A guy named after Thaao
New Steve Blackwood interview, discusses Thaao
Snippet from an Alexis Thrope interview.
WEEKLY: Who have you learned the most from at Days?
THORPE: I love working with Thaao Penghlis (Tony). He is so in the moment. Anything he does is so dynamic. He
doesn't even have to talk. He's got this strength about him, but he uses it in a subtle way. He's not always big, when it
could be really easy to do with his character. When we have father/daughter scenes I love working with him. I feel like he
really is my dad. When he's mad at me in a scene it hurts me. He's fun, too. He'll teach me how to tango. In the middle of
dry block we'll start dancing around.
Where Thaao eats sushi, LOL
Blog entry about seeing Thaao at LAX.
Alexis Thorpe: "I love him. I absolutely adore that man. I think he is just perfect."
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
http://grantboone.blogspot.com/2004_04_01_archive.htmlNominated For Best Performance In A Printing Store
Where else but Hollywood do you see soap stars
in a Kinko's? I'm in the store on Hollywood and Vine last Friday when in walks Thaao Penghlis (pronounced "thaao penghlis"),
the veteran soap actor who was involved in perhaps the most unintentionally hilarious subplot in television history. Penghlis
not only played Tony Dimera on Days of Our Lives but also his identical twin cousin, Andre. Read that last sentence again.
Maybe that's why he was at Kinko's. He was making a copy of himself...or was it Andre... (cue the diabolical laughter, the
goth music hitting a crescendo, and CUT!)
The name of the book is Like Sands Through the Hourglass by Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth
Hayes.
Another time, forty-five quarts of Technicolor blood were waiting in a bucket to drop on Thaao
Penghlis, as Tony. He was in the middle of a circus set, dressed to be killed in the ringmaster's boots, cutaway coat and
top hat. Thaao had a long speech before the dunking, and he rehearsed it full-out. There would be only one take and no stunt
man. Just at the last moment, the special-effects coordinator whispered to Steve Wyman, " Is he going to wear that hat?" Then
on a loudspeaker, " Thaao, are you going to wear that hat?" "Yes, I like it." "But the weight from the blood on the hat
will kill him," the coordinator hissed. "Thaao we really want you to lose the hat at the end of the speech." "Oh
for God's sake, I'm trying to do the acting here." The loudspeaker voice was cool but firm: " Lose the hat." On tape Thaao
elegantly lifted the hat off his head. The bloody deluge fell. The actor dropped to his knees....and lived.
From the book Like Sands Through The Hourglass by Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes.
Thaao Penghlis is a lot like the French. You wonder
why they are carrying on so. Then you go to Paris, see how glorious
it is, and realize the French have a lot to be arrogant about. In the dark ages, when Tony Dimera, Thaao's character, was
introduced, his first episode with Joe Mascolo had forty pages of dialogue, a veritable Everest of exposition. The actor was
fine but frantic and stayed on the edge of breakdown for months. This nerviness, plus Thaao's beauty and talet, made Tony
fascinating to watch. Sort of like Montgomery Clift, only with bigger eyes.
He was Greek and also Australian, worldly
and chatty both. We both liked to have the last word, so there were little irritating clashes between us. Penghlis had already
done a lot of world travel when I was just getting started, so his stories of distant lands sometimes provoked my negative
side. "Why don't you go stuff a grape leaf?" I'd mutter to myself.
After months on the show, he went home to Australia
to visit his parents and enjoy some cheering from the fans for their returning homeboy. As I've said, Days was hot in the
antipodes. Passing in the hall of Stage 9, the returned Thaao said in his princely way, "Oh, hello...didn't see you...just
got back from Austrailia." "Really I responded generously. "Didn't notice you were gone." "****!" he yelled.
An hour
later I faced him, my eyes flowing with tears. "No one ever called me that before." I said. "I'm surprised." he coolly replied.
We've gotten way beyond all that and discovered Penghlis and Hayes love a lot of the same things-art, travel, good
books and the ever-dangerous witty remark. He writes, he thinks, he sees the sights of life with the judgment of great taste.
I look forward to hearing about his journeys now, and he makes me believe I'm the friend who appreciates his insights. Well,
I really do.
Thaao has never stopped going to acting class and consquently growing as an artist, refining his gold.
All actors want to appear opposite gifted friends. Thaao's operatic theatrical style is so mesmerizing I'd like to duet together
in a great scene someday, just to prove I've got more notes than a C!
Susan Seaforth Hayes
Thaao's Hoochies photobucket site (over 950 pictures!)
Thaao's Hoochies Photographs Website
Leann Hunley Fan Site
Email any suggestions or to submit a contribution to:
Leann Hunley Photographs site
 |
