Michael Constantine

Biography

Michael Constantine (born Gus Efstratiou (Ευστρατίου); May 22, 1927 – August 31, 2021) was an American actor. He is most widely recognized for his portrayal of Kostas "Gus" Portokalos, the Windex bottle-toting Greek father of Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos), in the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002).

Earlier, he earned acclaim for his television work, especially as the long-suffering high school principal, Seymour Kaufman, on ABC's comedy-drama, Room 222, for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1970; he was again recognized by the Emmy Awards, as well as the Golden Globe Awards, the following year. After the conclusion of Room 222, Constantine portrayed night court magistrate Matthew J. Sirota on the 1976 sitcom Sirota's Court, receiving his second Golden Globe nomination. Constantine reprised his role as Gus Portokalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016).

Known For

Cold Case 2003 ★ 7.7
Judging Amy 1999 ★ 7.5
Homicide: Life on the Street 1993 ★ 8.1
Law & Order 1990 ★ 7.3
MacGyver 1985 ★ 7.7
Hunter 1984 ★ 7.1
Murder, She Wrote 1984 ★ 7.5
Airwolf 1984 ★ 7.6
Magnum, P.I. 1980 ★ 7.3
Roots: The Next Generations 1979 ★ 7.5
The Love Boat 1977 ★ 6.3
Quincy, M.E. 1976 ★ 7.5
The Mary Tyler Moore Show 1970 ★ 7.7
Love, American Style 1969 ★ 6.2
Ironside 1967 ★ 6.9
The Flying Nun 1967 ★ 6.3
Mission: Impossible 1966 ★ 7.6
Hogan's Heroes 1965 ★ 7.6
The Fugitive 1963 ★ 7.4
The Virginian 1962 ★ 6.5
The Dick Van Dyke Show 1961 ★ 7.6
The Twilight Zone 1959 ★ 8.5
The Untouchables 1959 ★ 8.0
Perry Mason 1957 ★ 7.7