Days of Our Lives Reveals Victor’s Fate, Nine Months After John Aniston’s Death
Nearly a full year after the death of John Aniston, the celebrated actor’s iconic Days of Our Lives character is also being laid to rest.
Victor Kiriakis’ farewell arc began last week when Justin received word that his plane, believed to be en route to Salem after a stay in Greece, lost contact with air traffic control. Additional intel from Hope and Shane revealed that Victor actually took off ahead of schedule, meaning that he’d been missing for several days. Though Maggie held out hope that her husband would be found alive, it was confirmed on Wednesday’s episode that Victor’s body was recovered by the coast guard.
The tragic update was delivered to the Kiriakis family by John, who received official word through his contacts at the ISA, while Stephanie then had the unfortunate task of relaying the news to Alex. As Maggie broke down in tears over the death of her husband, the camera panned over to a framed photograph of Victor with the words “In loving memory of John Aniston” underneath.
Victor’s death will bring several former Days regulars back to Salem for a fitting farewell to the TV titan; Jen Lilley (aka Theresa) and Zach Tinker (Sonny) are both among the faces expected to return for the memorial.
Aniston died on Nov. 11, 2022, with the news being announced via social media by his daughter, Friends star Jennifer Aniston. “You were one of the most beautiful humans I ever knew,” she wrote of her late father. “I am so grateful that you went soaring into the heavens in peace, and without pain.”
The actor’s final on-screen appearance as Victor aired on Monday, Dec. 26, 2022, a full 37 years after first stepping foot in Salem. True to his character, the notorious curmudgeon spent most of the hour throwing shade, this time at unwanted houseguest Leo Stark. From threatening to throw the “deranged woodland critter” out on his “sugar plumb ass” to demanding that Leo “scamper back to Whoville,” Victor was in rare form.
But being the secret softie that he was, Victor ended the hour by allowing Leo to stay at Chez Kiriakis. Aniston’s deadpan delivery of “I changed my mind because I have a heart of gold” was not only hysterical but also a perfect line with which to remember this complicated man.
Aniston received the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Awards in June 2022, just six months before his death. He was previously nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2017.
How will you choose to remember Victor? And what are your thoughts on how Days chose to write off Victor? Drop ’em in a comment below.
Only misstep was showing John consoling Brady instead of Maggie crumbling into Justin’s arms. But this is the storyline I NEED to see.
It’s been very well done and I’m sure John would be honored and proud. The next episodes bringing everyone together will be very sad. I, for one, am glad they didn’t have him just pass away quietly in his sleep. Victor was a proud, cantankerous tyrant but a real softie at heart. He needed to go out loud and proud. He was Victor Kiriakis after all !!!
The tears were real. Not a pretend scene. We all loved John. I thought today’s airing was in good taste. RIP our legend.
Thanks for the great one liners , the humor and the ❤️ love you put forth on the screen to is, the fans!
Honestly, DOOL writers could have/should have done better than this sorry story line. This was a long term actor, who for many years was the face of the show. He deserved much better.
Honestly can we just honor Mr. Aniston and save the hate for later.
The story line is just starting and you’re already complaining. Dear lord, relax. The show is going to continue with his death over the next few weeks.
Exactly! Today we had flashback scenes with Kate, Xander and Steve/Patch, and it’s sure to be just the start. Not to mention they set up a mystery of where he was to explore (as apparently he made or was on his way to make a side visit on the way back from seeing Bo), and have left characters like Shawn with complex feelings since Victor had last lashed out at him and they never had a chance to reconcile. Plus his death will act as a catalyst for storylines like the return of Philip (and I wouldn’t be surprised if Sarah comes home to support her grieving mother when someone else walks in, but we’ll see). Plenty more to explore.
I still laugh when I remember the moment when Nicole was at the door of the Kiriakis mansion and Victor sees her and yells at Henderson for not taking out the trash. His one-liners were the hallmark of his character and I’ve often wondered how many of the lines were adlibbed by Aniston.
CLASSIC! iconic. i think the ‘anyone order a hooker?’ (when Eve Donvan returns to salem and shows up at the Kiriakis front door) is my #1
John Aniston was a marvelous actor and such a handsome man. I have watched Days’ since it began & John has always been one of my favorite actors’ ! I will miss Victor Kiriaks, he brought a bit of darkness and romance with the ladies’ and a lot of danger & cantankerousness as an older man. Yet, Victor still ruled his family. Well played Sir, well played!
RIP JOHN ANISTON 💔✝️
My heart goes out to his daughter Jennifer Aniston. ❤️🥰
He’ll be missed on Days. I remember reading at the end of last year about him passing away. I’m sorry for your loss. I’ve watched Days since 1972 and still watching.
Victor was a complex character. Early on, a dangerous criminal. Then, he softened. Good people like Hope, John, Julie and others grew to care about him. The pairing of the good natured Maggie with Victor was brilliant. Since John Aniston died and nobody else could do Victor justice, I felt they should not have killed Victor in a plane crash. He was worthy of a natural death much like Tom Horton got when MacDonald Carey died in 1994. Victor could have died off camera peacefully in Maggie’s arms. I think that would have been more fitting.
Victor does not go quietly, in life or death.
I will miss the actor who played Victor on the show May he rest in peace up in heaven. He was a very great and talented actor on the show.from a Day’s Of Our Lives Fan Peggy.
my heart is broken now that john Aniston (victor) is gone there will be less of a power struggle between the dimeras and Kiriakis clan yet my heart akes for Justin Kiriakis (Wally kurth).
John Aniston, wonderful actor, no one could take his place as “Victor K” on Day of Our Lives. He is missed by the acting world but also as a special man.
His last appearance really was a great way to go out. He was completely hilarious, as usual. His one-liners will be greatly missed.
I will remember Victor as an evil man who tortured the citizens of Salem but I will remember John Aniston as a talented and gifted actor. RIP Mr. Aniston!