Mike Batayeh, Ypsilanti actor who had role in 'Breaking Bad,' dies at 52

Mike Batayeh, an actor and stand-up comedian known for his role in the TV series "Breaking Bad," died June 1 at his Ypsilanti home. The native of southwest Detroit was 52.

"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden passing of our dear brother, Michael (Mike) Batayeh, who passed away unexpectedly of a massive heart attack at his home," his family said in a statement provided to the Free Press by his sister, Ida Vergollo.

Batayeh acted in a number of popular TV shows, including "Everybody Loves Raymond," "The Shield," "Sleeper Cell," "Touch" and "Breaking Bad," where he played the character of Dennis Markowski, the manager of a laundromat with a hidden meth lab. He also co-starred in films, including "American Dreams," "Gas," "American East" and "Don't Mess With The Zohan," the comedy featuring Adam Sandler as an Israeli agent and hair dresser. And he played a lead role in "Detroit Unleaded," a 2012 comedy set in a Detroit gas station.

Batayeh, part of the Jordanian American community in Michigan, also did stand-up comedy and often joked about his Middle Eastern heritage, touring with other Arab American comedians. He posted a few weeks ago to his Instagram account one of his stand-up routines.

"He just performed with me two weeks ago in Canada," said Amer Zahr, a Dearborn attorney and comedian of Palestinian descent who was friends with Batayeh and toured with him. "He was vibrant and energetic. ... He was someone who was known and respected in our community."

Batayeh grew up in southwest Detroit, the youngest of seven children - six of them older sisters - born to the late Abraham and Victoria Batayeh. He moved to Los Angeles in his early 20s to become an actor, his family said in a statement. In addition to being an actor and comedian, he was a screenwriter, actor and hand drum musician.

"He was very well known in the Arab-American community," his family said. "Mike was part of the first wave of Western comics to perform for local audiences in the Middle East in such places as Dubai, where he filmed a comedy special for Showtime Arabia."

He also performed in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan, where he was invited two years in a row by the Royal family for a comedy festival. He traveled twice to Palestine with Zahr and others, Zahr said.

"Mike never lost touch with his roots in Detroit, and he gave back to the community in countless ways," his family said. "He was a kind, sensitive, intelligent, and gifted soul. This is such a devastating loss of a huge life and Mike will be missed."

Zahr recalled him being an intense performer.

"He was a small guy ... but always very energetic and bubbly, and passionate," Zahr recalled. "He loved his art form very much. And he loved his community very much. So he did a lot of shows for the Arab American community, and Arab communities around the world. He was ... very fiery. And he brought that on stage as well."

Known to his family as the 'Funcle,' Batayeh is survived by five sisters, several nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews. One of his sisters died earlier.

Visitation is Friday, June 16, 2 to 8 p.m. at Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home, 46401 Ann Arbor Road, Plymouth. He lies in state Saturday, June 17 at 11 a.m. until the noon funeral service at Risen Christ Lutheran Church, 46250 Ann Arbor Road West, Plymouth.

The funeral home said memorial contributions may 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 clarkparkdetroit@gmail.com.

Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or Twitter @nwarikoo.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 'Breaking Bad' actor Mike Batayeh dies of heart attack at 52