Nook NotesPick a film
Michael Constantine

Actor

Michael Constantine

Born May 22, 1927 in Reading, Pennsylvania, USADied August 31, 202149 films

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).

Read more

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).

Start here

The best way into Michael Constantine's work
The Hustler posterFirst watchThe Hustler19617.7as Big JohnFast Eddie Felson is a small-time pool hustler with a lot of talent but a self-destructive attitude. His bravado causes him to challenge the legendary Minnesota Fats to a high-stakes match.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
My Big Fat Greek Wedding poster6.5My Big Fat Greek Wedding2002My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 poster6.0My Big Fat Greek Wedding 22016Thinner poster5.9Thinner1996My Life poster6.7My Life1993The Juror poster5.7The Juror1996Prancer poster6.2Prancer1989The Reivers poster6.4The Reivers1969Voyage of the Damned poster6.0Voyage of the Damned1976

Filmography

49 films as actor
  1. 2016My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2Kostas 'Gus' Portokalos
  2. 2002My Big Fat Greek WeddingKostas 'Gus' Portokalos
  3. 2001WW3Yuri Zenkovsky
  4. 1996ThinnerTadzu Lempke
  5. 1996The JurorJudge Weitzel
  6. 1994Because Mommy WorksElliot
  7. 1993My LifeBill Ivanovich
  8. 1993DeadfallFrank
  9. 1992By a ThreadAnthony Gallucci
  10. 1989PrancerMr. Stewart / Santa
  11. 1988Question of FaithDoctor Rudolph
  12. 1987In the MoodMr. Wisecarver
  13. 1986Daniel and the Lion's Den(voice)
  14. 1985Pray for DeathMr. Newman
  15. 1982Silent RebellionYianni
  16. 1982Forty Days of Musa DaghTalaat Pasha
  17. 1981Evita PeronJaime Yankelevich
  18. 1980The Love TapesFrank Yost
  19. 1979Crisis in Mid-AirFrank Piovano
  20. 1979The North Avenue IrregularsMarv
  21. 1978Summer of My German SoldierHarry Bergen
  22. 1977Billy: Portrait of a Street KidDr. Silver
  23. 1976Voyage of the DamnedLuis Clasing
  24. 1976Wanted: The Sundance WomanDave Riley
  25. 1976Twin DetectivesBen Sampson
  26. 1975PeeperAnglich
  27. 1975The Night That Panicked AmericaJess Wingate
  28. 1975Conspiracy of Terror
  29. 1975The Secret Night CallerDr, Mayhill
  30. 1974Death CruiseDr. Burke
  31. 1974Big RoseGunther
  32. 1973The BaitCaptain Gus Maryk
  33. 1972Say Goodbye, Maggie ColeDr. Sweeney
  34. 1972Deadly HarvestStefan Groza
  35. 1971Suddenly SingleFrankie Ventura
  36. 1971The Impatient HeartMurray Kane
  37. 1969The ReiversMr. Binford
  38. 1969Don't Drink the WaterKrojack
  39. 1969JustineMemlik Pasha
  40. 1969If It's Tuesday, This Must Be BelgiumJack Harmon
  41. 1968SkidooLeech
  42. 1968In Enemy CountryLadislov
  43. 1967GhostbreakersOscar Jensen
  44. 1966HawaiiMason
  45. 1966Beau GesteRostov
  46. 1965Quick, Before It MeltsMikhail Drozhensky
  47. 1963Island of LoveAndy
  48. 1961The HustlerBig John
  49. 1959The Last MileEd Werner