Eddie Constantine
Biography
Eddie Constantine was an American singer and actor who made his career in France, where he became a star in the 1950s and 1960s as the secret agent Lemmy Caution in a series of French B-movies. Born in Los Angeles, he trained as a singer in Vienna before returning to the United States, where his music career stalled and he began working as a film extra. In Paris he performed in cabarets, was noticed by Edith Piaf, and appeared in her musical La p'tite Lili. Beyond Lemmy Caution, he often played smooth, seductive characters, sometimes for laughs, and he later said his screen persona anticipated James Bond. He played Charlie, a visiting Mafia boss, in The Long Good Friday (1980), and returned to Lemmy Caution in Jean-Luc Godard's Alphaville (1965). After moving to Germany he worked as a character actor in television and film, and his last notable film role was in Lars von Trier's Europa (1991).
75years old at death
- Born Los Angeles
- Died Wiesbaden
- Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
- Israel Constantine (birth name)Also credited as Edward Constantinowsky
Movie Career
- Films
- 9
- Career span
- 36 years1955 to 1991
First and latest
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Big break
Edith Piaf noticed Constantine and gave him a part in the musical La p'tite Lili. He also assisted her with translations for her 1956 album, which earned him songwriting credits on English versions of some of her famous songs.
Early training
Constantine went to Vienna to train his voice, hoping for a singing career. Back in the United States, that career did not take off, so he began working as a film extra.
A change of course
Constantine later said he never took acting seriously, since he saw himself as a singer by trade, and that he acted strictly for the money.
Eddie Constantine movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Worked with
Eddie Constantine shares two films with Udo Kier, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Udo Kier's page
Pierce Brosnan's page
Charles Bronson's page
Helen Mirren's page
Max von Sydow's page
James Woods's page
All films by Jean-Luc Godard
John MackenzieDirector, 1 film, 1980
All films by John Mackenzie
All films by Lars von Trier
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.