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Mike Batayeh, an actor and comedian best remembered for playing the manager of Gus’ infamous laundromat in “Breaking Bad,” has passed away. He was 52.
“It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that my sisters and I announce the passing of our dear brother,” his family said. “He will be greatly missed by those who loved him and his great ability to bring laughter and joy to so many.”
AMC’s “Breaking Bad” featured Batayeh in three episodes as Dennis Markowski, manager of the Lavanderia Brillante laundromat, which served as Walter White and Jesse Pinkman’s meth lab.
At renowned comedy clubs like New York’s Gotham and Los Angeles’ Laugh Factory, Comedy Store, the Improv, and the Icehouse, Batayeh has performed and been the headlining act.
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One of the first American comedians to perform in the Middle East for local audiences was Batayeh. In addition to Egypt, Lebanon, Nazareth, and Jordan, he performed in Dubai, where he also shot a special for Showtime Arabia. The Jordanian royal family twice asked Batayeh to appear at the Amman International Comedy Festival.
Detroit is where Batayeh was born. At 2 p.m. on June 16, a memorial ceremony will be held at the Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home in Plymouth, Michigan.
Colleagues and co-stars paid tribute to Mike Batayeh.
“A devastating loss of a huge life – Mike Batayeh, you were everybody’s friend,”
Hollywood director and friend Rola Nashef wrote on Facebook.
“And I mean everybody. There isn’t a person that I introduced you to or a waitress that took our order whom you didn’t make laugh, think, inspire, and root for.”
“You were the superstar we always admired and one of the funniest men I’ve ever known,” wrote Yorg Kerasiotis, Batayeh’s co-star on Detroit Unleaded, “please rest in peace”.
Batayeh is survived by five siblings and a large extended family, according to an online obituary.
