'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' actor Michael Constantine dies at 94

READING, Pa. — Actor Michael Constantine, who played the begetter quality successful “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” has died astatine the property of 94, according to aggregate reports.

Constantine’s cause told Variety and CNN that the antheral died past week of earthy causes.

Family members told the Reading Eagle that Constantine passed distant connected Aug. 31 astatine his location successful Reading, Pennsylvania, surrounded by loved ones. He had reportedly been sick for respective years, but the quality of his unwellness wasn’t disclosed.

Constantine is champion known for his relation arsenic Costas “Gus” Portokalos, the Windex-obsessed begetter of Nia Vardalos’s Fotoula “Toula” Portokalos, successful the 2002 romanticist drama astir a Greek family. The movie was a “sleeper hit” that was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Constantine besides appeared successful the sequel, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2.”

Vardalos honored her onscreen dada successful a tweet connected Wednesday.

“Michael Constantine, the dada to our cast-family, a acquisition to the written word, and ever a friend. Acting with him came with a unreserved of emotion and fun. I volition treasure this antheral who brought Gus to life. He gave america truthful overmuch laughter and deserves a remainder now. We emotion you Michael,” wrote the histrion and writer.

Along with that role, immoderate whitethorn admit Constantine from his relation arsenic a precocious schoolhouse main successful the ABC comedy-drama “Room 222,” which aired successful the precocious 1960s and aboriginal 1970s.