Joseph Mascolo, who portrayed Stefano DiMera on NBC's "Days of Our Lives" for more than 30 years, died Thursday.
He was 87.
- RELATED: Joseph Mascolo's bio on NBC.com
Mascolo's passing was reported Friday by Soap Opera Digest and confirmed by the show on Twitter.
"Days" cast members tweeted their condolences Friday.
Mascolo has played Stefano DiMera on the soap opera since 1982. Despite the villainous nature of his most popular character, his family remembered a caring man, who is survived by his wife, two children, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
"Joseph was a big 'ol bear with a puppy dog heart. I'm so blessed to have had these many years with him. I will miss him every day," his widow Patricia Schultz-Mascolo said in a statement obtained by Soap Opera Digest.
Mascolo had been battling Alzheimer's disease.
