Photo: NBC

On this day in soap history, a fine and memorable moment took place - Drake Hogestyn debuted on 'Days of Our Lives'. Days originally introduced the character of John Black, as a heavily bandaged amnesiac recovering from extensive facial reconstructive surgery. He was then known only as "The Pawn" who was unmasked later.



Hogestyn's first episode aired on January 24, 1986. The character later named himself John Black after seeing the name on a war memorial. Not long after he met the lady who would become the love of his life, ("Doc") Dr. Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall). Shipped as "Jarlena", John and Marlena remain a very popular couple on the NBC daytime sudser. They are one of the most talked about couples among daytime soap opera fans. John was also paired with several other women, but it was his pairing with Doc that resonated with fans the most.