Days of Our Lives Icon Reflects on over 40 Years of DiMera Legacy

Thaao Penghlis has been a fan favorite on Days of Our Lives for over four decades. He’s brought depth and intrigue to the DiMera clan by portraying Tony and his evil twin, Andre. As the show gears up for its 60th anniversary this fall, one major storyline is the potential return of Tony’s father, the ruthless Stefano.

However, his portrayer, Joe Mascolo, passed away in 2016. But, as they often say, Stefano was the phoenix who always rises from the ashes and has cheated death before. Fans just wonder whether it will be a clone of some kind, or Stefano’s consciousness in a different body. Penghlis recently opened up about why some roles are simply too iconic to be recast.

A Legacy You Can’t Replace

In a recent conversation on the Christian Media Spotlight podcast, later highlighted in a Parade article, Days of Our Lives’ Thaao Penghlis opened up about the DiMera family’s legacy and place in soap history. When asked if he thought the show would recast Stefano, he explained he felt the characters were inseparable from the actors who made them, sharing, “I don’t think Tony DiMera or Stefano DiMera, I don’t think those two characters would be recast.” He further added that the story of the characters has continued “because of who we were and still are.”

Although Mascolo has been gone for nearly a decade, Stefano’s legend has loomed large, even recently being mentioned quite a bit on the show. The character briefly resurfaced in 2019 when his essence was transferred into Steve Johnson’s body, a controversial twist that kept the phoenix motif alive. Now, with Days of Our Lives teasing Stefano’s name in anniversary promos - including a chilling line from Tony declaring, “It’s almost time, father” - speculation has hit fever pitch. Penghlis, however, felt that certain characters couldn’t be changed with a different actor “because they’re unique in their way and that’s why they’ve survived.”

Stefano looms

Days of Our Lives' Anna and Tony. | Image Source: JPI

Penghlis’s reflections also highlight the remarkable durability of Days of Our Lives itself. When the topic of the show’s shooting schedule came up, the actor explained, “We do 11 shows a week now and we're almost a year ahead.” That makes the show strike-proof, should another writer’s strike arise, as Penghlis and the host discussed. He also ruminated about soap actors who’ve died recently, remarking, “It was amazing how many how many we've lost.”

He brought up the recent death of Tristan Rogers, noting, “He and I started in the business together…on General Hospital.” The Days of Our Lives star further explained that it was, “Probably the biggest storyline ever in daytime history.” On GH, Penghlis played Victor Cassadine, and the actor noted that he and Rogers’ Robert Scorpio were enemies. However, he lamented, “I was just sad to see him go. So, you know, we've lost quite a few. GH fans know that Robert would never be recast.

Whether Stefano himself rises from the ashes or simply lingers as a looming presence, Penghlis’s comments remind us that some stories, and some characters, are truly irreplaceable. For fans of Days of Our Lives, that’s both a promise and a challenge for what’s still to come. (Find out what fans think about Tony’s latest actions.)

Days of Our Lives can be found on the Peacock streaming app.