Tony DiMera
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| Count Antony DiMera | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Thaao Penghlis as Count Antony "Tony" DiMera |
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| Days of our Lives | |||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Thaao Penghlis (1981-1985, 2007-present) | ||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 1981 | ||||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Tony | ||||||||||||||||
| Gender | Male | ||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Advertising | ||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Salem Inn, Salem | ||||||||||||||||
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Count Antony "Tony" DiMera is a fictional character on the American soap opera Days of our Lives, played by actor Thaao Penghlis from 1981 to 1985 and 2007 to present. Since 2007, Penghlis has also played the role of Andre DiMera. He has previously played Andre from 1993 to 1995 and again from 2002 to 2005. Originally these stints were credited onscreen to Thaao as "Tony"; however, a recent retcon has effectively changed the onscreen credits to "Andre".
Count Tony DiMera arrived in Salem in 1981 with a dual purpose. He wanted to win back his wife, Liz Chandler, whom he had never officially divorced. He also wanted to scope out Salem on orders from his father Stefano DiMera to see if it was suitable to relocate the DiMera family business. Setting up his penthouse with hidden cameras, Tony throws a big party with invites sent to all of Salem's finest. After the party, Tony shows the videos to Stefano. Learning that the Brady family is alive and well in Salem, Stefano has Tony plant roots in the business community in order to continue the vendetta against the family that is the DiMeras sworn enemy, the Bradys.
In 1982, Tony proposed to Renee Dumonde, who accepted. However, Renee discovered Lee DuMonde's diary. Reading the diary she learned that Lee was really her mother and that Stefano DiMera was her father, making Tony her half brother. Renee quickly broke things off with Tony, not telling him the real reason in order to spare his feelings. Tony refused to let Renee go, and when she told him the truth he refused to believe they were siblings. Tony blamed Stefano for breaking them up. When Tony tried to leave town Stefano faked a heart attack. Tony later learned that he and Renee were in fact not related due to a death-bed confession by his mother Daphne and had the blood tests to prove it. Renee had moved on and was married David Banning when Tony learned the truth. Despite the evidence that they were not related, Renee refused to leave David. She was later killed by Andre.
Around the same time Liz Chandler became pregnant with Neil Curtis' child, though Tony believed it was his. Tony would grant Liz her divorce, but only after the baby was born, because wanted the baby if it proved to be his. Liz gave birth to her baby, and when Tony realized it was Neil Curtis' child he quickly divorced Liz.
In 1984, Tony and evil look a like Andre came face to face. Andre chained Tony up and took his place pretending to be Tony. It was the first, but wouldn't be the last time he impersonated Tony in the next 20 years.
In 1985, Tony and Anna became engaged once again. Their attempts at marriage encountered many rocky starts. Their first attempt was sabotaged by Alex Marshall and an actor playing a minister, thus their "marriage" was invalid. When they attempted a second time to get married, Anna was kidnapped. Eventually Tony and Anna were finally married, and returned to Salem. After returning from Salem Anna was accused of murder and while trying to prove her innocence Tony disappeared. Anna was also blamed for her husband's disappearance, but in truth Tony was held captive by a very much alive Claud Van Zandt, Anna's supposed victim. Claud was eventually discovered as being alive, and Anna was acquitted of all charges. Eventually, Tony was blackmailed by Emma Donovan to divorce Anna and leave Salem. Anna received divorce papers in the mail, assuming they were from Tony but they were not. Anna and Tony were still married.
Before returning in 2007, Tony was last seen being dragged from Salem through a mist calling out for Anna. After over twenty years outside of Salem, Tony was finally located on a deserted island. Anna convinced him to return to Salem to confront his past (and his father), and Tony agreed to team up with the Bradys to end the DiMera/Brady feud once and for all. Again in 2008, Tony's story was retconned.
[edit] Paternity
Before her death, Daphne DiMera claimed that her lover Enrico, the family gardner, was Tony's real father and blood tests in the early 1980's supported this as fact. In the 1990s additional blood tests were done to prove that Stefano was Tony's father; however, the second blood tests were done while Andre was impersonating Tony. It is unknown whether there really was a blood test done or if Andre and Stefano faked one; at this time Tony is claiming Enrico to be his father and not Stefano.
[edit] Other relationships
- Liz Chandler (he raped her)
