“Days of Our Lives” legend John Aniston has died. He was 89 years old.
The Greek-born actor portrayed Victor Kiriakis on the NBC soap opera for more than three decades, and was the father of Jennifer Aniston. On Monday, the “Friends” actress announced that her father died on Nov. 11.
A cause of death was not immediately given.
“Sweet papa… John Anthony Aniston,” the actress wrote in a tribute post on Instagram on Monday, “You were one of the most beautiful humans I ever knew. I am so grateful that you went soaring into the heavens in peace – and without pain. And on 11/11 no less! You always had perfect timing. That number will forever hold an even greater meaning for me now.”
She concluded her post: “I’ll love you till the end of time.”
Aniston worked on two other daytime operas, “Love of Live” and “Search for Tomorrow, before returning to “Days of Our Lives” in July 1985. He received a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2017 for his long-standing role on the soap.
Aniston also appeared on “Kojak,” “I Spy,” “The Virginian,” “That Girl,” “Airwolf,” “Star Trek: Voyager,” “The West Wing,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Cold Case,” and “Mad Men.”
Most recently, Aniston appeared in an episode of “Days of Our Lives” that aired on Friday.
Aniston started acting in high school plays and did two seasons of stock at the Allenberry Playhouse while he was a student at Penn State University. After getting his bachelor’s degree, he served in the U.S. Navy as an intelligence officer based in Panama. In the 1950s, he moved to New York and in 1989, he got a guest spot on the CBS cop show “Brenner,” and played Chief Brown Bear in the comic off-Broadway musical “Little Mary Sunshine.”
Aniston also tried for a part on “Days of Our Lives,” but lost out to Bill Hayes. Instead, he accepted an offer to play the prison doctor from 1969 to 1970.
Along with Jennifer, John is survived by son Alex Aniston and his wife, Sherry Rooney.
