Acting
Michel Constantin
FR, AR, EN, IT cinema · 52 credits
Born
13 July 1924
Died
29 August 2003 (aged 79)
Birthplace
Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France
Also known as Constantin Hokloff · Constantin Hokhloff · Les grandes oreilles
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.
Known for
Filmography
Ville à vendre
as Docteur Bernier
La loi sauvage
as Victor Molini
The Compromise
Dialogue
The Telephone Always Rings Twice
as Le directeur du cinéma
La Baston
as Raoul
Le Deuxième Couteau
as Commissaire Bartillot
The Vultures
as Adjutant Edouard Mahuzard
Amok
Writer
Shot Pattern
as Alexandre Gagnon
Quarter to Two Before Jesus Christ
as Secutor Flavien Magister
Signé Furax
as Grougnache
Fear in the City
as Don Vincenzo Talascio
The Inglorious Bastards
as Veronique
Sahara Cross
as Carl Mank
The Track
as Le capitaine Nimier
Beyond Fear
as Guilloux
The Beast
as Sandro Colautti
OK Patron
as Mario (uncredited)
Special Killers
as Inspector Palma
Man in the Trunk
as Capt. Augier
Killing in the Sun
as Marius Fantoni, aka 'Fanto'
The Seaman
as Bernard Solville
The Outside Man
as Antoine
There Once Was a Cop
as Commissioner Campana alias Louis Lopez
The Pariah
as Xavier Saratov, Georgia's brother and Roberto's friend
The Big Shots
as Weiss
Troubleshooters
as Michel
The Lion's Share
as Inspector Michel Grazzi
Violent City
as Killain
Cold Sweat
as Whitey
Last Known Address
as Greg, the henchman
The Cop
as Viletti
Only the Cool
as Coster
The Comeuppance
as Gilani
The Strangers
as Chamoun
A Very Curious Girl
as André
Law of Survival
as Stan
Pillaged
as Georges
Dirty Heroes
as Sgt Rudolph Petrowsky
Jerk in Istanbul
as Vincent
Let's Not Get Angry
as Jeff, boss of the "Homard Américain"
Le Deuxième Souffle
as Alban
The Wise Guys
as Skida
Les Gorilles
as Otto, the legionnaire (uncredited)
Maigret Sees Red
as Cicero
Law of Men
as Paulo, friend of Sophie
A Man Named Rocca
as Head of the American Racketeers
Le Trou
as Geo Cassine