Most fans of Days of Our Lives probably don't know, but Joseph Mascolo, who plays the villainous Stefano on the long-running series was a close friend of the late great tenor, Luciano Pavarotti. The two became friends around three decades ago, when they worked together on the film, Yes, Gregorio. It wasn't unlikely though, that the two would become friends, as Mascolo was initially into music as well.

Joseph Mascolo established himself as a popular figure from two daytime dramas, Days of Our Lives and The Bold and the Beautiful. In Days of Our Lives, he became the face of Stefano DiMera, one of the most evil villains in soapdom. On The Bold and the Beautiful though, he was a lesser threat, playing the untrustworthy Massimo Marone.

But way before he became the most despised individual in the history of Days of Our Lives, Mascolo was a lover, patron and artist of music. He was also even a concert clarinetist with the New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Knowing this, then it isn't a surprise that he was good friends with the legendary operatic/classical singer, Luciano Pavarotti.

The Soap Opera Digest recently held an interview with Mascolo regarding his sentiments on his close friends' passing on September 6 due to pancreatic cancer.

"I spent a lot of time crying," Mascolo admitted. "He and I had a great time together. We worked together, which was a lot of fun. We also ate well and drank some good wine. It just hurts my heart that that voice is gone? And that's what kills me, because it is one of the most unique, beautiful voices of our century."

"He was bigger than life in every way, and he enjoyed life as much as he could," the Days of Our Lives antagonist said. "Some people frowned when he started doing a few concerts with rock-and-rollers. But what happened because of it is that people were more aware of opera than they were before."