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Michel Constantin

Actor

Michel Constantin

Born July 13, 1924 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, FranceDied August 29, 200350 films

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.

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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.

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The best way into Michel Constantin's work
Le Trou posterFirst watchLe Trou19608.2as Geo CassineFour prison inmates have been hatching a plan to literally dig out of jail when another prisoner, Claude Gaspard, is moved into their cell.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Le Deuxième Souffle poster7.7Le Deuxième Souffle1966The Wise Guys poster7.9The Wise Guys1965Let's Not Get Angry poster7.5Let's Not Get Angry1966Last Known Address poster7.3Last Known Address1970The Inglorious Bastards poster6.2The Inglorious Bastards1978The Pariah poster6.8The Pariah1972Quarter to Two Before Jesus Christ poster6.0Quarter to Two Before Jesus Christ1982The Vultures poster6.0The Vultures1984

Filmography

50 films as actor
  1. 1992Ville à vendreDocteur Bernier
  2. 1988La loi sauvageVictor Molini
  3. 1985La BastonRaoul
  4. 1985Le Deuxième CouteauCommissaire Bartillot
  5. 1985The Telephone Always Rings TwiceLe directeur du cinéma
  6. 1984The VulturesAdjutant Edouard Mahuzard
  7. 1982Quarter to Two Before Jesus ChristSecutor Flavien Magister
  8. 1982Shot PatternAlexandre Gagnon
  9. 1981Fear in the CityDon Vincenzo Talascio
  10. 1981Signé FuraxGrougnache
  11. 1978Plein les poches pour pas un rond...Steff
  12. 1978The Inglorious BastardsVeronique
  13. 1977Sahara CrossCarl Mank
  14. 1975Beyond FearGuilloux
  15. 1975The TrackLe capitaine Nimier
  16. 1974No Pockets in a ShroudCulli
  17. 1974The BeastSandro Colautti
  18. 1974OK PatronMario (uncredited)
  19. 1973Man in the TrunkCapt. Augier
  20. 1973Special KillersInspector Palma
  21. 1973The SeamanBernard Solville
  22. 1973Killing in the SunMarius Fantoni, aka 'Fanto'
  23. 1972The Outside ManAntoine
  24. 1972The PariahXavier Saratov, Georgia's brother and Roberto's friend
  25. 1972The Big ShotsWeiss
  26. 1972There Once Was a CopCommissioner Campana alias Louis Lopez
  27. 1971The Lion's ShareInspector Michel Grazzi
  28. 1971TroubleshootersMichel
  29. 1970Cold SweatWhitey
  30. 1970The CopViletti
  31. 1970Violent CityKillain
  32. 1970Vertigo for a KillerRené
  33. 1970Only the CoolCoster
  34. 1970Last Known AddressGreg, the henchman
  35. 1970The ComeuppanceGilani
  36. 1969A Very Curious GirlAndré
  37. 1969The StrangersChamoun
  38. 1969The Southern StarJose
  39. 1967PillagedGeorges
  40. 1967Dirty HeroesSgt Rudolph Petrowsky
  41. 1967Jerk in IstanbulVincent
  42. 1967Law of SurvivalStan
  43. 1966Le Deuxième SouffleAlban
  44. 1966Let's Not Get AngryJeff, boss of the "Homard Américain"
  45. 1965The Wise GuysSkida
  46. 1964Les GorillesOtto, the legionnaire (uncredited)
  47. 1963Maigret Sees RedCicero
  48. 1962Law of MenPaulo, friend of Sophie
  49. 1961A Man Named RoccaHead of the American Racketeers
  50. 1960Le TrouGeo Cassine