Longtime “Days of Our Lives” star Drake Hogestyn, who played John Black for nearly four decades, has died at age 70.

The Hallmark favorite has been cast as the leading lady in Hallmark Movies & Mysteries' upcoming Blake Shelton-produced holiday film, Time for You to Come Home for Christmas, ET has exclusively learned. This is the Days of Our Lives star's second Hallmark Christmas movie, following 2017's Christmas at Holly Lodge. And, if you're looking for another option as Hallmark Christmas nears, Deck the Hallmark podcast, hosted by three guys -- Bran, Panda and Dan --will return for another season of "liked it, loved it, despised it" for every original Hallmark movie debut. Time for You to Come Home for Christmas, part of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries' "Miracles of Christmas," premieres Friday, Dec. 6 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. RELATED CONTENT:Hallmark Christmas Movies 2019: Full List, Schedule and Other DetailsWho Are the Hallmark Hunks?