Joseph Mascolo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Mascolo
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Mascolo, on the red carpet at the 62nd Annual Mother Goose Parade in San Diego County, 2008
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| Born |
Joseph Peter Mascolo
March 13, 1929 West Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
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| Died | December 8, 2016 (aged 87) |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1957–2016 |
| Spouse(s) |
Rose Maimone
(m. 1953; died 1986)Patricia Schultz
(m. 2005) |
| Children | 1 |
Joseph Peter Mascolo (born March 13, 1929 – died December 8, 2016) was an American actor and musician. He had a long career acting in many movies and TV shows. He was famous for playing the bad guy, Stefano DiMera, on the TV show Days of Our Lives. He played this role from 1982 to 2016. He also played Massimo Marone on another TV show called The Bold and the Beautiful from 2001 to 2006.
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Early Life and Education
Joseph Mascolo was born on March 13, 1929. He grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut. His parents, Anna and Peter Mascolo, came from Naples, Italy. They were married for 80 years! Joseph had one sister named Marie.
After high school, he went to the United States Military Academy. He also studied at the University of Miami. To help pay for his studies, he learned acting from a famous coach, Stella Adler, in New York City. Joseph first trained in classical music and opera.
Acting Career Highlights
Joseph Mascolo had a busy career in theatre, movies, and television. He was known for playing strong characters.
Theatre Performances
Joseph Mascolo acted in several plays. In 1962, he was in a play called Night Life. He also appeared in Dinner at Eight in 1966. His last play was That Championship Season in 1972.
Film Roles
Mascolo's first movie was Hot Spur in 1968. He played Gus Mascola in the 1972 action movie Shaft's Big Score!. He also appeared in The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973). Later, he was in the scary movie Jaws 2 (1978) as Len Peterson. His last movie was Heat in 1986.
Television Appearances
Joseph Mascolo was best known for his role as Stefano DiMera on Days of Our Lives. He played this character for many years, from 1982 to 2016. Stefano was a very popular villain. Joseph won three Soap Opera Digest Awards for this role. His final appearance on the show aired in February 2017, after he had passed away.
He also played other bad guys, like Nicholas Van Buren on General Hospital. He was Carlos Alvarez on Santa Barbara. Before becoming famous, he was in earlier soap operas like Where the Heart Is.
From 2001 to 2006, Mascolo played Massimo Marone on The Bold and the Beautiful. He decided to leave that show to return to Days of Our Lives. His character, Stefano DiMera, was brought back to life on the show.
Mascolo also appeared in other TV shows. He was in The Incredible Hulk in 1979. He later appeared in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk in 1989. He even had a role in an episode of Hart to Hart in 1984.
Personal Life and Passing
Joseph Mascolo married Rose Maimone in 1953. They had one son named Peter. Rose passed away in 1986. In 2005, he married his second wife, Patricia Schultz.
In 2015, Joseph had a stroke. He told Soap Opera Digest that he thought it was a good time for his character, Stefano, to leave the show.
Joseph Mascolo passed away on December 8, 2016, in Santa Clarita, California. He was 87 years old. He had been battling Alzheimer's disease for several years. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).
