Michel Constantin (born Constantin Hokhloff; 13 July 1924 – 28 August 2003) was a French actor and professional volleyball player.[1] 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
Billancourt, France
Died28 August 2003(2003-08-28) (aged 79)
Draguignan, France
Occupation(s)Actor, volleyball player
Years active1956–1991
SpouseMaud Serres (1957–1996)
Volleyball career
Personal information
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Volleyball information
PositionSetter
Career
YearsTeams
1944–1947
1947–1948
1948–1957
CO Billancourt
Racing Club de France
CO Billancourt

Biography

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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.[2] During World War II, he worked at the Renault factories in Boulogne-Billancourt, where his family lived.

Volleyball

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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.[3][4] It was during this period that he changed his name to Michel Constantin.[3]

During this time, he was also a freelance reporter for the sports journal L'Équipe.

Acting

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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.

Partial filmography

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References

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  1. ^ "matchID - Michel Constantin". Fichier des décès (in French). Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  2. ^ Mvondo, Michael Markus (29 August 2021). "Michel Constantin est mort : retour sur l'acteur de rôles de gangsters populaires". amomama.fr (in French). Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Michel Constantin". Volleybox.
  4. ^ "Michel Constantin, l'affranchi sachant smasher". www.telerama.fr (in French). 18 March 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
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