Nia Vardalos Honors ‘My Large Fats Greek Marriage ceremony’ Dad With Candy Throwback Pic

Nia Vardalos memorialized fellow actor and “My Large Fats Greek Marriage ceremony” co-star Michael Constantine this week with an emotional tribute on social media. 

Constantine died Aug. 31 at his residence in Studying, Pennsylvania, his agent confirmed Wednesday. He was 94. 

Vardalos, who obtained an Oscar nomination for the “My Large Fats Greek Marriage ceremony” screenplay and performed the daughter of Constantine’s character within the movie, praised the actor as a “reward to the written phrase” in a Wednesday tweet. 

“Appearing with him got here with a rush of affection and enjoyable,” she wrote. “I’ll treasure this man who introduced Gus to life. He gave us a lot laughter and deserves a relaxation now. We love you Michael.”

Moments later, she shared a throwback picture from the “My Large Fats Greek Marriage ceremony” set, exhibiting Constantine posing together with her real-life father, Constantine Vardalos, who had a small position within the film. 

The son of Greek immigrants, Constantine made his Broadway debut within the 1955 play “Inherit the Wind.” He later transitioned to movie performing, showing reverse Mickey Rooney in 1959’s “The Final Mile” and Paul Newman in 1961’s “The Hustler.” In 1970, he nabbed an Emmy for the ABC comedy collection “Room 222,” on which he performed Seymour Kaufman, the principal of a Los Angeles highschool. 

To fashionable audiences, nevertheless, Constantine is greatest identified for his portrayal of Kostas “Gus” Portokalos, the Windex bottle-toting father of Fotoula “Toula” Portokalos (Vardalos) in “My Large Fats Greek Marriage ceremony.” Shot on a finances of simply $5 million, the 2002 romantic comedy obtained widespread acclaim and raked in a reported $368 million on the field workplace worldwide. 

Constantine went on to reprise the position of Gus within the TV collection “My Large Fats Greek Life” and 2016’s “My Large Fats Greek Marriage ceremony 2.”