September 30th 2024.
Did you know that one of the iconic characters from the beloved 90s sitcom Friends was named after a famous soap star from the 1980s? It's true! Despite being adored by fans for so many years, there are still some surprising facts about the show that we may not know. And this is one of them.
Drake Hogestyn, the talented actor known for his role as John Black on the long-running American drama Days of Our Lives, sadly passed away at the age of 70 on Saturday. And while his legacy will certainly live on through his memorable performance on the 58-year-old soap opera, it's also carried on through the character of Joey Tribbiani on Friends.
You see, Joey's character on the fictional version of Days, Dr. Drake Ramoray, was actually named after Hogestyn. This was confirmed by his former Days co-star Alison Sweeney, who played Samantha Brady on the show. In an interview, Sweeney shared that the cast of Days would always tune in to watch Friends whenever Dr. Ramoray appeared on screen.
Dr. Ramoray made his debut on Friends in season two in 1996 and became a recurring character whenever Joey's storylines involved his performance on Days. Ironically, Dr. Ramoray was a neurosurgeon, which is quite the opposite of Joey's famously dim-witted persona. He appeared in a few episodes before meeting his untimely demise after Joey claimed to have written his own lines while recording for Days, much to the annoyance of the show's producers.
But in true soap opera fashion, Dr. Ramoray made a comeback in season seven when another character's brain was transplanted into his comatose body. This allowed Joey to continue playing the role until the end of Friends' main series. However, in the spin-off show Joey, the character was once again killed off.
Interestingly, Alison Sweeney also made an appearance on Friends as Jessica Ashley, another soap star who worked in Joey's industry. Whether the character of Dr. Ramoray was a tribute or a parody, Hogestyn's legacy will continue to live on through Matt LeBlanc's portrayal of him.
In a statement released by his family, it was revealed that Hogestyn had been battling pancreatic cancer and passed away surrounded by loved ones. He was described as an amazing husband, father, grandfather, and actor. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.
So if you're feeling nostalgic for some classic Friends moments, you can catch the show on Netflix. And if you have any interesting stories or pictures of your own, don't hesitate to reach out to the entertainment team at The Agency. We'd love to hear from you!
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