younger actors, helping them learn about daytime drama and succeed.” His bond with his fans was remarkable, Sweeney notes; “In the past, during fan events nationwide, women would shout Drake’s name, “I remember one softball game where his jersey was ripped off!”
Days Of Our Lives Spoilers: Sweeney Remembers Drake’s Protectiveness
Sweeney has many joyful memories of working with Hogestyn and values how he protected her on set; “We often did stunt scenes, and Drake was great about how to handle them”. “He helped me find ways to feel safe while performing,” she remembers.
“There was a scene long ago where Lucas [Bryan R. Dattilo] and Sami were in danger, and John rescued us from Tony [Thaao Penghlis], who was really Andre.
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We had to escape from a club or something; Drake was always so thoughtful and caring, which made me feel at ease with the stunts. He would practice with me repeatedly and share tips to make it look better on camera.”
DOOL Spoilers: Father And Daughter Moments Onscreen
Sweeney explains that despite Sami and John’s conflicts, she and Hogestyn enjoyed portraying their characters’ intense relationship. “Drake and I had a great time exploring the complex interactions between Sami and John, Drake appreciated how Sami stood her ground, making things challenging for them. I loved working with Drake, so it was tough for me to create tension as Sami. But sometimes, when John did something heroic to help Sami, she would finally understand and either apologize or reluctantly express gratitude. We enjoyed crafting those moments where John and Sami could share a glimpse of what their relationship could have been, showing that he truly cared for her like a father.”
Days Of Our Lives Spoilers: Drake And Victoria Hogestyn Enjoyed Alison On Hallmark
Sweeney shared, “Over the years, we often looked back on that memorable moment when Sami caught John and Marlena on the conference room table in the purple dress.” She mentioned that Hogestyn kept in touch after she left the soap in 2014-“He would tell me how much he and Victoria enjoyed my Hallmark movies,” she said with a smile”. “He would watch them regularly, and when I visited, he would share which ones were his favorites.”
Sweeney believes Hogestyn’s impact will be felt both on the Days set and by the fans; “Drake always brought real joy to every scene,” she added. “He was dedicated to his lines, cared about his work, and aimed to give the fans something enjoyable every day; he will be greatly missed.”
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