‘The Young and the Restless’ Casting RUMORS: Antonio Sabato Jr Or Joseph Mascolo As Luca Santori’s Father?

‘The Young and The Restless’ (Y&R) has featured a lot of talk recently about the powerful, criminal father of Luca Santori [Miles Gaston Villanueva]. This triggers speculation that we may soon see the elder, awful Santori in Genoa City. CBS Soaps in Depth speculates it may be a familiar face.

In its most recent issue, SID teases that Luca’s pops could be played by either Antonio Sabato, Jr or Joseph Mascolo. While Y&R fans are no doubt interested in laying eyes on the big bad Santori dad, neither of these casting suggestions seems probable.

Let’s start with Antonio Sabato Jr and do the math on this casting rumor. Still hot Antonio could certainly pass for a Santori with his hunky Latin looks – but Sabato is 43 and Villanueva is 31. There’s no way that CBS would be casting him as Luca’s dad. An evil older brother maybe, but not Luca’s dad.

And as for Joseph Mascolo – he’s the right age and certainly plays evil better than most – but that also seems improbable for a couple of reasons. First, he’s rumored to be in ill health and second, he’s still under contract by NBC and may be ghosting around Salem at some point.

There is a whole host of talent to draw from to play Luca’s dad that are better aligned in age and availability than either of these two actors. But we do have to admit, Y&R fans would love to see the elder Santori in Genoa City sooner rather than later to shake things up.

Luca’s dad doesn’t like Marisa Sierras [Sofia Pernas], wants to control Victor Newman [Eric Braeden], has ties to the evil Marco Annicelli [Peter Bergman] and would definitely wreak havoc and offer tons of great storyline fodder.

Better casting suggestions would be:

A Martinez (Eduardo Hernandez from Days of Our Lives)
Benjamin Bratt (24, Law & Order, Private Practice)
Jimmy Smits (LA Law, NYPD Blue, Sons of Anarchy)
Esai Morales (NYPD Blue, Criminal Minds, From Dusk Til Dawn)

One of these would be a more practical choice, age-appropriate, talented and a better fit to play Luca’s dad. What do you think Y&R fans? Who would you like to see step into the role of Luca Santori’s bad dad?

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