---
name: "Michael Constantine"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-constantine"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "22 May 1927"
died: "31 August 2021"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 88
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-20T04:02:33.452368+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Michael Constantine

Actor. Born 22 May 1927 in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA. Died 31 August 2021.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 22 May 1927, Reading, Pennsylvania, USA
- **Died:** 31 August 2021
- **Active:** 1961–1970
- **Also known as:** Mike Constantine, Constantine Joanides, Gus Efstratiou, مایکل کنستانتین
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 88, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 88 (1), 1970s 88 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Constantine, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1291127, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0176073/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14884

## Biography

Michael Constantine was an American actor. Born Gus Efstratiou on 22 May 1927 in Reading, Pennsylvania, he died on 31 August 2021 in the same city.

He appeared as Big John in the film *The Hustler* (1961). Constantine is best known for playing Kostas "Gus" Portokalos in *My Big Fat Greek Wedding* (2002) and its sequel *My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2* (2016).

Earlier in his career he played high school principal Seymour Kaufman in the television series *Room 222* (1969–1974), for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1970.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, themoviedb.org.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* (1970), Fi1m 88, as Mike Cooper — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mary-tyler-moore-show.md)
- *The Hustler* (1961), Fi1m 88, as Big John — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hustler.md)

## Complete filmography (145)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3* (2023), In Memory Of
- *My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2* (2016), as Kostas "Gus" Portokalos
- *Cold Case* (2003), series, as Archie Randall (2007)
- *My Big Fat Greek Life* (2003), series, as Gus Portokalos
- *My Big Fat Greek Wedding* (2002), as Kostas "Gus" Portokalos
- *WW3* (2001), as Yuri Zenkovsky
- *Judging Amy* (1999), series, as Elias Kelikidis
- *Thinner* (1996), as Tadzu Lempke
- *The Juror* (1996), as Judge Weitzel
- *New York News* (1995), series, Actor
- *Because Mommy Works* (1994), as Elliot
- *My Life* (1993), as Bill Ivanovich
- *Deadfall* (1993), as Frank
- *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993), series, as Jim Scinta — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/homicide-life-on-the-street.md)
- *By a Thread* (1992), as Anthony Gallucci
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Dan Barnett, Joshua Berger — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Prancer* (1989), as Mr. Stewart / Santa
- *Mancuso, F.B.I.* (1989), series, as Angelo De Paulo
- *Snoops* (1989), series, as Captain Bauer
- *Free Spirit* (1989), series, as Mr. Goodwinn
- *Question of Faith* (1988), as Doctor Rudolph
- *Probe* (1988), series, as Truman
- *Friday the 13th: The Series* (1987), series, as Ray Dallion
- *In the Mood* (1987), as Mr. Wisecarver
- *Blacke's Magic* (1986), series, as Victor Kroeger
- *Daniel and the Lion's Den* (1986), as (voice)
- *The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible* (1985), series, as (voice)
- *MacGyver* (1985), series, as Hungarian Inspector Jan Messic, Sam Leland
- *Pray for Death* (1985), as Mr. Newman
- *Crazy like a Fox* (1984), series, as Police Inspector
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Laszlo Dolby, Ben Gibbons
- *Finder of Lost Loves* (1984), series, as Mr. Harding
- *Highway to Heaven* (1984), series, as Dr. Dan Hickey
- *Hunter* (1984), series, as Harvey Falk
- *Airwolf* (1984), series, as President Marios Guzman, Dr. Vladimir Bronski
- *Masquerade* (1983), series, as Vasily Petrov
- *Mama's Family* (1983), series, as Judge Willard E. Packard
- *It Takes Two* (1982), series, as Judge Beilin
- *Remington Steele* (1982), series, as George Edward Mulch
- *Matt Houston* (1982), series, as Police Chief
- *Hotel* (1982), series, as Mr. Tomasino
- *Silent Rebellion* (1982), as Yianni
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Yianni
- *Forty Days of Musa Dagh* (1982), as Talaat Pasha
- *Darkroom* (1981), series, as Monsieur De Paris
- *Simon & Simon* (1981), series, as Robert Corman, Dr. John Longstrand, Ernie Petrolik
- *Evita Peron* (1981), as Jaime Yankelevich
- *Magnum, P.I.* (1980), series, as Judge Kearns
- *The Love Tapes* (1980), as Frank Yost
- *Palmerstown, U.S.A.* (1980), series, as Bennett
- *Trapper John, M.D.* (1979), series, as Max Wyatt
- *Roots: The Next Generations* (1979), series, as Dr. Vansina
- *Crisis in Mid-Air* (1979), as Frank Piovano
- *The North Avenue Irregulars* (1979), as Marv
- *Summer of My German Soldier* (1978), as Harry Bergen
- *Vega$* (1978), series, as Arnie Moss
- *The Pirate* (1977), series, as Yashir
- *79 Park Avenue* (1977), series, as Ben Savitch
- *The Love Boat* (1977), series, as Charlie Haskins
- *Lou Grant* (1977), series, as Sidney Kovac, Joe Lombardi
- *Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid* (1977), as Dr. Silver
- *Voyage of the Damned* (1976), as Luis Clasing
- *Sirota's Court* (1976), series, as Judge Matthew Sirota
- *Quincy, M.E.* (1976), series, as Brock Campbell, Dr. George Pendleton, Dr. Arthur Ciotti
- *Wanted: The Sundance Woman* (1976), as Dave Riley
- *Electra Woman and Dyna Girl* (1976), series, as The Sorcerer
- *Twin Detectives* (1976), as Ben Sampson
- *Peeper* (1975), as Anglich
- *The Night That Panicked America* (1975), as Jess Wingate
- *Ellery Queen* (1975), series, as Leo Robert Campbell
- *Conspiracy of Terror* (1975), Actor
- *The Secret Night Caller* (1975), as Dr, Mayhill
- *Death Cruise* (1974), as Dr. Burke
- *Police Woman* (1974), series, as Ralph
- *The Manhunter* (1974), series, as Warden Lewis
- *Big Rose* (1974), as Gunther
- *Kojak* (1973), series, as Don 'Cheech' Frank Scalesi — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/kojak.md)
- *The Bait* (1973), as Captain Gus Maryk
- *Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole* (1972), as Dr. Sweeney
- *Deadly Harvest* (1972), as Stefan Groza
- *The Streets of San Francisco* (1972), series, as Al Davies
- *Suddenly Single* (1971), as Frankie Ventura
- *The Impatient Heart* (1971), as Murray Kane
- *McMillan & Wife* (1971), series, as Dr. Eisner
- *Night Gallery* (1970), series, as Wellman (segment "The Boy Who Predicted Earthquakes")
- *The Odd Couple* (1970), series, as Bill Green
- *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* (1970), series, as Mike Cooper — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mary-tyler-moore-show.md)
- *The Reivers* (1969), as Mr. Binford
- *Don't Drink the Water* (1969), as Krojack
- *Love, American Style* (1969), series, as Fred
- *The Bold Ones: The New Doctors* (1969), series, as Charles Milaney
- *Room 222* (1969), series, as Seymour Kaufman
- *Justine* (1969), as Memlik Pasha
- *If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium* (1969), as Jack Harmon
- *Skidoo* (1968), as Leech
- *The Good Guys* (1968), series, as Larry Tomack
- *The Name of the Game* (1968), series, as Jay Johnson
- *In Enemy Country* (1968), as Ladislov
- *The Danny Thomas Hour* (1967), series, as Demetrios
- *Ghostbreakers* (1967), as Oscar Jensen
- *The Flying Nun* (1967), series, as Juan
- *Dundee and the Culhane* (1967), series, as Jonathan Putnam
- *Ironside* (1967), series, as Harry Brancusi
- *The Invaders* (1967), series, as Dr. Martin Willard
- *Hawaii* (1966), as Mason
- *Mission: Impossible* (1966), series, as Janos — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/mission-impossible-1966.md)
- *T.H.E. Cat* (1966), series, as Silvio
- *Hey Landlord!* (1966), series, as John 'Jack' Ellenhorn
- *Beau Geste* (1966), as Rostov
- *Hogan's Heroes* (1965), series, as Captain Heinrich
- *Run for Your Life* (1965), series, as Colonel Shoner
- *Quick, Before It Melts* (1965), as Mikhail Drozhensky
- *Profiles in Courage* (1964), series, as Watson
- *12 O'Clock High* (1964), series, as Gen. Nikolai Vorodenko
- *Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea* (1964), series, as Dr. Brand
- *My Favorite Martian* (1963), series, as Collins, Leonardo da Vinci
- *The Great Adventure* (1963), series, as Colonel Streight
- *Channing* (1963), series, as Nick
- *The Fugitive* (1963), series, as Ernie Svoboda, Lt. Ben Wyckoff, Arthur 'Art' Howe — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fugitive-1963.md)
- *The Greatest Show on Earth* (1963), series, as Verducci
- *The Outer Limits* (1963), series, as Joe Dix
- *Arrest and Trial* (1963), series, as Dr. Graham, Dr. Fowler
- *Island of Love* (1963), as Andy
- *The Dakotas* (1963), series, as John Marshak
- *Combat!* (1962), series, as Jacques Patron
- *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Stavros Karas, Private Essex Kanin, John Halstead
- *Sam Benedict* (1962), series, as Judge Sherman Tower
- *The Lloyd Bridges Show* (1962), series, as Aristos, Hata - Town Elder
- *The Beachcomber* (1962), series, as Maurice Martone
- *The Dick Van Dyke Show* (1961), series, as Leslie Merkle
- *The New Breed* (1961), series, as Oscar Holloway
- *Ben Casey* (1961), series, as Engineer Andersen
- *Target: The Corruptors!* (1961), series, as Chief Swenson
- *Dr. Kildare* (1961), series, as Dr. Ernest Miller
- *The Hustler* (1961), as Big John — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hustler.md)
- *Cain's Hundred* (1961), series, as Herbert Lorgan
- *The Detectives* (1959), series, as Salvatore Tropolis
- *The Untouchables* (1959), series, as Edmund Wald
- *The Twilight Zone* (1959), series, as Charlie Koch — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md)
- *The Last Mile* (1959), as Ed Werner
- *77 Sunset Strip* (1958), series, as Sylvio Fiore
- *Naked City* (1958), series, as Vito Calageras
- *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as Dillard, Pappy Ryan
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Baca, Noah Meek
- *Armstrong Circle Theatre* (1950), series, as Committee Chairman

## Gallery

- ![Michael Constantine](https://film.one/media/person/442472/gallery-834d8eaf30b7.jpg) Michael Constantine — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Michael_Constantine_Room_222_1969.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Michael Constantine](https://film.one/media/person/442472/gallery-13a5a3e2fcf6.jpg) Michael Constantine — Image via TMDB
- ![Michael Constantine](https://film.one/media/person/442472/gallery-f83f06767596.jpg) Michael Constantine — Image via TMDB
- ![Michael Constantine](https://film.one/media/person/442472/gallery-3a4adabd6c99.jpg) Michael Constantine — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 1970: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (won), for *Room 222*

### Other awards — 1 won

- Emmy Award 1970: Emmy Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/michael-constantine