Born and raised in West Hartford, Connecticut, Joseph Mascolo was endowed with a musical ability that seemed to guarantee a brilliant career as a classical musician. He never considered an acting career until a music scholarship took him to the University of Miami where a drama coach heard in Mascolo's hearty basso a voice that was destined for the stage.
When he became a candidate for a Fulbright Scholarship to study orchestral conducting, there was a snag; Mascolo was determined to submerge himself in the study of opera in Italy and the available position was in Germany. That being the case, he passed up on the Fulbright and, instead, took advantage of an offer in New York City. Of all the ways an actor supports himself while studying theater and auditioning in New York, the coveted seat in the clarinet section of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra which Mascolo accepted, has to be among the most unique. It was in New York that the seed to act which had been planted back in Miami began to blossom.
Mascolo was first seen off-Broadway in a production of The Threepenny Opera, soon followed by an appearance in the landmark off-Broadway production of a View From the Bridge with director Ulu Grosbard, where he succeeded Robert Duvall as Eddie Carbone and joined an ensemble that included Jon Voight as co-star and Dustin Hoffman as assistant director. His Broadway debut came in Dinner at Eight, mounted by theatre legend Tyrone Guthrie.
Film roles include Sharkey's Machine, Heat, Jaws II, and Shaft's Big Score. His appearance in the film Yes, Giorgio! gave him the opportunity to sing a duet with his friend, international super-tenor, Luciano Pavarotti.
The role of Stefano DiMera, which Mascolo portrayed on an off for almost two decades, garnered Mascolo with three Soap Opera Awards in the "Outstanding Villain" category.
Joseph Mascolo died December 9, 2016, at the age of 87 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. For more on the passing of Joseph Mascolo, please click here.
August 23, 2001 to July 7, 2006
The Trial of the Incredible Hulk
Tendelli
1989
General Hospital
Nicholas Van Buren (Domino)
1989
The Equalizer
Tony Costa
May 4, 1988
Hunter
"Shades"
July 18, 1987
Hill Street Blues
Melvin Jardino
February 6, 1986
Santa Barbara
Carlo Alvarez
1986
Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter
Richards
1984
Days of our Lives
Stefano DiMera
1982 to 1983; 1984 to 1985; 1988; 1993 to May 25, 2001; December 19, 2006 to February 29, 2008; August 5, 2008 to Present
The Gangster Chronicles
Salvatore Maranzano
1981
Stonestreet: Who Killed the Centerfold Model?
Max Pierce
1977
Papa and Me
Papa
1976
Bronk
Mayor Pete Santori
1975
Baretta
January 17, 1975
All in the Family
Mr. Bushmill;
February 2, 1974
Where the Heart Is
Ed Lucas #3
1970-1973
From These Roots
Jack Lander
1961
PLACE OF BIRTH: West Hartford, Connecticut
DATE OF BIRTH: March 13, 1935
HEIGHT: 6'1"
EYES: Brown
HAIR: Brown
Has a street named after him in Ocilla, Georgia.
