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.

Filmography

• 1992Ville à vendre — Docteur Bernier
• Big Man — Xavier Baudin
• 1988La loi sauvage — Victor Molini
• Paparoff — Cyril Paparoff dit Papa
• 1986The Compromise — Dialogue
• 1985La Baston — Raoul
• 1985Le Deuxième Couteau — Commissaire Bartillot
• 1985The Telephone Always Rings Twice — Le directeur du cinéma
• 1984The Vultures — Adjutant Edouard Mahuzard
• 1983Amok — Writer
• 1982Quarter to Two Before Jesus Christ — Secutor Flavien Magister
• 1982Shot Pattern — Alexandre Gagnon
• 1981Fear in the City — Don Vincenzo Talascio
• 1981Signé Furax — Grougnache
• 1978Plein les poches pour pas un rond... — Steff
• 1978The Inglorious Bastards — Veronique
• Les Diamants du Président — Georges Lancier
• 1977Sahara Cross — Carl Mank
• 1975Beyond Fear — Guilloux
• 1975The Track — Le capitaine Nimier
• 1974No Pockets in a Shroud — Culli
• 1974OK Patron — Mario (uncredited)
• 1974The Beast — Sandro Colautti
• 1973Killing in the Sun — Marius Fantoni, aka 'Fanto'
• 1973Man in the Trunk — Capt. Augier
• 1973Special Killers — Inspector Palma
• 1973The Seaman — Bernard Solville
• 1972The Big Shots — Weiss
• 1972The Outside Man — Antoine
• 1972The Pariah — Xavier Saratov, Georgia's brother and Roberto's friend
• 1972There Once Was a Cop — Commissioner Campana alias Louis Lopez
• 1971The Lion's Share — Inspector Michel Grazzi
• 1971Troubleshooters — Michel
• 1970Cold Sweat — Whitey
• 1970Last Known Address — Greg, the henchman
• 1970Only the Cool — Coster
• 1970The Comeuppance — Gilani
• 1970The Cop — Viletti
• 1970Vertigo for a Killer — René
• 1970Violent City — Killain
• 1969A Very Curious Girl — André
• 1969The Southern Star — Jose
• 1969The Strangers — Chamoun
• 1967Dirty Heroes — Sgt Rudolph Petrowsky
• 1967Jerk in Istanbul — Vincent
• 1967Law of Survival — Stan
• 1967Pillaged — Georges
• 1966Le Deuxième Souffle — Alban
• 1966Let's Not Get Angry — Jeff, boss of the "Homard Américain"
• 1965The Wise Guys — Skida
• 1964Les Gorilles — Otto, the legionnaire (uncredited)
• 1963Maigret Sees Red — Cicero
• 1962Law of Men — Paulo, friend of Sophie
• 1961A Man Named Rocca — Head of the American Racketeers
• 1960Le Trou — Geo Cassine

Appearances as themselves (3)

• Midi trente — Self
• Samedi soir — Self
• Cinépanorama — Self