Michael Constantine, honey theatrical role actor, passes aside at historic period 94

The acting domain is in bereavement on Wednesday, as it was disclosed that dearest fibre thespian Michael Flavius Valerius Constantinus had passed away at 94 old age of get on.

Constantine’s brother-in-law, Michael Gordon, inveterate that the doer died peacefully from born causes, at his home plate in Reading, (via ).

The My Large Fatten Greek Nuptials asterisk passed off peacefully on Grand 31, encircled by his household and friends, including sisters Patricia Gordon and Chris Dobbs.

Flavius Valerius Constantinus had reportedly been battling an illness for respective years, but the sickness has non been disclosed.

He was natural in Indication in 1927, the son of deuce Hellenic language immigrants, with his get operative as a blade actor.

The doer graduated from Recital Gamey Schoolhouse in 1946 and would actuate to New York and future Calif. to encourage his playing career, only he was ever come together to his roots.

‘Terminal hebdomad he could calm down peach wholly quaternion stanzas of the Reading High Civilize alma mater from memory,’ Michael Gordon aforesaid.

‘He’s e’er reasoned himself a Reading aboriginal. Multitude would derive up and say, “You’re from California,” (and he’d say) “Oh no, I’m from Reading.”‘

Constantine I started his playacting life history on the Novel York stage, first off workings as an standby to Apostle of the Gentiles Muni in Come into the Winding.

He played small character roles on and off Broadway in his early to mid-20s, and appeared in his first film, The Last Mile with Mickey Rooney in 1959, and he had a small but memorable role as Big John in The Hustler with Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie and George C. Scott.

Throughout the 1960s he was toiling away in several guest-starring TV roles before landing his breakthrough in 1969 with the role of Principal Seymour Kaufman on the hit TV show Room 222.

The show was the first created by TV icon James L. Brooks, following a Black teacher (Lloyd Hanes) trying to teach his students to be tolerant.

The show ran for five seasons between 1969 and 1974, though Constantine would still take on guest-starring roles in shows like Mission: Impossible, Kojak and Love American Style during the show.

He worked continuously throughout the 1970s and 1980s in either pilots, guest-starring roles or small movie roles. 

He worked more prominently in movies in the 1990s with roles in Deadfall, The Juror and Thinner, before his career got a second wind with 2002’s My Big Fat Greek Wedding, one of the most successful indie movies of all time.

Constantine played the lovable Gus Portakos, the father of Nia Vardalos’ character Toula, whose cure for everything was a few sprays from a bottle of Windex.

He would return as Gus in the short-lived 2003 TV spin-off My Big Fat Greek Life, but he worked sparingly after that, with the 2016 sequel My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 his final on-screen role.

Vardalos took to Twitter on Wednesday to share a touching tribute to her on-screen father on Wednesday evening.

‘Michael Constantine, the dad to our cast-family, a gift to the written word, and always a friend,’Vardalos began. 

‘Acting with him came with a rush of love and fun. I will treasure this man who brought Gus to life. He gave us so much laughter and deserves a rest now. We love you Michael,’ she concluded.

She also shared a snap of, ‘Michael Constantine as “Gus” and my real dad Constantine “Gus” Vardalos, onset #MyBigFatGreekWedding2. May both dads Rest In Peace.’

Constantine is survived by his two children Thea Eileen and Brendan Neil and his sisters Patricia Gordon and Chris Dobbs.