What role did John Aniston play on Days of Our Lives? Everything about his character, career, and views on his daughter following in his footsteps

John Aniston is a Greek-American actor who is best known for his portrayal of Victor Kiriakis on the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives. John introduced the character on the soap opera in 1985 and played uptill 2022. His final episode on Days of Our Lives aired weeks after his demise, bringing an ultimate end to the character. 

In a recent interview, John’s daughter Jennifer Aniston told the world about the hardships that her father went through as an actor. She also exclaimed how her father did not want her to become an actress and follow in his footsteps. 

About John Aniston’s life and career

John Aniston, an actor with a remarkable five-decade career in the industry. John’s legendary role as Victor Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives gained him widespread recognition. Born on July 24, 1933, in Crete, Greece, his life story spanned continents, from the Greek islands to the American stage and screen.

Aniston's early years were filled with dedication not only to art but also to service. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving as an intelligence officer on active duty in Panama and later in the Reserves, where he achieved the rank of lieutenant commander.

Furthermore, John Aniston went on to star in a couple of daytime soap operas. However, the actor had no new projects, so he decided to travel back to his homeland and relocate his entire family to Athens, as revealed by Jennifer Aniston on October 20 at the Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard Show. 

However, as he was about to give up and go back to Greece to pursue a career in “medicine,” he landed the role of Victor Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives. Jennifer added that her father was on that show forever, she said. 

“In fact, the last episode he shot aired like a week after he died. So he worked right up until that was it. That was literally a wrap on John.”

John Aniston’s character Victor Kiriakis was beloved in Salem. Similar his his real life, Victor was also born in Greece; however, his family immigrated to the USA, got deported, and came back in 1985 (when his character was introduced) after making a fortune.  

Being the head of the Kiriakis clan, Victor was a powerful member of the town who had been at the centre of several major storylines. Be it because of his romantic entanglement with characters like Maggie Horton, Caroline Brady, Nicole Walker, and a few more. To his intense and challenging position as the CEO of TITAN industries. 

Anyway, he was later pronounced dead on the show in 2023, following John Aniston’s real-life death in November 2022. He dies in a jet crash. 

Did John Aniston not want his daughter Jennifer Aniston to become an actress?

Yes, recently in a talk show, Jennifer Aniston recalled her father's words. She said:

“My dad was telling me, please don't do this. You're just going to suffer rejection.” 

She further added that John wanted her got get a boring job, when she did not comply, she recalled his words,

“Yeah. You're gonna end up in Greece anyway. Go get a real job. All the cliche things.”

During her interview with Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, she also told her side of the story as parents got divorced when she was just 9 y/o. She also shared the rough times she faced as a teenager living on the shady side of New York. 

It is ironic that John Aniston once advised his daughter, Jennifer Aniston, not to pursue acting, given her immense success, particularly as Rachel Green on Friends.