Joseph Mascolo (March 13, 1929 – December 8, 2016) was an American musician and former dramatic actor. During his long career, he has acted in numerous motion pictures and television series. He is best known for playing Stefano DiMera, a role he originated in 1982 on NBC's long running drama Days of Our Lives.

Spouses

Rose Maimone (m. 1953–86) (her death); 1 child
Patricia Schultz (m. 2005–16) (his death)

Career

Mascolo appeared in the 1978 film Jaws 2 as Len Peterson, a property developer who confronted Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) when the Chief brought forth the underwater photograph of what he believed was another great white shark. He also appeared in the 1972 sequel Shaft's Big Score, and Sharky's Machine (1981) and Heat (1986), both starring Burt Reynolds.

Mascolo is best known in the recurring role of Stefano DiMera on Days of Our Lives from 1982 to 1985, returning briefly in 1988, again from 1993 to 2001, and making appearances again since 2007 until Stefano's death in 2016. He has also played a wide range of roles on many different series including (but not limited to) a Stefano-like villain named Domino (Nicholas Van Buren) on General Hospital, and Carlos Alvarez on Santa Barbara. Before achieving his fame, he was seen in the earlier soap operas Where the Heart Is and From These Roots. He also made primetime television appearances on All in the Family, The Eddie Capra Mysteries, Lou Grant and The Rockford Files.

He played the character of Massimo Marone on CBS's The Bold and the Beautiful beginning August 2001. He decided not to renew his contract with the show in July 2006, due to a lack of storyline and decided to return to Days of Our Lives, where his character Stefano DiMera was resurrected after six years.

He also appeared in The Incredible Hulk in October 1979, as Mr. Arnold in the episode "Brain Child". 10 years later, he would appear again in NBC's The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, as Albert G. Tendelli, a police confidant of Daredevil.

Personal life and death

Mascolo was born in 1929 and raised in West Hartford, Connecticut. His parents were immigrants from Italy, Peter Mascolo (1901–2008) and Anna Mascolo (née DeTuccio) (1910–2010), who had their 80th wedding anniversary shortly before his father died. Mascolo has one sister, Marie LaVoie. He attended the University of Miami and then the United States Military Academy. He originally trained in classical music. Mascolo married Rose Maimone in 1953 and they have a son named Peter. Rose died in 1986. In 2005, Mascolo married his second wife Patricia Schultz.

Mascolo died on December 8, 2016 at the age of 87 after years of battling Alzheimer's disease.

Filmography

• Hot Spur (1968)
• Shaft's Big Score (1972)
• Happy Mother's Day, Love George (1973)
• The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973)
• All in the Family (1974)
• Stonestreet: Who Killed the Centerfold Model? (1977)
• Jaws 2 (1978)
• Gangster Wars (1981)
• Sharky's Machine (1981)
• Yes, Giorgio (1982)
• Heat (1986)
• The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989)