PDA

View Full Version : Who Knew? "Victor Kiriakis" aka John Aniston Was Almost "Ted Baxter"

Brian Damage
03-06-2011, 10:46 PM
John Aniston was supposed to play the role of Ted Baxter on THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW before Ted Knight was found.

http://www.soapoperadigest.com/soapstarstats/johnanistonbio/

http://www.salemgazette.com/castphotos/aniston.jpg
biffbronson
03-06-2011, 10:50 PM
A Greek Ted Baxter? OPA!
Brian Damage
03-06-2011, 10:53 PM
A Greek Ted Baxter? OPA!

I never knew that! LOL

Actually wasn't Ted Knight Greek himself?
biffbronson
03-06-2011, 11:25 PM
No -- Ted's family was Polish-American.

I've looked up John -- he was born Yannis Anastassakis, which is definitely a Greek name!
Marvo301
03-06-2011, 11:29 PM
Ted Knight was born Tadeus Wladyslaw Konopka and was of Polish descent.
PGood97041
03-06-2011, 11:58 PM
It's fun to think about these things, but I can't imagine The Mary Tyler Moore Show without Ted!
catlover79
03-06-2011, 11:59 PM
Wow, I never knew that. John Aniston was also up for the role of Doug Williams on DAYS in 1970, but lost it to Bill Hayes. Bill Hayes ended up marrying his DAYS leading lady, Susan Seaforth, in 1974 - and they are still together! John Aniston ended up in NYC where he landed roles on the now defunct soaps Love of Life and Search for Tomorrow. It was on the former that he met co-star Sherry Rooney and married her. They are also still married today. Then, of course, he went back to LA, landed the role of Victor on DAYS in 1985, his daughter ended up on Friends, and the rest is history!! :cool:
Brian Damage
03-07-2011, 12:54 AM
Wow, I never knew that. John Aniston was also up for the role of Doug Williams on DAYS in 1970, but lost it to Bill Hayes. Bill Hayes ended up marrying his DAYS leading lady, Susan Seaforth, in 1974 - and they are still together! John Aniston ended up in NYC where he landed roles on the now defunct soaps Love of Life and Search for Tomorrow. It was on the former that he met co-star Sherry Rooney and married her. They are also still married today. Then, of course, he went back to LA, landed the role of Victor on DAYS in 1985, his daughter ended up on Friends, and the rest is history!! :cool:


Interesting stuff, in John Aniston's bio, it says he was "supposed to play Ted Baxter" until Ted Knight was hired. Does that mean John Aniston had the role of Ted Baxter and was let go at the last minute?