Stefano DiMera

Stefano DiMera
Joseph Mascolo as Stefano DiMera
Days of Our Lives character
Portrayed by	Joseph Mascolo (1982–88, 1993–2017) Frank Fata (1991) Davide Shiavone (2007; young Stefano)
Duration	1982–85 1988 1991 1993–2001 2006–17
First appearance	January 18, 1982
Last appearance	February 9, 2017
Created by	Pat Falken Smith
Introduced by	Betty Corday Al Rabin
Classification	Former; recurring
Profile
Other names	The Phoenix Rudolpho Meradi Serge Anatol Mrs. Lafferty Joseph M. Wagner
Occupation	Crime boss Businessman
Residence	DiMera Mansion 430 Lakeview Drive Salem, Illinois 06649
Family DiMera Father Santo DiMera Brothers Six older brothers Half-brothers Ryan Brady Spouse Daphne DiMera Vivian Alamain (1998–99) Kate Roberts (2009–12) Sons André DiMera Benjy Hawk EJ DiMera Chad DiMera Daughters Renée DuMonde Megan Hathaway Lexie Carver Adoptive sons Peter Blake Adoptive daughters Kristen DiMera Stepsons Tony DiMera Grandsons Theo Carver Steven Hawk Johnny DiMera Thomas DiMera Granddaughters Sydney DiMera Grace DiMera Other relatives Eugene Bradford

Stefano DiMera was a fictional character featured in the American soap opera Days of Our Lives. Created by head writer Pat Falken Smith, he was portrayed by actor Joseph Mascolo. Stefano is the patriarch of the DiMera family and the father of Renée DuMonde, Megan Hathaway, Benjy Hawk, Lexie Carver (née Brooks), EJ DiMera and Chad DiMera and the stepfather of Antony DiMera; He is also the adoptive father of Peter and Kristen Blake. For a brief period, he believed he was the half-brother of longtime nemesis John Black. He had a nephew, André DiMera, who through plastic surgery became identical to Antony. In 2015, André was revealed to be Stefano's son. Stefano is the ex-husband of Kate Roberts and Vivian Alamain. Stefano first entered the show as a wealthy European businessman who relocated to Salem, and gradually revealed substantial ties to organized crime, both at home and abroad. Over the years Stefano's character has fluctuated between that of a crime lord (both on local and international scales), political terrorist, ruthless business tycoon, and loving (albeit heavy-handed) family man. Soap Opera Digest named him the all-time best villain.

In the early 1980s, then head writer, Pat Falken Smith created the role specifically for Mascolo after seeing his performance as real-life crime boss, Salvatore Maranzano on the NBC miniseries, The Gangster Chronicles in 1981. Mascolo first appeared as Stefano on January 18, 1982. He departed from the series on March 8, 1983, and returned a year later on March 2, 1984 before briefly departing on May 11, 1984 only to return on October 19 and depart again on February 22, 1985. Mascolo briefly returned to the series from November 4 to December 19, 1988. Actor Frank Fata appeared in the role of Stefano for two episodes which aired on December 3 and 4, 1991. Mascolo reclaimed the role on a contractual basis on September 17, 1993. He departed from the show on December 24, 1996, and re-appeared for a few episodes from February 7 to 13, 1997. Mascolo returned to the show full-time once again on June 13, 1997.