Thaao Penghlis and Diedre Hall shine on Days of Our Lives

On the NBC soap DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Dr. Marlena Evans and the Dimera family have a complicated history. Stefano (the late Joe Mascolo) was obsessed with Marlena for decades and sought but never received her love. His son Tony and Dr. Evans were pretty close in spite of all the trouble Stefano caused. A look-alike cousin Andre had plastic surgery so he could take Tony's place and it was later revealed that Tony was the stepson of the Maestro, and it was Andre who indeed was Stefano's biological son and not his nephew.

Thaao Penghlis portrayed both characters and has said he is always grateful when Andre is resurrected from the dead and he gets to be on DOOL again. In spite of their complicated onscreen history, Thaao Penghlis is good friends in real-time with Diedre Hall who portrays Marlena. They are true daytime veterans and beloved by their fans, Penghlis recently posted on Instagram about the comradery between the two castmates.

Theo Penghlis is an Australian actor of Greek Heritage. He was born in Surry Hills, New South Wales on December 15, 1945. In addition to his role on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, he was also on SANTA BARBARA and GENERAL HOSPITAL, The popular actor has also had guest-starring roles on television crime shows such as CANNON, HART TO HART, MAGNUM PI, KOJAK, NERO WOLF and TEN SPEED and BROWN SHOE. Penghlis also starred in the late 1980s remake of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE.

In 2003, when Penghlis reprised his DOOL role, he was nominated for the Soap Opera Digest Award for Favorite Return. I’m 2008 he was nominated for Outstanding Leading Actor at the Daytime Emmy Awards.. In 2013 the soap vet had a role in the film THE BOOK OF ESTHER.

Deidre Hall who portrays s Marlena Evans won two Best Actress Soapy Awards in 1982 and 1983. She has also won three Soap Opera Digest Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress on Days in 1984, 1985, and 1995. In 1986, Deirdre Hall was the first recipient of the Outstanding Contribution by an Actress/Actor Award. Along with Drake Hogestyn, the actress won for Favorite Couple: John and Marlena in 2005.

Andre initiated the Salem Stalker killings but those Salemites who were thought to be dead were on an Island called Melaswen which is New Salem spelled backward. Prior to knowing this fact, DAYS OF OUR LIVES viewers were stunned that so many popular characters were being killed off. They were elated to find out that everyone was alive.

In real time Hall and Penghlis often photographed together and it’s easy to see how much they care for one another. During an interview, he once admitted that Hall would often ask him to accompany her to events as an escort. He said the two have never had any friction between them at all. How refreshing that these two actors can work together and have continued a friendly relationship outside of the Days studio.

Penghlis and Hall have been close for almost four decades. They are a testament to staying power as each is in their 7th decade of life. Along with Drake Hegestein, (John), Bill Hayes, (Doug), and John Anniston, (Victor) these soap vets have a legacy of history between them. Thaao Penghlis says that the onscreen friendship between Tony and Marlena went from reel-time to real-time. He adds there is much respect and professionalism between the two soap characters and viewers can see that it carries over off-screen as well.