Michel Constantin
Acting
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.
Fullname:
Date of Birth:
1924-07-13
Country:
Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France
Media of
Michel Constantin
Photos (21)
Filmography of
Michel Constantin
(archive footage)
... 2007
Docteur Bernier
... 1992
Victor Molini
... 1988
Raoul
... 1985
Commissaire Bartillot
... 1985
Le directeur du cinéma
... 1985
Adjutant Edouard Mahuzard
... 1984
Secutor Flavien Magister
... 1982
Alexandre Gagnon
... 1982
Don Vincenzo Talascio
... 1981
Grougnache
... 1981
... 1978
Veronique
... 1978
Carl Mank
... 1977
Guilloux
... 1975
Le capitaine Nimier
... 1975
Culli
... 1974
Sandro Colautti
... 1974
Mario (uncredited)
... 1974
Capt. Augier
... 1973
Inspector Palma
... 1973
Bernard Solville
... 1973
Marius Fantoni, aka 'Fanto'
... 1973
Antoine
... 1972
Xavier Saratov, Georgia's brother and Roberto's friend
... 1972
Weiss
... 1972
Commissioner Campana alias Louis Lopez
... 1972
Inspector Michel Grazzi
... 1971
Michel
... 1971
Whitey
... 1970
Viletti
... 1970
Killain
... 1970
René
... 1970
Coster
... 1970
Greg, the henchman
... 1970
Gilani
... 1970
André
... 1969
Chamoun
... 1969
Jose
... 1969
Georges
... 1967
Sgt Rudolph Petrowsky
... 1967
Vincent
... 1967
Stan
... 1967
Alban, Manouche's bodyguard
... 1966
Jeff, boss of the "Homard Américain"
... 1966
Skida
... 1965
Otto, the legionnaire (uncredited)
... 1964
Cicero
... 1963
Paulo, friend of Sophie
... 1962
Head of the American Racketeers
... 1961
Geo Cassine
... 1960