View source for John Aniston

{{short description|Greek-American actor (1933–2022)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = 
| image              = JohnAnistonHWoFFeb2012.jpg
| caption            = Aniston in 2012
| birth_name         = Yannis Anastassakis
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1933|07|24}}
| birth_place        = [[Chania]], Greece
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2022|11|11|1933|07|24}}
| death_place        = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
| resting_place      = [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills]], California, U.S.
| citizenship        = {{hlist|Greece|United States}}
| occupation         = Actor
| alma mater         = [[Pennsylvania State University]]
| years_active       = 1962–2022
| spouse             = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Nancy Dow]]|end=div|1965|1980}}
* {{marriage|Sherry Rooney|1984}}
}}
| children           = 2, including [[Jennifer Aniston|Jennifer]]
}}

'''John Anthony Aniston''' (born '''Yannis Anastassakis''', {{ langx|el|Γιάννης Αναστασάκης}}, July 24, 1933 – November 11, 2022) was a Greek 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 [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series]] in 2017 and he received a [[49th Daytime Emmy Awards|Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award]] in 2022. He is the father of actress [[Jennifer Aniston]].

==Early life==
Aniston was born in Pervolakia, [[Chania (regional unit)|Chania]] on the island of [[Crete]], Greece, on July 24, 1933,<ref name="Newsweek-obit">{{cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Molli |title=Jennifer Aniston pays tribute to late father John Aniston |url=https://www.newsweek.com/jennifer-aniston-father-john-aniston-death-tribute-days-our-lives-1759387 |website=[[Newsweek]] |access-date=15 November 2022 |language=en |date=14 November 2022}}</ref><ref name="THR-obit">{{cite web |last1=Barnes |first1=Mike |title=John Aniston, 'Days of Our Lives' Star and Father of Jennifer Aniston, Dies at 89 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/john-aniston-dead-days-of-our-lives-star-jennifer-aniston-father-1235261307/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=15 November 2022 |date=14 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-17 |title=Κρήτη: Ο σωσίας του μπαμπά της Τζένιφερ Άνιστον ζει στα Περβολάκια |url=https://www.neakriti.gr/kriti/hania/1690613_kriti-o-sosias-toy-mpampa-tis-tzenifer-aniston-zei-sta-perbolakia |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=Neakriti |language=el}}</ref> to Stella Joanne (née Koume; 1899–1992) and Antonios Anastassakis (1889–1965).<ref name="bio"/> The family left Crete for the United States when Aniston was two years old; his father [[anglicized]] the family's names on arriving in the US. The family settled in [[Chester, Pennsylvania]], where they operated a restaurant.<ref>{{cite web|title=John Aniston bio |url=http://www.soapoperadigest.com/john-aniston-bio |website=[[Soap Opera Digest]] |access-date=September 1, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905204714/http://www.soapoperadigest.com/john-aniston-bio |archive-date=September 5, 2015 }}</ref>

Aniston attended Eddystone High School and later 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nicindy.org/entertainers.html |title=Entertainers - North American Interfraternity Conference |website=www.nicindy.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521225838/http://www.nicindy.org/entertainers.html |archive-date=2014-05-21}} </ref> 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]].<ref name="bio">{{cite web|title=John Aniston biography|url=http://www.buddytv.com/info/john-aniston-info.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001170507/http://www.buddytv.com/info/john-aniston-info.aspx|archive-date=October 1, 2015|website=[[BuddyTV]]}}</ref>

==Career==
Aniston appeared in the original cast of "Little Mary Sunshine" in 1959, off-Broadway.[https://archive.org/details/little-mary-sunshine-1959]  Aniston appeared in 1962 in ''[[87th Precinct]]'' as "Officer #1" in the episode "New Man in the Precinct".{{cn|date=November 2022}} He appeared in soap operas regularly starting in 1970, when he first joined ''[[Days of Our Lives]]'' as a character named Dr. Eric Richards. In 1975, he joined the cast of ''[[Love of Life]]'' as [[Edouard Aleata|Eddie Aleata]], appearing through 1978. He played [[Mary Stuart (actress)|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.<ref name="bio"/> He was nominated for the 2017 [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series]] for his performance.<ref>{{cite web |last=Evans |first=Greg |date=March 22, 2017 |title=2017 Daytime Emmy Nominations: CBS Leads Networks With 70 Noms, 'Young & Restless' Tops With 25 |url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/daytime-emmy-award-nominations-general-hospital-days-of-our-lives-1202048743/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maloney |first1=Michael |title=Daytime Emmys 2022 Announce Date, Changes, and Lifetime Achievement |url=https://soaphub.com/days-of-our-lives/news-days/daytime-emmys-2022-announce-date-changes-and-lifetime-achievement/ |website=soaphub.com |date=April 26, 2022 |publisher=Soap Hub |access-date=27 April 2022}}</ref>

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 (TV series)|Journeyman]]'', and ''[[Mad Men]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=John Aniston on Mad Men|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcEuakyyMQs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/HcEuakyyMQs| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|website=[[YouTube]]|access-date=September 1, 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=November 2022}}

==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]]'').<ref>{{cite web|title=Profile of John Aniston|url=http://daysofourlives.about.com/od/castbiographies/p/Profile-Of-John-Aniston.htm|website=[[About.com]]|access-date=September 1, 2015|archive-date=August 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809065310/http://daysofourlives.about.com/od/castbiographies/p/Profile-Of-John-Aniston.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> His daughter Jennifer's godfather was [[Telly Savalas]], one of his best friends.<ref name="People-Bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/jennifer_aniston/biography|title=Jennifer Aniston Biography|access-date=May 21, 2008|website=[[People (American magazine)|People]]}}</ref>
<!--
John also had a stepson, John T. Melick, from Nancy's prior marriage, whom he raised since he was a toddler.

Aniston was an avid Shakespeare fan and was the owner of numerous first-edition copies of ''Romeo and Juliet''.-->

===Death===
Aniston died on November 11, 2022, at the age of 89 and he was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, California, U.S.<ref name="THR-obit" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Griffin |first1=Louise |title=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' |url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/11/14/john-aniston-dead-jennifer-aniston-pays-tribute-as-father-dies-aged-89-17756028/ |access-date=14 November 2022 |publisher=Metro |date=14 November 2022}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{Refimprove|section|date=November 2022}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable"| Notes
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
| 1962
| ''[[87th Precinct (TV series)|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 (1965 TV series)|I Spy]]''
| Economides
| Episode: "The Beautiful Children"
|
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1968
| ''[[The Shakiest Gun in the West]]''
| Indian
| 
|-
| ''[[The Virginian (TV series)|The Virginian]]''
| Frank West
| Episode: "Ride to Misadventure"
|
|-
| ''Now You See It, Now You Don't''
| Achmed
| TV film
|
|-
| 1969
| ''[[Mission: Impossible (1966 TV series)|Mission: Impossible]]''
| First IMF Captain
| Episode: "Time Bomb"
|
|-
| 1970; <br>1985–2022
| ''[[Days of Our Lives]]''
| Eric Richards <br>Victor Kiriakis
| {{cspan|3,782 episodes|date=November 2022}}
|
|-
| 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
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Days of Our Lives: Night Sins (1993) |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/462602/days-of-our-lives-night-sins#credits |website=Turner Classic Movies |publisher=[[Turner Classic Movies]] |access-date=15 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1997
| ''[[Diagnosis: Murder]]''
| Carlton Everest
| Episode: "Must Kill TV"
|
|-
| ''[[Fired Up (TV series)|Fired Up]]''
| Gordon
| Episode: "Honey, I Shrunk the Turkey"
|
|-
| 1999
| ''[[L.A. Heat (TV series)|L.A. Heat]]''
| Alex Zota
| Episode: "Faces of Fear"
|
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''
| Quarren Ambassador
| "[[Workforce (Star Trek: Voyager)|Workforce]]", Parts I and II
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Star Trek: Voyager, Season 7 |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/star-trek-voyager/episodes-season-7/1000266610/ |website=TVGuide.com |access-date=15 November 2022 |language=en |quote=Episodes 16 & 17}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| 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"
|
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2007
| ''Order Up''
| Wise Man
| Short film
|
|-
| ''[[Sands of Oblivion]]''
| Nigel Barrington
| TV film
|
|-
| ''[[Journeyman (TV series)|Journeyman]]''
| Merrit Ambaucher
| Episode: "Home by Another Way"
|
|-
|rowspan=3| 2008
| ''The Awakening of Spring''
| Mr. Gable
| 
|-
| ''[[Worst Week]]''
| Jim
| Episode: "The Wedding"
|
|-
| ''Fixing Rhonda''
| Detective Macomas
|
| 
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2009
| ''The Gold & the Beautiful''
| Gerard Benedict
|
| 
|-
| ''[[Cold Case]]''
| Herbert "Wolf" James
| Episode: "WASP"
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Paramount Press Express Releases {{!}} ... "COLD CASE" SUNDAY, NOV. 1 |url=https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/releases/view?id=23103 |website=www.paramountpressexpress.com |publisher=CBS Entertainment Group |access-date=15 November 2022 |date=20 October 2009 |quote=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.}}</ref>
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Mad Men]]''
| Wallace Harriman
| Episode: "Waldorf Stories"
|
|-
| 2011
| ''[[The Paul Reiser Show]]''
| Harold Melon
| Episode: "The Old Guy"
|
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Return to Zero (film)|Return to Zero]]''
| Ned
|
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Return to Zero - Full Cast & Crew, 2014 |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/return-to-zero/cast/2000203761/ |website=TVGuide.com |access-date=15 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+List of acting awards and nominations
|-
!  scope="col" | Year
!  scope="col" | Award
!  scope="col" | Category
!  scope="col" | Title
!  scope="col" | Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| {{center|1986}}
| rowspan="2"| [[Soap Opera Digest Awards]]
| Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role on a Daytime Serial
| rowspan="4"| ''[[Days of Our Lives]]''
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref name="SOD 1986">{{cite web|title=The Soap Opera Digest Awards: 1986|url=http://www.soapoperadigest.com/awards/1986/|work=[[Soap Opera Digest]]|date=April 11, 2003|publisher=soapoperadigest.com|access-date=March 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303081544/http://www.soapoperadigest.com/awards/1986/|archive-date=March 3, 2009 }}</ref>
|-
| Outstanding Villain on a Daytime Serial
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref name="SOD 1986" />
|-
! scope="row"| {{center|[[44th Daytime Emmy Awards|2017]]}}
| rowspan="2"| [[Daytime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series]]
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref name="NATAS 2017">{{cite web |title=The 44th Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations |url=http://cdn.emmyonline.org/day_44th_nominations_v01.pdf |publisher=emmyonline.org and [[National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences]] |access-date=March 22, 2017 |date=March 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323053802/http://cdn.emmyonline.org/day_44th_nominations_v01.pdf |archive-date=March 23, 2017 |location=[[New York City]] |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| {{center|[[49th Daytime Emmy Awards|2022]]}}
| [[Daytime Emmy Awards|Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award]]
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref name="deadline-2022-Apr-26">{{cite news|last=Rice|first=Lynette|title=NATAS Names Lifetime Achievement Honorees; Sets Date For Daytime Emmys|url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/natas-2022-lifetime-achievement-honorees-1235009469/|work=Deadline|date=April 26, 2022}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|30100|John Aniston}}
* {{The Interviews name|john-aniston}}
* [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/245659233/john-anthony-aniston John Aniston] at [[Find a Grave]]

{{Jennifer Aniston}}
{{Daytime Emmy Award Lifetime Achievement}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aniston, John}}
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American expatriates in England]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male soap opera actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Greek male film actors]]
[[Category:Greek emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:American expatriate male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors from Crete]]
[[Category:Male actors from Chester County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Chester County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Penn State College of Arts and Architecture alumni]]
[[Category:People from Chania]]
[[Category:Place of death missing]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)]]
[[Category:Actors from Chester, Pennsylvania]]