By Peter Sblendorio

John Aniston, a longtime star of the cleaning soap opera “Days of Our Lives” and the daddy of actress Jennifer Aniston, died Friday at age 89, his daughter introduced Monday.

The Greek-born actor performed Victor Kiriakis on greater than 3,000 “Days of Our Lives” episodes spanning greater than three a long time, incomes him a lifetime achievement honor on the Daytime Emmy Awards this 12 months.

“You have been one of the crucial lovely people I ever knew,” Jennifer Aniston captioned an Instagram tribute Monday that includes photographs exhibiting her together with her dad over time.

“I’m so grateful that you just went hovering into the heavens in peace — and with out ache,” the “Associates” actress continued. “And on 11/11 no much less! You all the time had excellent timing. That quantity will without end maintain a good better that means for me now. I’ll love you until the top of time. Don’t neglect to go to.”

Aniston appeared on dozens of collection and movies all through an performing profession that started within the early Sixties, together with roles on in style reveals reminiscent of “Mission Unattainable,” “Kojak,” “Star Trek: Voyager,” “The West Wing” and “Gilmore Women.”

He was greatest recognized, nevertheless, for his portrayal of the mobster Victor on “Days of Our Lives,” a personality he originated in 1985 and continued into this 12 months.

The efficiency earned Aniston two Cleaning soap Opera Digest Awards — for lead actor and excellent villain — in 1986, and a supporting actor nomination on the Daytime Emmys in 2017.

Jennifer Aniston, who starred as Rachel Inexperienced on “Associates,” introduced the lifetime achievement Emmy to her father, who didn’t attend the June present.

“That is actually a particular second for me,” Jennifer Aniston, 53, mentioned in a video that aired in the course of the occasion. “It’s a chance to not solely pay tribute to a real icon within the daytime tv world, however it’s additionally an opportunity to acknowledge the lifelong achievements of an excellent and well-respected actor who additionally occurs to be my dad.”

Born in Crete, Greece, John Aniston grew up in Pennsylvania and studied theater at Pennsylvania State College earlier than becoming a member of the U.S. Navy.