Days of Our Lives Mega-Stars Fired

• Nov 19, 2008 03:33 PM ET
• by Erin Fox

Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn

Days of Our Lives' much-beloved romantic duo and longtime stars Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn have been cut from NBC's only soap as it deals with budget cuts, the show announced in a statement Wednesday.

The shocking layoffs of the highly-paid veteran soap actors who play Dr. Marlena Evans and John Black come after the show's producers cut spending earlier this month to keep Days on the air for at least another 18 months.

The good news, if any, for fans, is that after a yearlong separation on the show, Marlena and John will be reunited as a couple before leaving the show next year.

Hall has been on the 43-year-old soap on and off since 1976, while Hogestyn joined in 1984 as mystery man John Black, who was initially believed to be Marlena's presumed dead husband, Roman (originally played by Wayne Northrop). It gets much more complicated from there, but to say the least, their romance was legendary in daytime television.

Hall crossed over to prime time in 1986 when she starred in Our House alongside Wilford Brimley and a young Shannen Doherty.

Is this a sign of the end for Days? Share your favorite Marlena/Roman/John Black memories below.