Michael Constantine, My Big Fat Greek Wedding actor, dead at 94

Michael Constantine, the Emmy Award-winning actor beloved for his role as Gus in the 2002 film My Big Fat Greek Wedding, has died. He was 94.

His death was confirmed in a statement to Variety. He died of natural causes.

Born in Reading, Penn, Michael Constantine Joanides began his acting career on the New York Stage. In 1955, he acted as an understudy to Paul Muni in the original production of Inherit the Wind. Over the course of his Broadway career, Joanides starred in productions like Compulsion, The Miracle Worker, The Egg, and Arturo Ui.

Joanides made his film debut in Howard W. Koch’s 1959 adaption of The Last Mile, starring Mickey Rooney. Other silver screen roles include appearances in Quick Before It Melts, Beau Geste, Hawaii and Skidoo.

Throughout the 60s, he would go on to guest star on television productions like Dr. Kildare, The Untouchables, The Twilight Zone, Perry Mason, and The Dick Van Dyke Show. His greatest television achievement was his work on the American comedy-drama series, Room 222, which ran on ABC from 1969-74.

For his work on Room 222, Constantine was twice Emmy nominated, in 1970 and 1971, winning the first time.

Though his most memorable and undoubtedly beloved role was as Gus, the father of Nia Vardalos’ Toula Portokalos in the 2002 comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding. A film that would go on to be one of the highest-grossing romantic comedies of all time.

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