Days of our Lives Icon John Aniston Celebrates His Birthday

Life’s a lark if you’re Days of our Lives’ Victor Kiriakis. Sure, he has to endure the occasional knife to the chest but a little (temporary) pain such as that is worth it in the long run – especially when he can get away with literal murder and kidnapping. For performer John Aniston, life is just as fun – though far less dangerous and crime-riddled. And today marks a special milestone in this jolly gentleman’s life.

Happy Birthday, John Aniston

And that’s because he was born on July 24, 1933, in Chania, Crete, Greece, which means that this talented actor is turning 89 years old today! Born Yiannis Anastasakis, Aniston had his name anglicized by his father once the family immigrated to the United States and settled in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Upon graduating from Penn State University – with a BA in Theater Arts – Aniston served in the United States Navy. Once back ashore, he began his professional acting career in 1962 with an “under five” role in police procedural 87th Precinct.

Work in films such as Love with the Proper Stranger and guest roles in TV programs like Combat!, I Spy, Mission: Impossible and The Virginian followed. Between 1969 and 1970, Aniston played Dr. Eric Richards on Days of Our Lives – and it would prove to be only his first venture into the realm of soap opera.

In 1975, he joined the cast of Love of Life where he played Eddie Aleata, the husband of that serial’s main schemer, Meg Dale. Three years later, he vacated the role in order to take on the part of Search for Tomorrow’s Martin Tourneur, the no-good gallivant who sweet-talked that show’s lead character, Jo Tate, into marriage.

By July of 1985, Aniston was back at DAYS, but he did not reprise his previous role. Instead, he embodied the personage of crime lord Victor Kiriakis – a role which he has played near-continuously since.

Aniston’s other acting credits include episodes of Gilmore Girls, American Dreams, Cold Case, Mad Men, The Paul Reiser Show, and the films The Awakening of Spring, Fixing Rhonda, and Return to Zero.

Soap Hub would like to wish John Aniston a very happy birthday and many more. Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Salem, check out all the latest that’s been posted on DAYS spoilers.