Michel Constantin

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.

During World War II, he worked at the Renault factories in Boulogne-Billancourt, where his family lived, and later managed a knitting needle factory.

Volleyball career 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. In addition to José Giovanni, he also worked with notable directors like Jean-Pierre Melville, Georges Lautner, Nelly Kaplan, Jean Delannoy, Yves Boisset, Jacques Deray, Jean-Pierre Mocky and Henri Verneuil. and were longtime residents of Sainte-Maxime. They remained together until her death in 1996.

He was an avid player of contract bridge, and a long-time vice president of the Sainte-Maxime Bridge Club.

Death Aged 79, Constanin died of a heart attack on August 28, 2003, two days before his oft-costar and friend Charles Bronson. His remains were cremated and his ashes were scattered on the beach of the Giens Peninsula, where he had met his wife. The French Minister of Culture, Jean-Jacques Aillagon, wrote

"It is with deep sadness that I learned of the passing of Michel Constantin, an iconic actor of quality French cinema. His imposing presence and the rich tones of his voice permeated the films of great French directors such as Jean Becker, Robert Enrico, Jean-Pierre Melville, and Georges Lautner . His striking physique, combined with an undeniable talent for frequently portraying characters with unconventional behavior, allowed him to win the public's lasting affection and leave his mark on a great, popular, and high - quality French cinema.

Legacy Every year since 2011, the Sainte -Maxime Bridge Club has organized the Michel Constantin Memorial Tournament.

A street in the village of Le Pradet in bears his name.

Partial filmography

Plucking the Daisy (1956) - Un spectateur du strip-tease (uncredited) The Hole (Le Trou) (1960) - Jo Cassine A Man Named Rocca (1961) - Le chef des racketteurs américains The Law of Men (1962) - Paulo Maigret Sees Red (1963) - Cicero The Gorillas (1964) - Otto, le légionnaire (uncredited) The Wise Guys (Les Grandes Gueules) (1965) - Skida Ne nous fâchons pas (1966) - Jeff Le deuxième souffle (1966) - Alban Dirty Heroes (Dalle Ardenne all'inferno) (1967) - Sgt Rudolph Petrowsky (1967) - Stan Jerk à Istambul (1967) - Vincent (1967) - Georges The Southern Star (1969) - Jose (1969) - Chamoun A Very Curious Girl (La Fiancée du pirate) (1969) - André L'ardoise (1970) - Théo Gilani Last Known Address (Dernier domicile connu) (1970) - Greg Children of Mata Hari (La Peau de Torpedo) (1970) - Coster (1970) - René Violent City (1970) - Killain The Cop (Un condé) (1970) - Viletti Cold Sweat (1970) - Whitey (1971) - Michel La Part des lions (1971) - Inspecteur Michel Grazzi (1972) - Commissaire Campana (1972) - Weiss La Scoumoune (1972) - Xavier Saratov The Outside Man (Un homme est mort) (1972) - Antoine (1973) - Marius Fantoni 'Fanto' Le mataf (1973) - Bernard Solville Special Killers (1973) - Inspector Palma (1973) - Capt. Augier (1974) - Mario (uncredited) Un linceul n'a pas de poches (1974) - Culi The Beast (Il bestione) (1974) - Sandro Colautti La guerre du pétrole n'aura pas lieu (1975, writer) The Track (1975) - Capitaine Nimier (1975) - Guilloux Sahara Cross (1977) The Inglorious Bastards (Quel maledetto treno blindato) (1978) - Veronique Ça fait tilt (1978) - Raymond Legris Plein les poches pour pas un rond... (1978) - Steff, le taxi Signé Furax (1981) - Grougnache Cappotto di legno (1981) - Don Vincenzo Talascio (1982) - Alexandre Gagnon Deux heures moins le quart avant Jésus-Christ (1982) - Le secutor Ronde de nuit (1984) - L'instructeur de stand de tir (voice) Les Morfalous (1984) - Adjudant Édouard Mahuzard Le téléphone sonne toujours deux fois!! (1985) - Le directeur du cinéma La baston (1985) - Raoul La loi sauvage (1988) - Victor Ville à vendre (1992) - Docteur Bernier