Thaao Penghlis

Thaao Penghlis (; born 15 December 1945 ) is an Australian actor. He is best known for roles in United States daytime soap operas such as Days of Our Lives, Santa Barbara, and General Hospital, but has also guest-starred on a number of crime dramas, such as Kojak, Cannon, Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Hart to Hart, Nero Wolfe and Magnum, P.I.. He also starred in the late 1980s revival of Mission: Impossible. In 1980 he was in the film Altered States. He studied under Hollywood acting teacher Milton Katselas.

Life and career

Penghlis was born in Surry Hills, New South Wales. He started his career in acting on stage, performing in Jockeys under Milton Katselas's direction. Penghlis first appeared to daytime audiences in 1981 on General Hospital during the Ice Princess saga when he played the role of Victor Cassadine, brother of Mikkos and Anthony Cassadine. After his character was written out of the show by being taken to prison, he was cast as the villainous Count Tony DiMera, the son of villain Stefano DiMera in the NBC daytime drama Days of Our Lives. Penghlis returned to daytime in his one-time role of Victor Cassadine on General Hospital from 30 January 2014 to 4 March 2014, although he made subsequent returns in the same year. He returned for one episode on 1 May 2014, and then again from 7–12 August and once more from 3 September until 16 September 2014 when the character was killed.

Penghlis starred in the 1980s revival of Mission: Impossible, which was filmed in his native Australia. Penghlis' role as actor, makeup artist, and voice impersonator Nicholas Black in the revival was a counterpart to Martin Landau's Rollin Hand and Leonard Nimoy's The Great Paris.

Penghlis played a role in the 2013 film The Book of Esther.

Awards and nominations +List of acting awards and nominations Year Award Category Title Result 2003 Soap Opera Digest Award Favourite Return Days of Our Lives 2005 Soap Opera Digest Award Favourite Villain Days of Our Lives Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Days of Our Lives Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series Days of Our Lives Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Days of Our Lives