Mike Batayeh, an actor known for his role in the fourth and fifth seasons of the critically acclaimed AMC drama series, Breaking Bad, has passed away at the age of 52. According to Deadline, Batayeh died in his sleep of a heart attack on June 1 while at home in Michigan. His passing came as a shock to his family, as he had no prior history of heart issues.
Mike Batayeh, Breaking Bad Actor, Dies at 52
“It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that my sisters and I announce the passing of our dear brother,” said his sister in a statement. “He will be greatly missed by those who loved him and his great ability to bring laughter and joy to so many.”
Batayeh was best known for his recurring role in Breaking Bad, where he played the role of Dennis Markowski, the manager of Gus Fring’s (Giancarlo Esposito) Lavanderia Brillante laundromat in Albuquerque. The laundromat was used as a cover for the production of meth, and Batayeh’s character was killed off when Walter White (Bryan Cranston) orchestrated the murders of Fring’s men to prevent them from testifying.
Aside from Breaking Bad, Batayeh appeared in several other notable TV shows, including Everybody Loves Raymond, Boy Meets World, Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, Power Rangers Lost Galaxy, The Shield, The Bernie Mac Show, Sleeper Cell, Life, CSI: Miami, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He also appeared in movies such as Gas, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Detroit Unleashed, and Dirty. In addition to his acting career, Batayeh was also a comedian and had performed at various comedy clubs in Los Angeles and New York City, as well as in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan.
Batayeh’s survivors include five sisters, many nephews, and nieces, who are all devastated by his sudden passing. Our thoughts go out to them during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Mike Batayeh.
Mike Batayehknown to Breaking Bad fans for his role in the fourth and fifth seasons of the AMC drama series, has passed away. Deadline reports that Batayeh died in his sleep of a heart attack on June 1 while at home in Michigan, and according to his sister, his passing came as a surprise as he had no prior history of heart issues. He was 52 years old.
“It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that my sisters and I announce the passing of our dear brother,” a statement from the family reads. “He will be greatly missed by those who loved him and his great ability to bring laughter and joy to so many.”
Batayeh may be best known for his recurring role in Breaking Bad. He first appears in the show’s fourth season, playing the role of Dennis Markowski, the manager of Gus Fring’s (Giancarlo Esposito) Lavanderia Brillante laundromat in Albuquerque. The laundromat is used as a cover for a hidden meth lab where Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) cook their product. After his introduction in season 4, Batayeh’s Dennis appears in season 5, having since been incarcerated because of his crimes. The character is killed off when Walter orchestrates the murders of all of Fring’s men in order to prevent them from testifying about what they know.
“As for being invited back for season 5, I was hopeful but with a show as unpredictable as Breaking Bad,” Batayeh previously said of coming back for the show’s final season, per Spoiler TV. “I mean they were using the laundromat as [a] central location but Dennis Murkowski wasn’t brought in until the second to the last ep. of season 4. Needless to say when I was brought back it was great.”
Mike Batayeh Had a Memorable Role on Breaking Bad
Aside from his role on Breaking BadBatayeh has appeared in other notable TV shows. This includes roles on Everybody Loves Raymond, Boy Meets World, Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, Power Rangers Lost Galaxy, I, The Shield, The Bernie Mac Show, Sleeper Cell, Life, CSI: Miamiand It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He has also appeared in movies including Gas, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Detroit Unleashedand Dirty. His final credit was for a role in the 2018 TV movie Prank of America.
A funnyman at heart, Batayeh was also worked as a comedian, having performed at various comedy clubs in Los Angeles including the famous Laugh FActory, Comedy Store, Improv, and Icehouse. He also performed at Gotham in New York City. Batayeh would also film a comedy special for Showtime Arabia in Dubai, and has performed in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan, where he was invited for two years by the royal family of Jordan for the Amman International Comedy Festival.
Batayeh’s survivors include five sisters with many nephews and nieces, all of whom are left “devastated” by his death, according to the family. Our thoughts go out to them at this painful time. Rest in peace, Mike Batayeh.
