Michel Constantin

Known for ActingBorn 1924-07-13Died 2003-08-29Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France

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.Read more

Movies & web series

Le Deuxième Couteau

Fear in the City

Cinépanorama

Le Trou

Amok

The Wise Guys

Le Deuxième Souffle

Let's Not Get Angry

Last Known Address

The Beast

The Pariah

The Track

The Strangers

Pillaged

Beyond Fear

Killing in the Sun

Les Diamants du Président

The Cop

Troubleshooters

Shot Pattern

Man in the Trunk

Les Gorilles

The Inglorious Bastards

The Outside Man

Maigret Sees Red

Quarter to Two Before Jesus Christ

A Very Curious Girl

A Man Named Rocca

The Vultures

There Once Was a Cop

Midi trente

Samedi soir

Violent City

Only the Cool

The Southern Star

Plein les poches pour pas un rond...

The Big Shots

Law of Survival

OK Patron

Cold Sweat

Big Man

Dirty Heroes

The Telephone Always Rings Twice

The Lion's Share

No Pockets in a Shroud

Ville à vendre

Law of Men

Signé Furax