Michel Constantin
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- July 13, 1924
- Died
- August 29, 2003 (aged 79)
- Birthplace
- Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France
Biography
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.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Ville à vendre
Movie · as Docteur Bernier
La loi sauvage
Movie · as Victor Molini
Big Man
TV · as Xavier Baudin · 1 ep
Paparoff
TV · as Cyril Paparoff dit Papa · 8 eps
The Telephone Always Rings Twice
Movie · as Le directeur du cinéma
La Baston
Movie · as Raoul
Le Deuxième Couteau
Movie · as Commissaire Bartillot
The Vultures
Movie · as Adjutant Edouard Mahuzard
Shot Pattern
Movie · as Alexandre Gagnon
Quarter to Two Before Jesus Christ
Movie · as Secutor Flavien Magister
Signé Furax
Movie · as Grougnache
Fear in the City
Movie · as Don Vincenzo Talascio
The Inglorious Bastards
Movie · as Veronique
Plein les poches pour pas un rond...
Movie · as Steff
Sahara Cross
Movie · as Carl Mank
Les Diamants du Président
TV · as Georges Lancier · 6 eps
The Track
Movie · as Le capitaine Nimier
Beyond Fear
Movie · as Guilloux
No Pockets in a Shroud
Movie · as Culli
The Beast
Movie · as Sandro Colautti
OK Patron
Movie · as Mario (uncredited)
Special Killers
Movie · as Inspector Palma
Man in the Trunk
Movie · as Capt. Augier
Killing in the Sun
Movie · as Marius Fantoni, aka 'Fanto'
The Seaman
Movie · as Bernard Solville
The Outside Man
Movie · as Antoine
There Once Was a Cop
Movie · as Commissioner Campana alias Louis Lopez
The Pariah
Movie · as Xavier Saratov, Georgia's brother and Roberto's friend
The Big Shots
Movie · as Weiss
Midi trente
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Troubleshooters
Movie · as Michel
The Lion's Share
Movie · as Inspector Michel Grazzi
Samedi soir
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Violent City
Movie · as Killain
Cold Sweat
Movie · as Whitey
Last Known Address
Movie · as Greg, the henchman
The Cop
Movie · as Viletti
Only the Cool
Movie · as Coster
Vertigo for a Killer
Movie · as René
The Comeuppance
Movie · as Gilani
The Strangers
Movie · as Chamoun
A Very Curious Girl
Movie · as André
The Southern Star
Movie · as Jose
Law of Survival
Movie · as Stan
Pillaged
Movie · as Georges
Dirty Heroes
Movie · as Sgt Rudolph Petrowsky
Jerk in Istanbul
Movie · as Vincent
Let's Not Get Angry
Movie · as Jeff, boss of the "Homard Américain"
Le Deuxième Souffle
Movie · as Alban
The Wise Guys
Movie · as Skida
Les Gorilles
Movie · as Otto, the legionnaire (uncredited)
Maigret Sees Red
Movie · as Cicero
Law of Men
Movie · as Paulo, friend of Sophie
A Man Named Rocca
Movie · as Head of the American Racketeers
Le Trou
Movie · as Geo Cassine
Cinépanorama
TV · as Self · 1 ep