Donald Drake Hogestyn was born on September 29, 1953 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was educated through a baseball scholarship at the University of South Florida where he graduated with a double-major in microbiology and applied sciences. He played baseball professionally for the New York Yankees until he was injured in 1978. After this he turned to acting. His first appearance as an actor was in the television series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers in 1982. In 1986, he was cast for the role of Roman Brady in Days of Our Lives.

John Black is portrayed by Drake Hogestyn in Days of Our Lives. Born Forrest Alamain, John Black did not really know who he was when he came to Salem. He was simply known as the Pawn up until his plastic surgery bandages were removed, he named himself John Black. He then was hired for the hospital security and then became Dr. Marlena Evans' friend. Marlena then tried to bring back his memory through hypnosis since she also suspected him to be her dead husband. Although he could not remember anything, he believed he loved her and later married her again. After Marlena was presumed dead (probably after being kidnapped), he became involved with Diana Colville but it ended when he found out that she accidentally shot him. John Black's real parents were Leopold Alamain and Daphne DiMera.