Skip to content
MovieCove
Michel Constantin

Michel Constantin

Actor · Died August 29, 2003, aged 79 · Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France

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.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 13, 1924
Died
August 29, 2003 (aged 79)
From
Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France
Works as
Actor
Titles
23 on MovieCove · 55 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Up 34% in 30 days

What are Michel Constantin's films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.

Genres

Crime9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
37%
Power
22%
Bonds
17%
Survival
14%
Self
5%
Ideas
3%
Society
2%
Survival9 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed3 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 9 · Serious 4 · Dark 8

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 10 · Intense 8

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 8 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 9 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 10 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 5

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 13 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 13
Shadow
4 of 13
Hero
3 of 13
Threshold guardian
1 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Melancholic
6
Thrilling
6
Absurd
5
Dread
3
Other
13

How their films linger

Fun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Michel Constantin's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 6 of their 23 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michel Constantin's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

55 credits, 23 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Ville à vendre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Docteur Bernier

  • Big Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Xavier Baudin

  • Paparoff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 8 episodes · as Cyril Paparoff dit Papa

  • La loi sauvage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Victor Molini

  • The Compromise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Dialogue

  • La Baston (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Raoul

  • Le Deuxième Couteau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Commissaire Bartillot

  • The Telephone Always Rings Twice(1985)

    as Le directeur du cinéma

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Vultures(1984)

    as Adjutant Edouard Mahuzard

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Amok (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Writer

  • Deux heures moins le quart avant Jésus-Christ(1982)

    as Secutor Flavien Magister

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Shot Pattern (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Alexandre Gagnon

  • Fear in the City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Don Vincenzo Talascio

  • Signé Furax(1981)

    as Grougnache

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Plein les poches pour pas un rond... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Steff

  • The Inglorious Bastards(1978)

    as Veronique

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Les Diamants du Président (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 6 episodes · as Georges Lancier

  • Sahara Cross (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Carl Mank

  • Beyond Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Guilloux

  • The Track (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Le capitaine Nimier

  • No Pockets in a Shroud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Culli

  • The Beast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Sandro Colautti

  • OK Patron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Mario (uncredited)

  • Man in the Trunk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Capt. Augier

  • Special Killers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Inspector Palma

  • The Seaman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Bernard Solville

  • Les hommes(1973)

    as Marius Fantoni, aka 'Fanto'

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Outside Man(1972)

    as Antoine

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Scoumoune(1972)

    as Xavier Saratov, Georgia's brother and Roberto's friend

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Big Shots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Weiss

  • Cops Is Cops(1972)

    as Commissioner Campana alias Louis Lopez

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Lion's Share (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Inspector Michel Grazzi

  • Troubleshooters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Michel

  • Cold Sweat(1970)

    as Whitey

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Cop(1970)

    as Viletti

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Violent City(1970)

    as Killain

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Vertigo for a Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as René

  • Children of Mata Hari(1970)

    as Coster

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Last Known Address(1970)

    as Greg, the henchman

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Comeuppance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Gilani

  • A Very Curious Girl(1969)

    as André

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Strangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Chamoun

  • The Southern Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Jose

  • Pillaged (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Georges

  • Dirty Heroes(1967)

    as Sgt Rudolph Petrowsky

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Jerk à Istanbul(1967)

    as Vincent

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Law of Survival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Stan

  • Second Wind(1966)

    as Alban

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Let's Not Get Angry(1966)

    as Jeff, boss of the "Homard Américain"

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Wise Guys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Skida

  • Les gorilles(1964)

    as Otto, the legionnaire (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Maigret Sees Red(1963)

    as Cicero

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Law of Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Paulo, friend of Sophie

  • Man Called Rocca(1961)

    as Head of the American Racketeers

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Le Trou(1960)

    as Geo Cassine

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 55 titles from 1960 to 1992; peak year 1971.

Biggest box office

Le Trou (1960)

$35K worldwide

Highest rated

Le Trou (1960)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19601992

Peak 1971 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1960Screen debut· Le Trou
  • 1960First top-billed film· Le Trou

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting53 of 55: 53 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score49thWriting2 of 55: 2 only writing, 0 with another role

By decade

1960s15 · acting1970s26 · acting1980s13 · 11 acting · 2 crew1990s1 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 5% of 22 roles
607075

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Michel Constantin's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 49th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 23 titles are Broadly Agreed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Les gorilles (1964)

64th percentile spread · 35% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Le Trou (1960)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 20 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 49. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Michel Constantin's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 40 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Michel Constantin work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michel Constantin's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; José Giovanni shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles