Longtime "Days of Our Lives" viewers have watched John Black search for answers about his past for decades. Over the years, John's search has led him to believe that he was a priest, and he even saved Marlena Evans during her demonic possession by performing an exorcism (via Nine). John also previously believed himself to be Forrest Alamain, a child adopted by the Alamain family at a young age. He's also been known as "The Pawn," a brainwashed version of himself who has performed terrible acts and been a mercenary for Stefano DiMera.
In 2008, John went to Ireland with the Brady family and learned that he was the love child of Stefano's father, Santo DiMera, and Colleen Brady, per Soap Central. Colleen was said to have given birth to a baby boy that she named Ryan, and because she couldn't afford to raise the child she placed him in an orphanage. He was later adopted by the Alamain family. The new information meant that Stefano and John were actually half-brothers.
Just before discovering that John was his brother, Stefano did something terrible to John and brainwashed him yet again, this time wiping out all of his memories in a very confusing story arc, per Soaps in Depth.
