Nia Vardalos Reveals Real Windex Stories Behind My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Nia Vardalos says her father used Windex on warts, inspiring the running gag in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. She spoke at FanX Salt Lake City.
Nearly 25 years after My Big Fat Greek Wedding hit theaters, Nia Vardalos is sharing the real-life origins of one of the film's most enduring gags. At a FanX Salt Lake City panel moderated by Collider's Maggie Lovitt, Vardalos revealed that her father's belief in Windex as a cure-all was not invented for the screen.
In the film, Gus Portokalos, played by Michael Constantine, insists that Windex can remedy various ailments. Vardalos said her real father used Windex on a wart on the back of his hand for six to eight months, and also sprayed it on her sister's knee warts.
The joke became so tied to the franchise that SC Johnson partnered with Universal Pictures for a Windex promotional campaign around the 2016 release of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. Windex also features prominently in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, which takes place after the death of Gus and actor Michael Constantine.
Vardalos also set the record straight on other family details. She said the family did not have a restaurant growing up—that was invented for the film—but she really does have 27 first cousins.
Quick answers
Did Nia Vardalos's father really use Windex?
Yes. Vardalos said her father used Windex on a wart on the back of his hand for six to eight months and also sprayed it on her sister's knee warts.
Was the Windex joke in My Big Fat Greek Wedding based on real life?
Yes. Vardalos confirmed the running gag was inspired by her real father's belief in Windex.
Did the Portokalos family really own a restaurant?
No. Vardalos said the family did not have a restaurant growing up—it was invented for the film.