HSH Prince Albert II Welcomes Drake Hogestyn To Monte-Carlo

Sunday's start of the 2008 48th Monte-Carlo Television Festival brought many of the United States' famous television celebrities to Monaco for the Opening Ceremony. HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco welcomed Days Of Our Lives' Drake Hogestyn to Monte-Carlo and also Deidre Hall who co-stars with Drake on the series. The two Days Of Our Lives performers shared a photo opportunity on the red carpet with Prince Albert II.

Thursday's Awards Ceremony is expected to be a star packed event and will draw some of the most famous television celebrities from U.S. television to Monaco's Monte-Carlo. The Monte-Carlo Television Festival is an annual event and is held at the Grimaldi Forum, which is a purpose-built international forum and conference centre that borders the shore side of the Mediterranean with spectacular views over the sea.

Drake Hogestyn plays John Black on the Days Of Our Lives series, having joined the show in 1986. But for a very brief stint at the end of 2007, when his character was killed-off momentarily, he has been the partner to Diedre Hall's Dr. Marlena Evans character for more than 16 years and a member of the Days Of Our Lives cast for more that 21 years. Drake Hogestyn together with Diedre Hall have kept a television audience that has endured along with them. Ironically Hogestyn, who was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, had a first ambition to be a professional baseball player, and he actually made it to the minors. With an injured body from a few minor league seasons, he took a break in California, and landed a role with Days Of Our Lives, and another career was born.