Michael Constantine
Biography
Michael Constantine was a Greek-American actor whose early stage work included understudying Paul Muni in Inherit the Wind in the mid-1950s. He trained under Howard Da Silva and performed character parts on and off Broadway in his twenties. His first film was The Last Mile (1959). On television he became known as Seymour Kaufman, the principal on Room 222, and won a Primetime Emmy Award for that role in 1970, with further Emmy and Golden Globe recognition afterward. He later had the role of Matthew J. Sirota, a night court magistrate, in Sirota's Court, which brought him another Golden Globe nomination. His film roles included The Hustler (1961), The North Avenue Irregulars (1979), Prancer (1989), in which he played Santa Claus, and Thinner (1996). He had his broadest recognition as Gus Portokalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002), earning a Satellite Award, and reprised the part in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016).
94years old at death
- Born Reading
- Died Reading
- Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
- Gus Efstratiou (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 17
- Career span
- 55 years1961 to 2016
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First role
In the mid-1950s, Constantine launched his New York stage career. He served as Paul Muni's understudy in Inherit the Wind.
Big break
Constantine had an unexpected comeback in 2002 as the Windex-toting Gus Portokalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, a role he later reprised on television and in a 2016 sequel.
Michael Constantine movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Jackie Gleason appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Jackie Gleason's page
Cloris Leachman's page
Louis Mandylor's page
Jayne Eastwood's page
Andrea Martin's page
John Corbett's page
Also two films together8 more actors
- Murray HamiltonIf It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969) and The Hustler (1961)
- Lainie KazanMy Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
- Nia VardalosMy Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
- Gia CaridesMy Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
- Joey FatoneMy Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
- Robert ItoPray for Death (1985) and Peeper (1975)
- Fiona ReidMy Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
- Bess MeislerMy Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Michael Constantine's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$573 million
9 of the 17 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 17 films: 9 worldwide figure; 3 us gross only; 5 figure not found.
- 9Worldwide figure
- 3US gross only
- 5Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$369M64.3% of the total
- 2$91M15.8% of the total
- 3$35M6.0% of the total
- 4$27M4.8% of the total
- 5$23M4.0% of the total
- 6$15M2.7% of the total
- 7$7.6M1.3% of the total
- 8$6.0M1.0% of the total
$18,369from the other 1 film with a worldwide figure, 0% of the total
Awards
Two awards and honors, two of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmy Awards | |||
| 1970 | Emmy Award | Won | |
| 1970 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Room 222 | Won |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.