Michel Constantin

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.

Most Known For

Cinépanorama

as Self

Midi trente

as Self

Samedi soir

as Self

Shot Pattern

as Alexandre Gagnon

Big Man

as Xavier Baudin

Le Trou

as Geo Cassine

Les Diamants du Président

as Georges Lancier

Killing in the Sun

as Marius Fantoni, aka 'Fanto'

The Strangers

as Chamoun

Cold Sweat

as Whitey

Les Gorilles

as Otto, the legionnaire (uncredited)

Signé Furax

as Grougnache

La Baston

as Raoul

Quarter to Two Before Jesus Christ

as Secutor Flavien Magister

Violent City

as Killain

The Inglorious Bastards

as Veronique

Le Deuxième Souffle

as Alban, Manouche's bodyguard

The Vultures

as Adjutant Edouard Mahuzard

The Outside Man

as Antoine

The Wise Guys

as Skida