Jean Constantin, one of the greatest Romanian comedy and magazine actors, died 14 years ago in Constanța, which he confessed that he did not like all of America.
The actor Jean Constantin was born in Techirghiol, on August 21, 1927, in a mixed family, his mother being Greek and his father being Romanian.
He attended the School of Standards at the Black Sea Danube Canal, then joined IMU Medgidia and established an artistic brigade, with which he won several awards. He was also an artist at the House of Culture in Constanta.
In 1957, he debuted on stage at the stage section of the “Fantasio” State Theater in Constanţa, being an employee of this theater until his retirement.
Jean Constantin – photo tests for the Diverse Brigade, set photographer Raru Bănică
He was noticed by director Sergiu Nicolaescu, who in 1973 cast him in the film “The Immortals” (released in 1974). In 1973 he also played in the movie “Explosion”, and in 1974, in the movie “A Commissioner Accuses”.
The well-known actor also played on the stage of the Bucharest National Theatre, being cast in the show “A lost letter”, directed by Radu Beligan. Also, Jean Constantin played in several television series and movies, including “The police are coming!” or “Queen”.
The memorable roles of Jean Constantin
From his filmography, which includes approximately 80 titles, we mention: “The Baron of the Lock” (1960), “The White Trial” (1965), “The Major and Death” (1967), “Rage of the Outlaws” (1968), “Summer days” (1968), “Too small for such a big war” (1969), the comedy film series “B(rigada) D(iverse)” – where he played alongside Toma Caragiu, Sebastian Papaiani, Dem Rădulescu, Puiu Călinescu and Iurie Darie -, but also “Nea Marin billionaire” (1979), where he had colleagues on the set Amza Pellea, Sebastian Papaiani, Draga Olteanu-Matei, Stela Popescu, Ştefan Bănică. Other films are: “Crazy Week”; “Dowry of Miss Ralu”; “The Last Cartridge” (1973); “Jderi Brothers” (1974); “The Escape” (1975); “Salamander's Nest” (1976); “Eu tu si Ovidiu” (1977); “The Duel” (1981); “The Silver Mask” (1984); “The Turquoise Necklace” (1985); “Cucoana Chiriţa” (1986); “Live Paradise” (1995); “Zero Point” (1996); “How I spent the end of the world” (2006).
He also appeared in “The Second Fall of Constantinople” (1994), “Chiriţa la Iaşi” (1987), “Iancu Jianu, the Outlaw” (1981), “Outlaws” (1966), “Haiducii lui Şaptecai (1970)”, “The White Trial” (1965) etc.
“I am Ismail”
One of the roles that made him very popular among young people is Ismail, from the television series “Toate panzele sus”, directed by Mircea Mureşan.
“I like to act in films and in the theater, because I came from the theater. I played at the National Theater in Bucharest in “A lost letter” on Pristanda. (…) I was lucky in my life an extraordinary collective. I'm talking about the one from “Toate panzele sus” and the other films I made I was doing the great actor testified, according to the site www.istorie-pe-scurt.ro.
He was one of the greatest Romanian comedy and magazine actors, standing out over time in entertainment shows and television shows. The sketches performed alongside other great actors, such as Dem Rădulescu or Ştefan Bănică, remain memorable. He enjoyed great popularity and performed numerous shows both in Romania and abroad, on tours with other big names of the Romanian scene.
Among the most recent films in which the famous actor played are “Poker” and “Survivor” (2008), directed by Sergiu Nicolaescu, “Roming”, directed by Jiri Vejdelek (2007), “How I spent the end of the world” (2006), directed by Cătălin Mitulescu, “Păcală se Țurăce” (2006), directed by Geo Saizescu.
Jean Constantin was married three times. The first wife was Mioara Mocanu, an artist at the Galaţi Puppet Theater. His second wife was Nina Cocea, a ballerina from the Fantasio Theater. His third wife was Nina Petcu, souffleur at the National Theater in Bucharest, with whom he remained until the end of his life (May 26, 2010), although they lived separately – he in Constanta, she in Bucharest.
“Everyone knows me in Constanța, like the statue of Ovidiu”
Jean Constantin, moreover, never left Constanta.
“I'm from Constanta, born in Techirghiol. In Constanta, everyone knows me as the statue of Ovidiu. Constanţa remains for me my city, where I can breathe, I feel that noise of the sea, of the Black Sea, the Black Sea that I love very much, with all its malice, but I am from there“, he said in the interview given on the “Professionals” show on TVR.
Jean Constantin died on May 26, 2010, at the age of 81, in Constanta. He is buried in the Central Seaside Cemetery.
