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.
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.
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0176039
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q62257
Facebook: No data
Instagram: No data
X: No data
Filmography (Movies)
Ville à vendre
Character:Docteur Bernier
Release Date:26/02/1992
La loi sauvage
Character:Victor Molini
Release Date:05/05/1988
La Baston
Character:Raoul
Release Date:07/08/1985
Le Deuxième Couteau
Character:Commissaire Bartillot
Release Date:22/05/1985
The Telephone Always Rings Twice
Character:Le directeur du cinéma
Release Date:23/01/1985
The Vultures
Character:Adjutant Edouard Mahuzard
Release Date:28/03/1984
Quarter to Two Before Jesus Christ
Character:Secutor Flavien Magister
Release Date:06/10/1982
Shot Pattern
Character:Alexandre Gagnon
Release Date:21/09/1982
Fear in the City
Character:Don Vincenzo Talascio
Release Date:01/11/1981
Signé Furax
Character:Grougnache
Release Date:01/04/1981
Plein les poches pour pas un rond...
Character:Steff
Release Date:20/12/1978
The Inglorious Bastards
Character:Veronique
Release Date:08/02/1978
Sahara Cross
Character:Carl Mank
Release Date:10/09/1977
Beyond Fear
Character:Guilloux
Release Date:23/09/1975
The Track
Character:Le capitaine Nimier
Release Date:14/05/1975
No Pockets in a Shroud
Character:Culli
Release Date:25/10/1974
The Beast
Character:Sandro Colautti
Release Date:12/08/1974
OK Patron
Character:Mario (uncredited)
Release Date:01/06/1974
Man in the Trunk
Character:Capt. Augier
Release Date:12/10/1973
Special Killers
Character:Inspector Palma
Release Date:11/08/1973
Le Mataf
Character:Bernard Solville
Release Date:14/06/1973
Killing in the Sun
Character:Marius Fantoni, aka 'Fanto'
Release Date:15/03/1973
The Outside Man
Character:Antoine
Release Date:21/12/1972
The Pariah
Character:Xavier Saratov, Georgia's brother and Roberto's friend
Release Date:12/12/1972
The Big Shots
Character:Weiss
Release Date:31/10/1972
There Once Was a Cop
Character:Commissioner Campana alias Louis Lopez
Release Date:11/02/1972
The Lion's Share
Character:Inspector Michel Grazzi
Release Date:08/09/1971
Troubleshooters
Character:Michel
Release Date:07/04/1971
Cold Sweat
Character:Whitey
Release Date:18/12/1970
The Cop
Character:Viletti
Release Date:05/10/1970
Violent City
Character:Killain
Release Date:17/09/1970
Vertigo For A Killer
Character:René
Release Date:05/08/1970
Only the Cool
Character:Coster
Release Date:03/06/1970
Last Known Address
Character:Greg, the henchman
Release Date:25/02/1970
The Comeuppance
Character:Gilani
Release Date:09/01/1970
A Very Curious Girl
Character:André
Release Date:03/12/1969
The Strangers
Character:Chamoun
Release Date:11/06/1969
The Southern Star
Character:Jose
Release Date:04/03/1969
Pillaged
Character:Georges
Release Date:15/11/1967
Dirty Heroes
Character:Sgt Rudolph Petrowsky
Release Date:21/09/1967
Jerk in Istanbul
Character:Vincent
Release Date:23/07/1967
Law of Survival
Character:Stan
Release Date:19/04/1967
Le Deuxième Souffle
Character:Alban, Manouche's bodyguard
Release Date:01/11/1966
Let's Not Get Angry
Character:Jeff, boss of the "Homard Américain"
Release Date:20/04/1966
The Wise Guys
Character:Skida
Release Date:22/10/1965
Les Gorilles
Character:Otto, the legionnaire (uncredited)
Release Date:23/12/1964
Maigret Sees Red
Character:Cicero
Release Date:18/09/1963
Law of Men
Character:Paulo, friend of Sophie
Release Date:04/07/1962
A Man Named Rocca
Character:Head of the American Racketeers
Release Date:17/11/1961
Le Trou
Character:Geo Cassine
Release Date:18/03/1960
Television Appearances
Images
