Buddy Duress

Michael Constantine Stathis (May 21, 1985 – November 2023), known by his screen name Buddy Duress, was a Greek-American actor best known for his roles in the Safdie brothers films Heaven Knows What (2014) and Good Time (2017).

Early life
Duress was born Michael Constantine Stathis on May 21, 1985, in the New York City borough of Queens. Following his parents' divorce, he was raised in New Jersey by his father, but suffered physical abuse and eventually went to live with his mother and brother in Queens when he was a teenager.

Acting career
Stathis had a history of legal troubles, having been locked up in New York City's Rikers Island at least 10 times over the course of his life, with charges including heroin possession and identity theft. In 2013, he was supposed to leave Rikers for an in-patient program for individuals with drug addiction issues, but instead fled and spent almost a year homeless, on the run from the authorities. It was during this time that he made the acquaintance of Arielle Holmes, the star of Heaven Knows What, who recommended him to Josh Safdie for a role in the film. He adopted the stage name Buddy Duress. He was apprehended by the police shortly after filming ended, but resumed acting following his release.

Duress appeared in the Safdie brothers's subsequent film, Good Time (2017). He amassed several other film credits, but continued to have run-ins with the law, and was arrested multiple times in 2019; as a result, he was unable to appear in the Safdies' third film, Uncut Gems.

Death
Duress died at his residence in Astoria, Queens, in November 2023, at the age of 38; The New York Times reported that his cause of death was "cardiac arrest caused by a 'drug cocktail' including heroin". His death was publicly announced in February 2024 by Mass State Lottery director Jay Karales.