Cast & creator
Michael Constantine
Best known for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Law & Order, Law & Order
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).
Also known as: Mike Constantine, Constantine Joanides, Gus Efstratiou
50
film credits
118
television credits
167
1944–2023 · acting roles
6.8
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (168)
Showing 168 of 168 credits
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Law & Order
Dan Barnett
1990Law & Order
Joshua Berger
1990
Perry Mason
Dillard
1957Perry Mason
Pappy Ryan
1957
MacGyver
Hungarian Inspector Jan Messic
1985MacGyver
Sam Leland
1985
The Love Boat
Charlie Haskins
1977
Murder, She Wrote
Laszlo Dolby
1984Murder, She Wrote
Ben Gibbons
1984
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944
Magnum, P.I.
Judge Kearns
1980
Cold Case
Archie Randall (2007)
2003
The Fugitive
Ernie Svoboda
1963The Fugitive
Lt. Ben Wyckoff
1963The Fugitive
Arthur 'Art' Howe
1963
American Playhouse
Yianni
1982
Love, American Style
Fred
1969
Ironside
Harry Brancusi
1967
Mission: Impossible
Janos
1966
Judging Amy
Elias Kelikidis
1999
Quincy, M.E.
Brock Campbell
1976Quincy, M.E.
Dr. George Pendleton
1976Quincy, M.E.
Dr. Arthur Ciotti
1976
Dr. Kildare
Dr. Ernest Miller
1961
Homicide: Life on the Street
Jim Scinta
1993Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Niri
1963Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Steve Jenkins
1963
The Virginian
Stavros Karas
1962The Virginian
Private Essex Kanin
1962The Virginian
John Halstead
1962
Airwolf
President Marios Guzman
1984Airwolf
Dr. Vladimir Bronski
1984
The Twilight Zone
Charlie Koch
1959
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Leslie Merkle
1961
Hogan's Heroes
Captain Heinrich
1965
Naked City
Vito Calageras
1958
Simon & Simon
Robert Corman
1981Simon & Simon
Dr. John Longstrand
1981Simon & Simon
Ernie Petrolik
1981
Hotel
Mr. Tomasino
1982
Highway to Heaven
Dr. Dan Hickey
1984
The Untouchables
Edmund Wald
1959
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Mike Cooper
1970
Ben Casey
Engineer Andersen
1961
Remington Steele
George Edward Mulch
1982
The Name of the Game
Jay Johnson
1968
Combat!
Jacques Patron
1962
Trapper John, M.D.
Max Wyatt
1979
Hunter
Harvey Falk
1984
Police Woman
Ralph
1974
Lou Grant
Sidney Kovac
1977Lou Grant
Joe Lombardi
1977
Gunsmoke
Baca
1955Gunsmoke
Noah Meek
1955
The Streets of San Francisco
Al Davies
1972
Run for Your Life
Colonel Shoner
1965
The Odd Couple
Bill Green
1970
Night Gallery
Wellman (segment "The Boy Who Predicted Earthquakes")
1970
77 Sunset Strip
Sylvio Fiore
1958
Kojak
Don 'Cheech' Frank Scalesi
1973
The Outer Limits
Joe Dix
1963
The Detectives
Salvatore Tropolis
1959
Matt Houston
Police Chief
1982
The Invaders
Dr. Martin Willard
1967
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Dr. Brand
1964
Vega$
Arnie Moss
1978
Friday the 13th: The Series
Ray Dallion
1987
12 O'Clock High
Gen. Nikolai Vorodenko
1964
Crazy like a Fox
Police Inspector
1984
My Favorite Martian
Collins
1963My Favorite Martian
Leonardo da Vinci
1963
Room 222
Seymour Kaufman
1969
Armstrong Circle Theatre
Committee Chairman
1950
Mama's Family
Judge Willard E. Packard
1983
Ellery Queen
Leo Robert Campbell
1975
McMillan & Wife
Dr. Eisner
1971
The Flying Nun
Juan
1967
Arrest and Trial
Dr. Graham
1963Arrest and Trial
Dr. Fowler
1963
Sam Benedict
Judge Sherman Tower
1962
The New Breed
Oscar Holloway
1961
Finder of Lost Loves
Mr. Harding
1984
The Great Adventure
Colonel Streight
1963
Target: The Corruptors!
Chief Swenson
1961
Cain's Hundred
Herbert Lorgan
1961
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
Charles Milaney
1969
The Dakotas
John Marshak
1963The Greatest Show on Earth
Verducci
1963
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Self - Commentor (uncredited)
1967
The Manhunter
Warden Lewis
1974
Roots: The Next Generations
Dr. Vansina
1979Profiles in Courage
Watson
1964
New York News
1995
Mancuso, F.B.I.
Angelo De Paulo
1989
Darkroom
Monsieur De Paris
1981
The Lloyd Bridges Show
Aristos
1962The Lloyd Bridges Show
Hata - Town Elder
1962
Snoops
Captain Bauer
1989
T.H.E. Cat
Silvio
1966
Masquerade
Vasily Petrov
1983
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3
In Memory Of
2023
Blacke's Magic
Victor Kroeger
1986
The Danny Thomas Hour
Demetrios
1967
The Good Guys
Larry Tomack
1968
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Kostas 'Gus' Portokalos
2002The Beachcomber
Maurice Martone
1962
The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible
(voice)
1985
Hey Landlord!
John 'Jack' Ellenhorn
1966
Channing
Nick
1963
Thinner
Tadzu Lempke
1996
It Takes Two
Judge Beilin
1982
Palmerstown, U.S.A.
Bennett
1980
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
Kostas 'Gus' Portokalos
2016
The Juror
Judge Weitzel
1996
Probe
Truman
1988
Free Spirit
Mr. Goodwinn
1989
My Big Fat Greek Life
Gus Portokalos
2003
The Hustler
Big John
1961
The Pirate
Yashir
1977
Voyage of the Damned
Luis Clasing
1976
Summer of My German Soldier
Harry Bergen
1978
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
The Sorcerer
1976
Dundee and the Culhane
Jonathan Putnam
1967
79 Park Avenue
Ben Savitch
1977
My Life
Bill Ivanovich
1993
Deadfall
Frank
1993
The North Avenue Irregulars
Marv
1979
The Reivers
Mr. Binford
1969
Prancer
Mr. Stewart / Santa
1989
If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium
Jack Harmon
1969
The Night That Panicked America
Jess Wingate
1975Sirota's Court
Judge Matthew Sirota
1976
The Last Mile
Ed Werner
1959
Don't Drink the Water
Krojack
1969
Crisis in Mid-Air
Frank Piovano
1979
Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole
Dr. Sweeney
1972
Wanted: The Sundance Woman
Dave Riley
1976
Hawaii
Mason
1966
Beau Geste
Rostov
1966
Skidoo
Leech
1968
In the Mood
Mr. Wisecarver
1987
Ghostbreakers
Oscar Jensen
1967Daniel and the Lion's Den
(voice)
1986The Impatient Heart
Murray Kane
1971
WW3
Yuri Zenkovsky
2001
Death Cruise
Dr. Burke
1974
Justine
Memlik Pasha
1969
Pray for Death
Mr. Newman
1985
Forty Days of Musa Dagh
Talaat Pasha
1982
Quick, Before It Melts
Mikhail Drozhensky
1965
The Secret Night Caller
Dr, Mayhill
1975
In Enemy Country
Ladislov
1968
Evita Peron
Jaime Yankelevich
1981
Peeper
Anglich
1975
Question of Faith
Doctor Rudolph
1988
Island of Love
Andy
1963
Suddenly Single
Frankie Ventura
1971
The Bait
Captain Gus Maryk
1973
Big Rose
Gunther
1974
Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid
Dr. Silver
1977
Twin Detectives
Ben Sampson
1976
The Love Tapes
Frank Yost
1980
By a Thread
Anthony Gallucci
1992
Because Mommy Works
Elliot
1994
Conspiracy of Terror
1975
Silent Rebellion
Yianni
1982
Deadly Harvest
Stefan Groza
1972