Louis Mandylor

Louis Mandylor (born Elias Theodosopoulos; 13 September 1966) is an Australian film and television actor. He is best known for playing Nikos "Nick" Portokalos in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise (2002–2023).

Early life

Mandylor was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, the son of Greek immigrants. He is the younger brother of fellow actor Costas Mandylor. He and his brother took a shorter version of their mother's last name, citing their paternal last name as being too long.

He played for Heidelberg United FC (Megas Alexandros) in their 1988 State League championship team. He also played five National League games in 1989 and scored one goal.

During his football career, he was also boxing in Melbourne, winning 14 fights with 4 losses. He then emigrated to the United States to originally pursue a boxing career and then subsequently an acting career.

Career

Mandylor played Nick Portokalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); he reprised the role in its spin-off TV series My Big Fat Greek Life (2003) and the movie sequels My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (2023).

He made a guest appearance on Relic Hunter with Tia Carrere. He played Louis Malone in the first season of Martial Law alongside Sammo Hung. Mandylor appeared in the sitcom Friends, pretending to be Joey's twin in "The One With Unagi". (Ironically, during the original casting for the series, Mandyler had auditioned for the part of Joey, but Matt LeBlanc was selected instead of him.

According to director Kevin S. Bright, the choice between the two of them "went down to the wire".) He appeared twice on CSI: Miami; in the third season (2004) as a robber/killer, and in a different role in the eighth season (2009).

He and his brother Costas have acted alongside each other in the Charmed episode "Saving Private Leo" (2002), the crime thriller Sinners and Saints (2010) and "My Brother Cicero" (1998), a short movie which Louis wrote and produced. Louis portrayed Deputy Lloyd in the Syfy thriller film The Cursed; he stars alongside his brother Costas.

One of his more popular roles was that of Bobby DeLuca in the film Suckers (2001), where he plays a good-guy turned car salesman.

Filmography

Television

• 1990 — China Beach — Aussie — Episode: "You, Babe"
• 1992–1993 — Down the Shore — Aldo Carbone — Main Cast
• 1993–1994 — Grace Under Fire — Carl — Recurring Cast: Season 1
• 1995 — Get Smart — Georgio — Episode: "Shoot Up the Charts"
• 1995–1996 — Can't Hurry Love — Roger Carlucci — Main Cast
• 1997 — Nash Bridges — Ray Goetz — Recurring Cast: Season 2, Guest: Season 3
• 1998–1999 — Martial Law — Detective Louis Malone — Main Cast
• 1999–2001 — Relic Hunter — Derek Lloyd — Guest Cast: Season 1–3
• 2000 — Friends — Carl — Episode: "The One with Unagi"
• 2001 — Resurrection Blvd. — Jake Mornay — Recurring Cast: Season 2
• 2002 — Charmed — Nathan Lang — Episode: "Saving Private Leo"
• 2002 — She Spies — Leo Divornak — Episode: "Poster Girl"
• 2003 — Touched by an Angel — Marty — Episode: "And a Nightingale Sang"
• 2003 — My Big Fat Greek Life — Nikos "Nick" Portokalos — Main Cast
• 2004 — CSI: Miami — Steve Riddick — Episode: "Crime Wave"
• 2009 — Rules of Engagement — Nick — Episode: "May Divorce Be with You"
• 2009 — CSI: NY — Detective Christos Temmas — Episode: "Grounds for Deception"
• 2009 — CSI: Miami — Jimmy Burris — Episode: "Bone Voyage"
• 2010 — NCIS: Los Angeles — Lucas Maragos — Episode: "Little Angels"
• 2012 — Castle — Mr. Kazoolie — Episode: "Cloudy with a Chance of Murder"
• 2014 — Days of Our Lives — Ortiz — Episode: "Episode #1.12366" & "#1.12367"
• 2017 — Hand of God — Quintin Brode — Episode: "I See That Now"
• 2020 — Absentia — Meridian Guard — Episode: "Veritas Aequitas"
• 2022 — The Pact — "Rooster" — Recurring Cast
• 2022 — The Offer — Mickey Cohen — Episode: "Warning Shots"