John Anthony Aniston (born Yannis Anastassakis) was born on the island of Crete, Greece, to his parents Antonios Anastassakis (1889–1965) and Stella Joanne (née Koume; 1899–1992).
The family moved from Crete to the U.S. when John was two. His Father, Antonios, anglicized the family names after arriving in America.
The Aniston family settled in Chester, Pennsylvania, where they ran a restaurant. John graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts from Pennsylvania State University.
After college, he served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy, on active duty in Panama and later in reserve, and ultimately attained the rank of lieutenant commander.
In 1965, Johh married Nancy Dow but divorced in 1980. Four years later, he married Sherry Rooney, whom he met while co-starring in Love of Life.
John had a daughter, Jennifer Aniston (born February 11, 1969), with Nancy and a son, Alexander, with Sherry. One of his best friends, Telly Savalas, was Jennifer’s godfather.
John also has a stepson, John T. Melick, from Nancy’s earlier marriage. He raised John since he was a toddler, and he became an assistant director and second-unit director.
