John Aniston, who played Victor Kiriakis in almost 3,000 episodes of “Days of Our Lives,” has died. He was 89.
For nearly 30 years, the Greek-born, Emmy-nominated actor was a fixture on the NBC soap opera, also acting on daytime serials “Love of Life” and “Search for Tomorrow.”
Aniston was honored with a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 for his work on “Days of Our Lives.” In 1986, he won two Soap Opera Digest Awards for the performance, one for outstanding actor in the main role and one for the outstanding villain on a daytime serial.
He was also Jennifer Aniston’s father, as she noted on Instagram Monday morning, “Sweet papa… John Anthony Aniston.” You were one of the most attractive people I had ever met. I’m so glad you soared into the sky in peace – and without agony. And on November 11th, no less! You had impeccable timing. That number will always have a special importance for me.”
“Kojak,” “Star Trek: Voyager,” “Gilmore Girls,” “The West Wing,” “Mad Men,” “Combat!,” “The Virginian,” “That Girl,” “I Spy,” “Airwolf,” “My Big Fat Greek Life,” “American Dreams,” “Journeyman,” and “Cold Case” were among Aniston’s other credits.
Aniston was born on the Greek island of Crete, but his family migrated to Pennsylvania when he was a toddler. He earned a bachelor’s degree in theater arts from Pennsylvania State University before joining the United States Navy as an intelligence officer. Aniston’s first acting performance was as “Officer #1” in the 1962 episode “New Man in the Precinct” of “87th Precinct.” Aniston had been a soap show fixture by the 1980s.
He originally debuted on “Days of Our Lives” as Dr. Eric Richards in 1969, but left after a year to work on CBS and NBC’s “Love of Life” and “Search for Tomorrow.” Aniston returned to “Days” in 1985 as the now-iconic criminal boss Victor Kiriakis.