John Aniston
Aniston in 2012
Born
Yannis Anastassakis

(1933-07-24)July 24, 1933
Chania, Greece
DiedNovember 11, 2022(2022-11-11) (aged 89)
Los Angeles County, California
NationalityAmerican-Greek
Alma materPennsylvania State University
OccupationActor
Years active1962–2022
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1965; div. 1980)​
Sherry Rooney
​
(m. 1984)​
Children2, including Jennifer

John Anthony Aniston (born Yannis Anastassakis, Greek: Γιάννης Αναστασάκης, July 24, 1933 – November 11, 2022) was an American actor who played Victor Kiriakis on the NBC daytime drama series Days of Our Lives, which he originated in July 1985 and played on and off for 37 years, until his death in 2022. His portrayal earned him a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2017 and he received a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022. He was the father of actress Jennifer Aniston.

Early life

Aniston was born in Pervolakia, Chania on the island of Crete, Greece, on July 24, 1933,[1][2][3] to Stella Joanne (née Koume; 1899–1991) and Antonios Anastassakis (1891–1966).[4] The family left Crete for the United States when Aniston was two years old; his father anglicized the family's names on arriving in America. The family settled in Chester, Pennsylvania, where they operated a restaurant.[5]

Aniston graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor's degree in theater arts. While at Penn State, he became a member of Alpha Chi Rho fraternity.[6] After college, he served in the United States Navy as an intelligence officer on active duty in Panama and later in the Reserve, attaining the rank of lieutenant commander.[4]

Career

Aniston began his acting career in 1962 in 87th Precinct as "Officer #1" in the episode "New Man in the Precinct".[citation needed] He appeared in soap operas regularly starting in 1970, when he first joined Days of Our Lives as a character named Eric Richards. In 1975, he joined the cast of Love of Life as Eddie Aleata, appearing through 1978. He played Mary Stuart's new love interest, Martin Tourneur, on Search for Tomorrow from 1980 until April 1984. He returned to the cast of Days of Our Lives a second time, this time as Victor Kiriakis, in July 1985, and continued to play the role until his death.[4] He was nominated for the 2017 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance.[7]

In April 2022, it was announced that Aniston would receive a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award at the 49th Annual Daytime Creative Arts & Lifestyle Emmy Awards on June 18.[8]

Aniston also played small roles on the television series Airwolf in the season two episode "Short Walk to Freedom", Gilmore Girls as Douglas Swope in the 2002 episode "A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving", The West Wing as Alexander Thompson in the episodes "Game On" and "Debate Camp" (both in 2002), as the First IMF Captain in the 1969 Mission Impossible episode "Time Bomb". Aniston has also made guest appearances on Combat! (1964), My Big Fat Greek Life (2002), Star Trek: Voyager (2001), American Dreams (with Days co-star Frances Reid), Journeyman, and Mad Men.[9][better source needed]

Personal life

Aniston had a daughter, Jennifer Aniston (b. 1969), with his first wife, Nancy Dow, and a son, Alexander (b. 1989), with his second wife, Sherry Rooney (whom he met while co-starring on Love of Life).[10] His daughter Jennifer's godfather was Telly Savalas, one of his best friends.[11]

Aniston died on November 11, 2022, at the age of 89.[2][12]

Filmography

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "John Aniston" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1962 87th Precinct Officer #1 Episode: "New Man in the Precinct"
1963 Love with the Proper Stranger Birdman of Macy's
1964 Combat! Greek #2 Episode: "Vendetta"
1967 I Spy Economides Episode: "The Beautiful Children"
1968 The Shakiest Gun in the West Indian
The Virginian Frank West Episode: "Ride to Misadventure"
Now You See It, Now You Don't Achmed TV film
1969 Mission: Impossible First IMF Captain Episode: "Time Bomb"
1970;
1985–2022 		Days of Our Lives Eric Richards
Victor Kiriakis 		3,782 episodes[citation needed]
1970 That Girl Phil Harvey Episode: "Stop the Presses I Want to Get Off"
1974 Kojak Webster / Dancik 2 episodes
1975–1978 Love of Life Eddie Aleata Unknown episodes
1979–1984 Search for Tomorrow Martin Tourneur Episode: "#1.8556"
1985 Airwolf Colonel Arturo Alzar Episode: "Short Walk to Freedom"
1986 Inhumanoids Dr. Marcus Capello/Captain Action 27 Episodes
1993 Night Sins Victor Kiriakis TV film [13]
1997 Diagnosis: Murder Carlton Everest Episode: "Must Kill TV"
Fired Up Gordon Episode: "Honey, I Shrunk the Turkey"
1999 L.A. Heat Alex Zota Episode: "Faces of Fear"
2001 Star Trek: Voyager Quarren Ambassador "Workforce", Parts I and II [14]
2002 The West Wing Alexander Thompson 2 episodes
Gilmore Girls Douglas Swope Episode: "A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving"
2003 My Big Fat Greek Life Constantine Christakos Episode: "Greek Easter"
2004 American Dreams John Victor Episode: "Old Enough to Fight"
2007 Order Up Wise Man Short film
Sands of Oblivion Nigel Barrington TV film
Journeyman Merrit Ambaucher Episode: "Home by Another Way"
2008 The Awakening of Spring Mr. Gable
Worst Week Jim Episode: "The Wedding"
Fixing Rhonda Detective Macomas
2009 The Gold & the Beautiful Gerard Benedict
Cold Case Herbert "Wolf" James Episode: "WASP" [15]
2010 Mad Men Wallace Harriman Episode: "Waldorf Stories"
2011 The Paul Reiser Show Harold Melon Episode: "The Old Guy"
2014 Return to Zero Ned [16]

Awards and nominations

List of acting awards and nominations
Year Award Category Title Result Ref.
1986
 Soap Opera Digest Awards Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role on a Daytime Serial Days of Our Lives Won [17]
Outstanding Villain on a Daytime Serial Won [17]
2017
 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated [18]
2022
 Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award Won [19]

References

  1. ^ Mitchell, Molli (November 14, 2022). "Jennifer Aniston pays tribute to late father John Aniston". Newsweek. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Barnes, Mike (November 14, 2022). "John Aniston, 'Days of Our Lives' Star and Father of Jennifer Aniston, Dies at 89". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  3. ^ "Κρήτη: Ο σωσίας του μπαμπά της Τζένιφερ Άνιστον ζει στα Περβολάκια". Neakriti (in Greek). November 17, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "John Aniston biography". BuddyTV. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015.
  5. ^ "John Aniston bio". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  6. ^ "Entertainers - North American Interfraternity Conference". www.nicindy.org. Archived from the original on May 21, 2014.
  7. ^ Evans, Greg (March 22, 2017). "2017 Daytime Emmy Nominations: CBS Leads Networks With 70 Noms, 'Young & Restless' Tops With 25". Deadline Hollywood.
  8. ^ Maloney, Michael (April 26, 2022). "Daytime Emmys 2022 Announce Date, Changes, and Lifetime Achievement". soaphub.com. Soap Hub. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  9. ^ "John Aniston on Mad Men". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  10. ^ "Profile of John Aniston". About.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  11. ^ "Jennifer Aniston Biography". People. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
  12. ^ Griffin, Louise (November 14, 2022). "Jennifer Aniston announces death of dad, actor John Aniston, aged 89: 'I'll love you till the end of time – don't forget to visit'". Metro. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  13. ^ "Days of Our Lives: Night Sins (1993)". www.tcm.com. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  14. ^ "Star Trek: Voyager, Season 7". TVGuide.com. Retrieved November 15, 2022. Episodes 16 & 17
  15. ^ "Paramount Press Express Releases | ... "COLD CASE" SUNDAY, NOV. 1". www.paramountpressexpress.com. CBS Entertainment Group. October 20, 2009. Retrieved November 15, 2022. Additional guest stars include multiple Emmy Award winner Michael Learned ("The Waltons") as a former WASP pilot, Tony Award winner Deanna Dunagan ("August: Osage County") as the ex-WASP commander, Chad Faust ("The 4400") as a WASP flight instructor, and John Aniston ("Days of Our Lives") as a WWII Army Air Force pilot veteran.
  16. ^ "Return to Zero - Full Cast & Crew, 2014". TVGuide.com. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  17. ^ a b "The Soap Opera Digest Awards: 1986". Soap Opera Digest. soapoperadigest.com. April 11, 2003. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  18. ^ "The 44th Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). New York City: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. March 22, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 23, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  19. ^ Rice, Lynette (April 26, 2022). "NATAS Names Lifetime Achievement Honorees; Sets Date For Daytime Emmys". Deadline.

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