Copyright Parade
On Days of Our Lives Xander Kirakis (Paul Telfer) recently learned that he is Victor Kiriakis’ (the late John Aniston) biological son. Since then, he’s been working alongside with his half-brother Philip (John-Paul Lavoisier) at the family company, Titan. Now, Telfer is sharing how the storyline has impacted his role on the long-running soap. In an interview with The TV Water Cooler, published earlier this week, Telfer was asked how the paternity reveal affected his connection to the show. “I wish we had been able to do it when John was still with us,” Telfer said, referencing his late co-star John Aniston, who portrayed Victor Kiriakis for nearly 40 years. Reflecting on the storyline, Telfer admitted, “To be honest. It was very bittersweet.” He noted that the reveal didn’t come out of nowhere. “It did feel like they had set up little breadcrumbs over the years,” Telfer explained. “That way it wasn’t jarring to the audience.” “There was part of the audience who had wanted it. ‘He should be Victor’s son, so make it so that he’s Victor’s son.’” Telfer recalled. “So, that was nice, and it gave me the opportunity to play really lovely scenes that deal with the fallout from that. That’s part of what I was nominated for at this year’s Emmys…” Telfer won the award for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Daytime Drama at the 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards for his performance as Xander Kirakis. Telfer first joined Days of Our Lives in 2015, originally appearing in a small role as Damon, a hitman hired by Victor. He later returned that same year as Xander Cook. Initially intended as a short-term character, Telfer’s performance and strong fan response expanded the role, eventually earning him a full-time contract on the show. Beyond Days of Our Lives, Telfer has appeared on numerous primetime shows, including Spartacus, NCIS, The Vampire Diaries, Body of Proof, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Once Upon a Time and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Days of Our Lives continues weekdays streaming exclusively on Peacock.
