Michel Constantin

Michel Constantin born Constantin Hokhloff 13 July 1924 28 August 2003 was a French actor and professional volleyball player He was the mens 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 1970s Born Constantin Hokhloff in Billancourt near Paris he was the son of a White Russian emigre father and his Polish wife Hokhloffs father was a former officer in the Russian Army of Kalmyk descent He had met Hokhloffs 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 BoulogneBillancourt where his family lived Thanks to his height 185 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 194748 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 LÉquipe 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 nonprofessional actors to play the various convicts Beckers son Jean knew Constantin from his volleyball days and recommended him for the part The film was a critical and commercial success and enabled Constantins transition into an acting career Source Article Michel Constantin from Wikipedia in English licensed under CCBYSA