Michael Constantine, Emmy winner who played the father in 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding,' dead at 94

Emmy-winning actor Michael Constantine, known for his roles in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "Room 222," died Aug. 31 at 94, his representative said Wednesday. 

Constantine's family, through representative Julia Buchwald, confirmed to USA TODAY that the actor died peacefully of natural causes, surrounded by his family at home in Reading, Pennsylvania. 

For more than 50 years, Constantine graced screens big and small. His role as Principal Seymour Kaufman on family comedy "Room 222" nabbed him an Emmy Award in 1970 (and another nomination the following year), though he is best remembered as the overprotective, Windex-wielding father, Gus Portokalos, in the 2002 sleeper hit romantic comedy "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." 

"He’s a man from a certain kind of background," Constantine said of his character in a 2003 interview with The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.

"His saving grace is that he truly does love his daughter and want the best for her. He may not go about it in a very tactful way. So many people tell me, 'My dad was just like that.' And I thought, 'And you don’t hate him?' "

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Constantine would go on to reprise the role of Gus in a short-lived TV adaptation of the film, titled "My Big Fat Greek Life," in 2003, and a movie sequel in 2016 – his final acting credit, according to IMDb. 

Throughout his career, he made appearances on "Law & Order," "Murder She Wrote," "MacGyver," "Magnum P.I.," "The Love Boat," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Twilight Zone." 

"My Big Fat Greek Wedding" star and writer Nia Vardalos remembered Constantine as "the dad to our cast-family, a gift to the written word, and always a friend" in a social media tribute on Wednesday. 

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"Acting with him came with a rush of love and fun. I will treasure this man who brought Gus to life. He gave us so much laughter and deserves a rest now. We love you Michael."

Bradley Whitford, who played Constantine's son in the 1993 drama "My Life," called him "a terrific actor and a wonderfully kind man."