Thaao Penghlis

Guide Note

Thaao Penghlis is a television, film, and theater actor whose roots in daytime television span three decades on three different soap operas. One of four children born and raised in Australia to Greek parents, he has dual citizenship in America and Australia and is fluent in both English and Greek.

As a child of immigrant parents he grew up poor, selling beer bottles so he could buy movie tickets. Since his family was close knit, his departure from Australia to study art history and fashion in New York City was difficult, but ultimately led him to a prosperous career in entertainment, garnering him fans in America as well as his native Greece and Australia.

It was during his time in New York that he met acting coach and theater director Milton Katselas, who encouraged him to pursue a career in drama. His New York stage debut was in the Off-Broadway play Jocky's.

Over the course of his career he has appeared in numerous films and television shows, including the television revival of Mission Impossible. His film credits include the 1980 film Altered States starring William Hurt and the 2007 film The Mirror, co-starring Kelly LeBrock. His television credits include a number of crime dramas, including Kojak, Cannon, Tenspeed and Brownshoe, Heart to Heart, Nero Wolf, and Magnum P.I.

Daytime drama is where Thaao Penghlis has found the most success, and since 1980 he has appeared on the popular soap operas Santa Barbara, General Hospital, and Days of Our Lives. It is his dual roles on Days of Our Lives, however, that have made him a fan favorite. His characters belong to one of the most evil daytime families, the Dimeras. Tony Dimera and his evil cousin Andre have caused the people of Salem turmoil for years, even more so because they have both arisen from the dead countless times. Thus, Thaao has been contracted to the show five different times since his arrival in 1981.

When he is not busy working on his own projects or being resurrected on Days of Our Lives, Thaao likes to spend his time traveling. His love for archeology and history has taken him all over the world, including Egypt, Israel, and Jordan. He has even climbed the summit of Mt. Sinai.

Fast Facts

1. Full Name: Thaao Penghlis
2. Birth Date: December 15, 1945
3. Birth place: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
4. Parents are Greek
5. Came from poor family
6. Joined Australia's mission at the UN
7. Taught Kelly LeBrock how to dance
8. Enjoys learning how other societies live

Tony/Andre Dimera:

1. Plays cousins Tony and Andre Dimera on Days of Our Lives
2. As Tony, he did the first bathtub and shower scenes in daytime with co-star Leann Hunley's Anna Dimera
3. Friends with co-star Leann Hunley
4. His characters have been killed and resurrected more than 5 times
5. Tony is a Dimera by name only
6. Andre is a Dimera by blood
7. Tony/Andre have romanced Anna Dimera, Renee DuMonde, and Sami Brady