Earlier this year, Days of Our Lives paid tribute to beloved actor Drake Hogestyn after his tragic passing. Now, Deidre Hall, who plays Hogestyn’s on-screen wife, Dr. Marlena Evans Black, has finally addressed whether she believes her character will move on.
Hall recently attended the Broadcasting + Cable Hall of Fame Awards, where Days of Our Lives was honored for its achievements on television. While at the event, Hall was interviewed by Daytime Confidential about the show, her journey, and what lies ahead.
Romance has always been a staple of daytime television, and Days of Our Lives is especially known for its legendary supercouples. With John Black now gone, fans are wondering whether the show will give Marlena another love story to explore.
“I don’t know…”
Deidre Hall
“I think we’re all struggling with it,” Hall shared, “out of respect for Drake and respect for the characters and their own history.”
While it may not be soon, it doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t ever happen. Hall continued, “I don’t know… I think it will be a while before it happens.”
Who Are the Loves of Marlena’s Life?
Marlena arrived in Salem in 1978. Her first great love was Don Craig (Jed Allan). The two married and had a son, Don Craig Jr., affectionately known as D.J., who tragically died of SIDS. The loss eventually led to the couple’s separation.
Her next love was in the form of local cop, Roman Brady (Wayne Northrop), with whom she was in a relationship from 1980 until his death in 1984. The pair had twins, Eric (Greg Vaughan) and Sami (Alison Sweeney).
Marlena tried to move on after Roman’s death but struggled to let go. In 1986, ‘Roman’ (Hogestyn) returned to Salem, and the two reunited, only for it to be revealed later that he was actually John Black, and the real Roman was still alive.
Ultimately, through a series of twist and turns, John and Marlena found their way back to each other. The two share a daughter, Belle (Martha Madison), and have been married numerous times, proving that their love could withstand anything, from jealous exes to possession by the devil…twice.
Now, Marlena is dealing with her grief and how to navigate through this next chapter of her life, without the man that’s been such an important part for the last forty years.
Marlena’s journey continues weekdays as Days of Our Lives streams on Peacock.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the TV section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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