Mike Batayeh, a professional actor and comedian best known for his role in the TV series Breaking Bad, passed away on June 1 of a heart attack at his home in Ypsilanti. The Southwest Detroit native was 52 years old.
In a statement provided to the Free Press, his family said, “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden death of our dear brother Michael (Mike) Batayeh, who passed away unexpectedly of a massive heart attack at his home.” His sister, Ida Virgolo.
Batayeh behavior In a number of popular TV shows including ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’, ‘The Shield’, ‘Sleeper Cell’, ‘Touch’ and ‘Breaking Bad’ where he played the character Dennis MarkowskiLaundry manager with a hidden meth lab. he is too Co-starred in filmsAmong them are “American Dreams”, “Gas”, “American East” and “Don’t Mess with the Zohan”, a comedy in which Adam Sandler appears as an Israeli agent and hairdresser. He played a leading role inDetroit Unleaded,” a 2012 comedy set in a Detroit gas station.
The blanket is part of The Jordanian American Community In Michigan, as I did stands up–comedy He often joked about his Middle Eastern heritage, touring with other Arab American comedians. He posted a few weeks ago on his Instagram account one of his preventive measures.
“He sang with me two weeks ago in Canada,” said Amer Zahr, a lawyer and comedian of Palestinian origin who was a friend of Batayeh and toured with him. “He was lively, energetic… He was a well-known and respected person in our community.”
Bataeh grew up in southwest Detroit, and was the youngest of seven children—six of them older sisters—born to the late Abraham and Victoria Bataeh. In a statement, his family said he moved to Los Angeles in his early 20s to become an actor. In addition to being an actor and comedian, he was a screenwriter, actor and hand drummer.
“He was very well known in the Arab American community,” his family said. “Mike was part of the first wave of Western comedians to perform for local audiences in the Middle East in places like Dubai, where he filmed a comedy special for Showtime Arabia.”
He also performed in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan, where the royal family invited him for two years in a row to attend a comedy festival. Zahr said he traveled to Palestine twice with Zahr and others.
“Mike has never lost touch with his Detroit roots, and he has given back to the community in countless ways,” his family said. “He was a kind, sensitive, intelligent and talented soul. This is a devastating loss of a huge life and Mike will be missed.”
Zahr remembers that he was a strong performer.
“He was a little guy…but he was always very energetic, energetic and passionate,” Zahr recalls. “He loved his art form so much. And he loved his community so much. So he did a lot of shows for the Arab American community, and Arab communities all over the world. He was… very fiery. And he brought that on the stage as well.”
Known to his family as “Fonkel”, Al-Bataya was survived by five sisters, several nieces and nephews, and nephews and nephews. One of his sisters had died earlier.
Visit on Friday, June 16, from 2-8 p.m Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home46401 Ann Arbor Road, Plymouth. It is in state on Saturday, June 17 at 11 a.m. to noon Funeral Mass at Risen Christ Lutheran Church, 46250 Ann Arbor Road West, Plymouth.
The funeral home said memorial contributions can be made to the Clark Park Coalition Fund, which helps support recreation opportunities for youth in southwest Detroit, 1130 Clark Street, Detroit, MI 48209, 313-841-8534 or online at [email protected].
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