Soap fans are mourning the loss of veteran daytime drama star Joseph Mascolo, who passed away Thursday after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He was 87.
A frequent television guest star since the 1950s, Mascolo appeared on series ranging from “Kojack” to “The Rockford Files” to “All in the Family”, but it was on daytime soap operas that he really broke through after joining “Days of Our Lives” in 1982 as devious tycoon and crime boss Stefano DiMera.
Mascolo left “Days” several times but kept returning to the role — once his character made a literal deal with the devil after Stefano was killed off — and even returned to the show earlier this year for Stefano’s death.
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In one of his extended absences, he joined the cast of rival soap “The Bold and the Beautiful” for a five-year stint from 2001-2006, playing Massimo Marone IV on the long-running soap.
“It is with great sorrow that I’m sharing the news of the passing of our dear friend and beloved member of the ‘Days of Our Lives’ family, Joseph Mascolo,” said “Days of Our Lives” producer Ken Corday in a statement. “The smile on Joe’s face is something we’d all come to find comfort in, and he will be sorely missed. His larger-than-life presence, kind heart and unwavering positivity has impacted us all for decades, and will live on in the memories of his many fans. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time.”
Fans should expect “Days of Our Lives” to air a tribute to Mascolo in an upcoming episode of the show, which airs weekdays at 1 p.m. ET/PT on Global.
Mascolo’s passing was recognized by “Days of Our Lives” network NBC in a tweet:
Other tributes are appearing on Twitter, including a tweet from soap star Eileen Davidson (who, like Mascolo, starred in both “Days of Our Lives” and “The Bold and the Beautiful”) as well as other figures from the world of daytime drama.