MC
Michel Constantin
Actor
Born July 13, 1924Died August 29, 2003 (79 years)
Michel Constantin (born Constantin Hokhloff; 13 July 1924 – 28 August 2003) was a French actor and professional volleyball player. He was the men’s national volleyball champion from 1954 to 1956, before making his film debut as a convict in the 1960 prison thriller The Hole. Thanks to his stature and striking features, he became a popular character actor in crime films, often playing thugs and gangsters. He appeared in several films alongside his friend Charles Bronson during the 1970's.
Born Constantin Hokhloff in Billancourt (near Paris), he was the son of a White Russian emigre father and his Polish wife. Hokhloff's father was a former officer in the Russian Army, of Kalmyk descent. He had met Hokhloff's mother while he was stationed in Warsaw, Congress Poland. After the Russian Civil War, the coupled moved to Paris, along with many other White emigres. During World War II, he worked at the Renault factories in Boulogne-Billancourt, where his family lived.
Thanks to his height (1.85 meters) and athletic ability, Constantin was recruited by the volleyball team of Club olympique de Billancourt (CO Billancourt) in 1943. He switched teams to Racing Club de France for the 1947-48 season, but returned to CO Billancourt the following season. As setter, he led the team to French national championships in 1954, 1955 and 1956. It was during this period that he changed his name to Michel Constantin.
During this time, he was also a freelance reporter for the sports journal L'Équipe.
Constantin appeared as an extra in the 1956 film Plucking the Daisy, but made his first significant acting debut in the 1960 prison thriller The Hole. Director Jacques Becker and screenwriter José Giovanni sought to recruit a cast of non-professional actors to play the various convicts. Becker's son Jean knew Constantin from his volleyball days, and recommended him for the part. The film was a critical and commercial success, and enabled Constantin's transition into an acting career.
Source: Article "Michel Constantin" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.
Born Constantin Hokhloff in Billancourt (near Paris), he was the son of a White Russian emigre father and his Polish wife. Hokhloff's father was a former officer in the Russian Army, of Kalmyk descent. He had met Hokhloff's mother while he was stationed in Warsaw, Congress Poland. After the Russian Civil War, the coupled moved to Paris, along with many other White emigres. During World War II, he worked at the Renault factories in Boulogne-Billancourt, where his family lived.
Thanks to his height (1.85 meters) and athletic ability, Constantin was recruited by the volleyball team of Club olympique de Billancourt (CO Billancourt) in 1943. He switched teams to Racing Club de France for the 1947-48 season, but returned to CO Billancourt the following season. As setter, he led the team to French national championships in 1954, 1955 and 1956. It was during this period that he changed his name to Michel Constantin.
During this time, he was also a freelance reporter for the sports journal L'Équipe.
Constantin appeared as an extra in the 1956 film Plucking the Daisy, but made his first significant acting debut in the 1960 prison thriller The Hole. Director Jacques Becker and screenwriter José Giovanni sought to recruit a cast of non-professional actors to play the various convicts. Becker's son Jean knew Constantin from his volleyball days, and recommended him for the part. The film was a critical and commercial success, and enabled Constantin's transition into an acting career.
Source: Article "Michel Constantin" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.
Known For
Michel Constantin Filmography
| 1992 | Ville à vendre · as Docteur Bernier |
| 1988 | Big Man (TV Series) · as Xavier Baudin |
| 1987 | Marc et Sophie (TV Series) · as Monsieur Bourrec |
| 1985 | La baston · as Raoul |
| 1985 | The Telephone Always Rings Twice · as Le Directeur Du Cinéma |
| 1984 | The Vultures · as Adjutant Edouard Mahuzard |
| 1984 | Night Patrol · as L'instructeur De Stand De Tir |
| 1982 | Quarter to Two Before Jesus Christ · as Secutor Flavien Magister |
| 1982 | Tir groupé · as Alexandre Gagnon |
| 1981 | Fear in the City · as Don Vincenzo Talascio |
| 1981 | Signé Furax · as Grougnache |
| 1978 | Plein les poches pour pas un rond... · as Steff |
| 1978 | The Inglorious Bastards · as Veronique |
| 1977 | The Pawn (TV Series) · as Georges Lancier |
| 1977 | Sahara Cross · as Carl Mank |
| 1975 | Au-delà de la peur · as Guilloux |
| 1975 | The Track · as Le Capitaine Nimier |
| 1974 | The Beast · as Sandro Colautti |
| 1974 | No Pockets in a Shroud · as Culli |
| 1974 | OK Patron · as Mario (uncredited) |
| 1973 | Man in the Trunk · as Capt. Augier |
| 1973 | Special Killers · as Inspector Palma |
| 1973 | Le mataf · as Bernard Solville |
| 1973 | Men · as Marius Fantoni, Aka 'fanto' |
| 1972 | The Outside Man · as Antoine |
| 1972 | Scoumoune · as Xavier Saratov, Georgia's Brother And Roberto's Friend |
| 1972 | The Big Shots · as Weiss |
| 1972 | Cops Is Cops · as Commissioner Campana Alias Louis Lopez |
| 1971 | The Lion's Share · as Inspector Michel Grazzi |
| 1971 | Troubleshooters · as Michel |
| 1970 | Cold Sweat · as Whitey |
| 1970 | The Cop · as Viletti |
| 1970 | The Family · as Killain |
| 1970 | Vertigo for a Killer · as René |
| 1970 | Children of Mata Hari · as Coster |
| 1970 | Last Known Address · as Greg, The Henchman |
| 1970 | The Comeuppance · as Gilani |
| 1969 | A Very Curious Girl · as André |
| 1969 | Les étrangers · as Chamoun |
| 1969 | The Southern Star · as Jose |
| 1967 | Pillaged · as Georges |
| 1967 | Dirty Heroes · as Sgt Rudolph Petrowsky |
| 1967 | Jerk à Istanbul · as Vincent |
| 1967 | Law of Survival · as Stan |
| 1966 | Le deuxième souffle · as Alban, Manouche's Bodyguard |
| 1966 | Let's Not Get Angry · as Jeff, Boss Of The "homard Américain" |
| 1965 | The Wise Guys · as Skida |
| 1964 | Les gorilles · as Otto, The Legionnaire (uncredited) |
| 1963 | Maigret voit rouge · as Cicero |
| 1961 | Man Called Rocca · as Head Of The American Racketeers |
| 1960 | The Hole · as Geo Cassine |
| 1956 | Plucking the Daisy · as Un Spectateur Du Strip-Tease |