John Aniston

Actor
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his two-hour interview, John Aniston (1933-2022) talks about his early years, and his time in the Navy. He recalls his earliest stage performances, and early roles on shows like The Virginian and Kojak. He speaks of his first foray into daytime drama, as “Dr. Eric Richards” on Days of Our Lives, followed by stints on Love of Life and Search for Tomorrow. Aniston details his Days of Our Lives role of "Victor Kiriakis," which he began playing in 1985. He breaks down many aspects of that role, and how he has dealt with the fame that has resulted. He mentions almost doing a guest shot on Friends, with his daughter, Jennifer Aniston, and auditioning to play the role of “Ted Baxter” on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on October 22, 2018 in North Hollywood, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"The only acting advice I give to actors is listen. If you forget about everything else, just listen. It does amazing things for you."

People Talking About ...
John Aniston
Highlights
John Aniston on "Victor Kiriakis" being a villain on Days of Our Lives, and on having input into his character
01:30
John Aniston on career achievements and regrets, and on almost playing "Ted Baxter" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
05:59
John Aniston on doing publicity for Days of Our Lives, and on his big fan base
03:25
John Aniston on going on location for Days of Our Lives, and on the budget and production of the show
02:41
John Aniston on guest-starring on The Virginian
04:51
John Aniston on Macdonald Carey being a mentor in his career
00:32
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his early interest in performing, and on his education; on his early impressions of television
On his time in the Navy; on his earliest paid gigs as an actor; on how he found acting roles in his early years
On appearing in the play "Ladies Night in a Turkish Bath"; on television actors making the switch to movies; on guest-starring on The Virginian

Chapter 2
On guest-starring on The Virginian, and on auditioning for a Jack-in-the-Box commercial; on playing "Dr. Eric Richards" on Days of Our Lives; on guest-starring on Kojak, and on getting his pre-med degree
On playing "Eddie Aleata" on Love of Life, and working with Christopher Reeve on the show; on meeting his wife while on Love of Life; on the production schedule for Love of Life
On appearing on the first cover of "Soap Opera Digest" while he was doing Love of Life, and on doing publicity; on doing publicity for Days of Our Lives, and on his big fan base; on his daughter, Jennifer, appearing on an episode of Search for Tomorrow, and on his feeling on her becoming an actress
On getting the role of "Victor Kiriakis" on Days of Our Lives; on being written off of Search for Tomorrow; on his Days of Our Lives character, "Victor Kiriakis," and on his early storylines
On his popularity playing "Victor Kiriakis" on Days of Our Lives; on "Victor Kiriakis" being a villain on Days of Our Lives, and on having input into his character; on going on location for Days of Our Lives, and on the budget and production of the show
On the storylines of his Days of Our Lives character "Victor Kiriakis" and on dealing with recasting on the show; on "Victor Kiriakis" being "killed" in 2004 on Days of Our Lives, and on other characters, including "Stefano DiMera"; on being nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for his role of "Victor Kiriakis" on Days of Our Lives and on what he hopes happens to the character
On the longevity of Days of Our Lives; on the craft of acting; on appearing on The West Wing and Mad Men

Chapter 3
On watching Days of Our Lives; on how the industry has changed since he got involved in it; on how he feels about working in daytime
On Macdonald Carey being a mentor in his career; on the value of oral histories
On advice to aspiring actors; on career achievements and regrets, and on almost playing "Ted Baxter" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on how he would like to be remembered
Shows

Days of Our Lives

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John Aniston on playing "Dr. Eric Richards" on Days of Our Lives
04:31
John Aniston on doing publicity for Days of Our Lives, and on his big fan base
03:20
John Aniston on getting the role of "Victor Kiriakis" on Days of Our Lives
01:31
John Aniston on his Days of Our Lives character, "Victor Kiriakis," and on his early storylines
02:07
John Aniston on his popularity playing "Victor Kiriakis" on Days of Our Lives
01:19
John Aniston on "Victor Kiriakis" being a villain on Days of Our Lives, and on having input into his character
01:30
John Aniston on going on location for Days of Our Lives, and on the budget and production of the show
02:41
John Aniston on the storylines of his Days of Our Lives character, "Victor Kiriakis," and on dealing with recasting on the show
10:53
John Aniston on "Victor Kiriakis" being "killed" in 2004 on Days of Our Lives, and on other characters, including "Stefano DiMera"
02:50
John Aniston on being nominated for an Emmy Award for his role of "Victor Kiriakis" on Days of Our Lives, and on what he hopes happens to the character
01:32
John Aniston on the longevity of Days of Our Lives
00:37
John Aniston on watching Days of Our Lives
00:16

Kojak

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John Aniston on guest-starring on Kojak, and on getting his pre-med degree
05:27

Love of Life

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John Aniston on playing "Eddie Aleata" on Love of Life, and on working with Christopher Reeve on the show
01:37
John Aniston on meeting his wife while on Love of Life
01:19
John Aniston on the production schedule for Love of Life
02:03
John Aniston on appearing on the first cover of "Soap Opera Digest" while he was doing Love of Life, and on doing publicity
03:28

Mad Men

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John Aniston on appearing on The West Wing and Mad Men
00:33

Mary Tyler Moore Show, The

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John Aniston on almost playing "Ted Baxter" on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
03:29

Search For Tomorrow

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John Aniston on his daughter, Jennifer, appearing on an episode of Search for Tomorrow, and on his feeling on her becoming an actress
02:18
John Aniston on being written off of Search for Tomorrow
02:11

Virginian, The

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John Aniston on guest-starring on The Virginian
04:51
John Aniston on guest-starring on The Virginian, and on auditioning for a Jack-in-the-Box commercial
01:43

West Wing, The

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John Aniston on appearing on The West Wing and Mad Men
00:44
Topics

Advice

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John Aniston on advice to aspiring actors
00:34

Characters & Catchphrases

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John Aniston on his Days of Our Lives character, "Victor Kiriakis," and on his early storylines
02:07

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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John Aniston on Macdonald Carey being a mentor in his career
00:32

Emmy Awards

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John Aniston on being nominated for an Emmy for his role of "Victor Kiriakis" on Days of Our Lives, and on what he hopes happens to the character
01:28

Fame and Celebrity

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John Aniston on his popularity playing "Victor Kiriakis" on Days of Our Lives
01:19

Pivotal Career Moments

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John Aniston on Macdonald Carey being a mentor in his career
00:32

Pop Culture

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John Aniston on his Days of Our Lives character, "Victor Kiriakis," and on his early storylines
02:07
John Aniston on his popularity playing "Victor Kiriakis" on Days of Our Lives
01:19

Television Industry

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John Aniston on how the industry has changed since he got involved in it
07:15
John Aniston on advice to aspiring actors
00:34
Professions

Actor

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John Aniston on performing on stage versus performing on television
07:42
John Aniston on how he found acting roles in his early years, and on the play "Little Mary Sunshine"
05:42
John Aniston on the craft of acting
04:41
John Aniston on advice to aspiring actors
00:34

Performers

View Profession
John Aniston on performing on stage versus performing on television
07:42
John Aniston on how he found acting roles in his early years, and on the play "Little Mary Sunshine"
05:42
John Aniston on the craft of acting
04:08
John Aniston on advice to aspiring actors
00:34
Genres

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

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John Aniston on guest-starring on Kojak
05:29

Daytime/Primetime Serials

View Genre
John Aniston on playing "Dr. Eric Richards" on Days of Our Lives
04:34
John Aniston on playing "Eddie Aleata" on Love of Life
08:27
John Aniston on playing "Victor Kiriakis" on Days of Our Lives
27:14
John Aniston on how he feels about working in daytime
03:34

Drama Series

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John Aniston on appearing on The West Wing and Mad Men
01:17

Western Series

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John Aniston on guest-starring on The Virginian
04:51
People

Christopher Reeve

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John Aniston on Christopher Reeve leaving daytime to appear in a play
02:42
John Aniston on playing "Eddie Aleata" on Love of Life, and on working with Christopher Reeve on the show
01:37

Macdonald Carey

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John Aniston on Macdonald Carey being a mentor in his career
00:31

All Interviews

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