Bess Meisler: Get to know the 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' star
Bess Meisler is an American actress best known for her role as Grandma Yiayia in the classic romantic comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding. She has not been seen on screen since appearing in the film's 2016 instalment. Where is she today?
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Bess Meisler started acting in her early 60s and got her career breakthrough in her early 80s. She has since been in several films and TV shows. Despite her growing fame, the actress rarely makes public appearances and has not been in any major interviews.
Bess Meisler's profile summary
| Full name | Bess Meisler |
| Date of birth | July 19, 1922 |
| Age | 101 years old in 2024 |
| Birth sign | Cancer |
| Place of birth | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Gender | Female |
| Profession | Actress |
| Known for | Appearing in My Big Fat Greek Wedding |
How old is Bess Meisler?
Bess Meisler's age in 2024 is 101 years. She was born on July 19, 1922, and is one of the few Hollywood stars who have lived beyond 100 years. Other stars known to have lived long to see a century include Norman Lear, Iris Apfel, Micheline Presle, June Spencer, Caren Marsh Doll, Kirk Douglas, Olivia de Havilland, Janis Paige, Luise Rainer, and Norman Lloyd.
Bess Meisler's nationality
The actress holds American citizenship. She was born and raised in the United States, where she still resides today.
Source: Original
Bess Meisler's acting career
Meisler started her acting career in theatre. She made her Broadway debut in 1981 in the musical revival of Fiddler on the Roof. She was a swing actor in the musical and portrayed several roles, including Yente, Goldie, and Shandel.
After a few years, she made her first TV appearance in 1987 at the age of 65 with her role as Mrs. Patelli on Hunter. After working on several projects, she got her big break in 2002 when she joined the My Big Fat Greek Wedding cast as Yiayia, Toula's worrisome grandmother and Kosta's mother.
Meisler was featured in the film's sequel, which came out in 2016. Nia Vardalos, who plays Toula in the movie, previously said in an interview on 'Today' that she was the reason why the movie took 14 years to make a sequel.
The wait is entirely my fault - all my fault – I wanted to wait until motherhood, and luckily, I did recently become a mother, and I started writing on my daughter's first day of kindergarten. And here we are...Honestly, so much changed when we got to the set on the first day. I'm a parent now. Joey's a parent, and things have changed in our lives.
Bess did not make a comeback in the third instalment of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which was released in 2023. Other stars who did not return to the franchise in 2023 include Michael Constantine, who passed away in 2021, Alex Wolf, and Ian Gomez.
Source: UGC
Bess Meisler's movies and TV shows
| Project | Year | Role |
| My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 | 2016 | Mana-Yiayia Portokalos |
| The Perfect Family | 2011 | Guest star |
| Room 6 | 2006 | Guest star |
| Presidio Med | 2006 | Guest star |
| Malcolm in the Middle | 2000 | Gorga (1 episode) |
| The Comeback | 2005 | Guest star |
| Daddy Day Care | 2003 | Old Gypsy Woman |
| Becker | 2003 | Guest star |
| My Big Fat Greek Wedding | 2002 | Yiayia Portokalos |
| Eagleheart | 2001 | Evelyn |
| Beverly Hills, 90210 | 2000 | Rose Zuckerman |
| Hunter | 1987 | Mrs. Patelli |
Where is Bess Meisler today?
The actress has not appeared in any films or television shows since her last appearance on My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 in 2016. The now-101-year-old is known to keep a low profile.
Trivia
Meisler's acting career may not have been extensive, but her appearance on My Big Fat Greek Wedding as the matriarch of the Portokalos family was impactful. Here are some frequently asked questions;
Is Bess Meisler still alive?
The actress is still alive. There have been no reports of her passing, although she rarely makes public appearances.
When was Bess Meisler born?
The actress was born on July 19, 1922, in the United States. She is currently 101 years old.
What do they call the grandmother in My Big Fat Greek Wedding?
The grandma in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise is Yiayia, portrayed by actress Bess Meisler. The romantic comedy follows the life of Toula, a Greek woman who marries a non-Greek man, Ian.
Source: UGC
How is Toula related to Aunt Voula?
Toula is Aunt Voula's niece in the film. Aunt Voula is portrayed as a caring and somewhat eccentric character who is part of Toula's large Greek family.
Is Nia Vardalos actually Greek?
Nia Vardalos is Greek-Canadian. She was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, to Greek parents. Nia became a naturalized US citizen in 1999.
How much of My Big Fat Greek Wedding is true?
'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' is partially inspired by a true story. Nia Vardalos, who writes and stars in the film as Toula, was married to American actor Ian Gomez, who is not of Greek descent. In her interview with ABC, Nia revealed she incorporated real-life events.
When I started to write 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding,' all I did was write down everything that had ever happened to me.
The film creators also ensured the project was a proper representation of Greek culture. Production designer Grant Armstrong told Focus Features that he wanted the film to represent Greece authentically.
I wanted to carry on those films' unique comic sensibility but also explore the world of Greece. I wanted to capture its magic, which is not that hard to do because the country is so amazing. In picking locations, I wanted to showcase the best of Greece, to find new aspects of it, and not feature those parts we have seen in other movies.
Source: UGC
Despite Bess Meisler's limited screen time, she has left a lasting impression on the film industry. Her absence from the limelight is felt, but her legacy lives on through her MBFGW character Yiayia.
READ ALSO: How did Steve McQueen die? Here is the untold story
Briefly.co.za published lesser-known facts about Steve McQueen's life and death. The King of Cool was among the most sought-after actors in the 1960s and 1970s, with major roles in projects like The Sand Pebbles, The Cincinnati Kid, The Great Escape, and The Magnificent Seven.
McQueen struggled to find treatment for his fatal ailment after American doctors told him he could not be cured. He tried unconventional Mexican medicine, but it did not work. Discover the life and times of Steve McQueen and how he died.
Source: Briefly News
