While most of the world knew Joseph Campanella from his show Mannix and other productions, the soap world also feels his loss. He passed away on Wednesday at age 93.
The prolific actor’s imprint on daytime can still be felt to this day.
He was best known for his role on Days of Our Lives (DOOL) as Harper Deveraux. While Harper started off as a respected senator, he would later be revealed to be the Riverfront Slasher.
He continued to make appearances until 1992, and is actually Abigail (Marci Miller) and JJ’s (Casey Moss) adoptive grandfather.
On The Bold and the Beautiful (BB), Campanella portrayed attorney Jonathan Young, the Forrester family attorney where he would often go toe-to-toe with Stephanie (Susan Flannery) and Eric (John McCook). He appeared in 97 episodes sporadically from 1996-2005.
But his first role on daytime was in 1959 when he played rugged artist Joe Turino on Guiding Light.
Campanella also appeared on several nighttime soap operas. On The Colbys, he played Hutch Corrigan. Later, he portrayed Joseph Lombardi, Sr. on Dallas, and from there he made a few appearances on Knots Landing. Years later he would play Barry Denott on Melrose Place.
In 1962, he received a Tony nomination as Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a Dramatic role for his performance in A Gift of Time, which starred Henry Fonda and Olivia de Havilland. He also became one of the youngest-ever skippers in the wartime navy.
Campanella was married to Kathryn Jill Bartholomew from 1964 until his death. They had seven children.
Soap Hub sends our sincerest condolences to his family.
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