Eddie Constantine
Israel Constantine (born Edward Israel Constantinowsky; October 29, 1913 – February 25, 1993), known as Eddie Constantine, was an American singer, actor and entertainer who spent most of his career in France. He became well-known to film audiences for his portrayal of secret agent Lemmy Caution and other, similar pulp heroes in French B-movies of the 1950s and 1960s. His celebrity and status as something of a pop icon saw him work with prominent arthouse directors like Jean-Luc Godard (as Caution in Alphaville and Germany Year 90 Nine Zero), Rainer Werner Fassbinder (as himself in Beware of a Holy Whore 1971 and also World on a Wire), Agnès Varda, Rosa von Praunheim, Lars von Trier, William Klein and Mika Kaurismäki.
Also recorded as Edward Constantinowsky · Israel Constantine
Eddie Constantine

SAS Scandinavian Airlines · http: images.flysas.com · Public domain
- Name
- Eddie Constantine
- Birth Name
- Edward Israel Constantinowsky
- Born
- 29 October 1913
- Birthplace
- Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Died
- 25 February 1993
- Place of death
- Wiesbaden, Germany
- Full name
- Israel Constantine.
- Nationality
- United States and France.
- Occupation
- actor, singer, chansonnier and musician.
- Languages
- French and English.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Israel Constantine (born Edward Israel Constantinowsky; October 29, 1913 – February 25, 1993), known as Eddie Constantine, was an American singer, actor and entertainer who spent most of his career in France. He became well-known to film audiences for his portrayal of secret agent Lemmy Caution and other, similar pulp heroes in French B-movies of the 1950s and 1960s. His celebrity and status as something of a pop icon saw him work with prominent arthouse directors like Jean-Luc Godard (as Caution in Alphaville and Germany Year 90 Nine Zero), Rainer Werner Fassbinder (as himself in Beware of a Holy Whore 1971 and also World on a Wire), Agnès Varda, Rosa von Praunheim, Lars von Trier, William Klein and Mika Kaurismäki.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
Eddie Constantine (died 1993) was an actor, chansonnier and film actor, among other activities, of French and American nationality. The actor was born Israel Constantine in Los Angeles and died in Wiesbaden. Languages used include English and French.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Eddie Constantine. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q561234 · wikipedia · Eddie Constantine
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Eddie Constantine • Other Names — Israel Constantine • Birth Name — Edward Israel Constantinowsky • Born — 29 October 1913 • Birthplace — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Died — 25 February 1993 • Place of death — Wiesbaden, Germany • Years Active — 1936–1993 • Children — 4
Early life
Early life
Constantine was born Edward Israel Constantinowsky in Los Angeles, California to Jewish immigrant parents, a Russian father and Polish mother; his father was a jeweler. He later changed his name to Israel Constantine. In pursuit of a singing career, he went to Vienna for voice training. However, when he returned to the United States, his career failed to take off, and he started taking work as a film extra.
Career
Career
Having failed to make a career in the United States, Constantine returned to Europe in the early 1950s and started singing and performing in Paris cabarets. He was noticed by Edith Piaf, who cast him in the musical La p'tite Lili. Constantine also helped Piaf with translations for her 1956 album La Vie en Rose/Édith Piaf Sings In English and so he has songwriting credits on the English versions of some of her most famous songs (especially "Hymne à l'amour"/"Hymn to Love"). • Illustration — Eddie Constantine at the airport in Copenhagen, 1958 In the 1950s, Constantine was a star in France because of his role as the hard-boiled detective/secret agent Lemmy Caution (from Peter Cheyney's novels) in a series of French B-pictures, including La môme vert-de-gris (1953), This Man Is Dangerous (1953), Je suis un sentimental (1955), Lemmy pour les dames (1961) and Your Turn, Darling (1963). He was hired by the Rank Organisation to play the lead in SOS Pacific but it was not a big success. When not playing Lemmy Caution, Constantine often played a character that was still typically a suave-talking, seductive, smooth guy although he often played that for laughs. He turned his accent and perceived American cockiness to advantage in such roles, and he later described his film persona as having been "James Bond before James Bond". One of his best remembered later roles was as the visiting Mafia boss Charlie in the British gangster film The Long Good Friday (1980), a rare English-speaking role. One of his most notable roles was in Jean-Luc Godard's Alphaville (1965), in which he reprised (to a more radical end) the role of Lemmy Caution, in a departure from the style of his other films. His box-office appeal in France waned in the mid-1960s. Having married a German television producer, he eventually relocated to Germany, where he worked as a character actor, appearing in German television dramas as well as film. Constantine later claimed that he had never taken his acting career seriously, as he considered himself to be a singer by trade, and that he had been an actor strictly for the money. In 1982 he appeared in Rosa von Praunheim's film Red Love. He worked with several other directors including Godard and Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and his last notable film appearance was in Lars von Trier's Europa in 1991. He had taken up the part of Lemmy for the last time that year, in Godard's experimental film Germany Year 90 Nine Zero.
Personal life
Personal life
• Illustration — Eddie Constantine in the 1990s Constantine was married three times: to Helene Musil (1942-1976, divorced), with whom he had three children; Dorothea Gibson (1977, divorced); and the film producer Maya Faber-Jansen (1979–1993, Constantine's death), with whom he had one child.
Death
Death
Constantine died of a heart attack on February 25, 1993 in Wiesbaden, Germany, aged 79. His remains were cremated and remanded to Paris.
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Director — Notes • 1970 — Malatesta — Malatesta — Peter Lilienthal — TV movie • Eine Rose für Jane — Boss — Hans W. Geißendörfer • 1971 — Supergirl — Partygast bei Polonsky — Rudolf Thome • 1973 — World on a Wire — Man in car — Rainer Werner Fassbinder • 1976 — Raid on Entebbe — Capt. Michel Bacos — Irvin Kershner — TV movie • 1984 — Rambo Zambo — Harry — Reinhard Donga • 1986 — Roncalli — Pablo — Michael Mackenroth • 1987 — Frankenstein's Aunt — Alois - Water Spirit — Juraj Jakubisko — 7 episodes • 1989 — Le retour de Lemmy Caution — Lemmy Caution — Josée Dayan — TV movie
![Collectie / Archief: Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie: [onbekend] Beschrijving: Eddy Constantine bij opname voor Nederlandse film "Geen paniek", v.l.n.r. Eddy Constantine, Rijk de Gooyer en Johnny Kraaijkamp Datum: 8 augustus 1972 Trefwoorden: acteurs, films, filmsterren Persoonsnaam: Constantine, Eddy, Gooyer, Rijk de, Kraaijkamp, Johnny (sr.) Fotograaf: Croes, Rob C. / Anefo Auteur](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Eddy_Constantine_bij_opname_voor_Nederlandse_film_Geen_paniek%2C_v.l.n.r._Eddy_C%2C_Bestanddeelnr_925-7958.jpg/800px-Eddy_Constantine_bij_opname_voor_Nederlandse_film_Geen_paniek%2C_v.l.n.r._Eddy_C%2C_Bestanddeelnr_925-7958.jpg)
Collectie / Archief: Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie: [onbekend] Beschrijving: Eddy Constantine bij opname voor Nederlandse film "Geen paniek", v.l.n.r. Eddy Constantine, Rijk de Gooyer en Johnny Kraaijkamp Datum: 8 augustus 1972 Trefwoorden: acteurs, films, filmsterren Persoonsnaam: Constantine, Eddy, Gooyer, Rijk de, Kraaijkamp, Johnny (sr.) Fotograaf: Croes, Rob C. / Anefo Auteur
Rob Croes for Anefo
![Collectie / Archief: Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie: [onbekend] Beschrijving: Eddy Constantine bij opname voor Nederlandse film "Geen paniek", v.l.n.r. Eddy Constantine, Rijk de Gooyer en Johnny Kraaijkamp Datum: 8 augustus 1972 Trefwoorden: acteurs, films, filmsterren Persoonsnaam: Constantine, Eddy, Gooyer, Rijk de, Kraaijkamp, Johnny (sr.) Fotograaf: Croes, Rob C. / Anefo Auteur](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Eddy_Constantine_bij_opname_voor_Nederlandse_film_Geen_paniek%2C_v.l.n.r._Eddy_C%2C_Bestanddeelnr_925-7959.jpg/800px-Eddy_Constantine_bij_opname_voor_Nederlandse_film_Geen_paniek%2C_v.l.n.r._Eddy_C%2C_Bestanddeelnr_925-7959.jpg)
Collectie / Archief: Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie: [onbekend] Beschrijving: Eddy Constantine bij opname voor Nederlandse film "Geen paniek", v.l.n.r. Eddy Constantine, Rijk de Gooyer en Johnny Kraaijkamp Datum: 8 augustus 1972 Trefwoorden: acteurs, films, filmsterren Persoonsnaam: Constantine, Eddy, Gooyer, Rijk de, Kraaijkamp, Johnny (sr.) Fotograaf: Croes, Rob C. / Anefo Auteur
Rob Croes for Anefo
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Los Angeles.
Birth place
Wiesbaden.
Death place
Film
• Year — Title — Role — Director — Notes • 1953 — Egypt by Three — Nick — Victor Stoloff — (third episode) • La môme vert-de-gris — Lemmy Caution — Bernard Borderie • This Man Is Dangerous — Jean Sacha • 1954 — Dames Don't Care — Bernard Borderie • Avanzi di galera — Franco Cesari — Vittorio Cottafavi • Yours Truly, Blake — Larry Blake — Jean Laviron • 1955 — Give 'em Hell — Johnny Jordan — John Berry • Je suis un sentimental — Barney Morgan — John Berry • Vous pigez? — Lemmy Caution — Pierre Chevalier • 1956 — Ce soir les jupons volent — Monsieur Howard — Dimitri Kirsanoff — Uncredited • Folies-Bergère — Bob Wellington — Henri Decoin • Man and Child — Fred Barker — Raoul André • Bonsoir Paris, bonjour l'amour — cameo appearance — Ralph Baum • 1957 — Et par ici la sortie — Eddie — Willy Rozier — Uncredited • Le Grand Bluff — Eddie F. Morgan — Patrice Dally • Ces dames préfèrent le mambo — Burt Brickford — Bernard Borderie • Les Truands — Jim Esposito — Carlo Rim • 1958 — Incognito (1958 film) — Bob Stanley — Patrice Dally • Hoppla, jetzt kommt Eddie — Eddie Petersen — Werner Klingler • Passport to Shame — Johnny McVey — Alvin Rakoff • 1959 — Du rififi chez les femmes — Interpol Agent Williams — Alex Joffé • The Treasure of San Teresa (Hot Money Girl) — Larry Brennan — Alvin Rakoff • SOS Pacific — Mark Reisner — Guy Green • 1960 — Bombs on Monte Carlo — Captain Eddie Cronen — Georg Jacoby • Women Are Like That — Lemmy Caution — Bernard Borderie • Jack of Spades — Patrick — Yves Allégret • Ravishing — Himself — Robert Lamoureux — Uncredited cameo • Ça va être ta fête — John Lewis / John Jarvis — Pierre Montazel • 1961 — Me faire ça à moi — Eddie MacAvoy — Pierre Grimblat • Destination Fury — Felice Esposito — Giorgio Bianchi • Cause toujours, mon lapin — Jackson — Guy Lefranc • 1962 — Une grosse tête — Napoléon "Naps" Dubois — Claude de Givray • The Seven Deadly Sins — cameo appearance — Jean-Luc Godard — (segment "La paresse") • Lemmy pour les dames — Lemmy Caution — Bernard Borderie • Cléo from 5 to 7 — Man with Hose — Agnès Varda — Uncredited cameo • Lykke og krone — cameo appearance — Colbjørn Helander and Stein Saelen • Good Luck, Charlie — Charlie — Jean-Louis Richard • L'Empire de la nuit — Eddie — Pierre Grimblat • Nous irons à Deauville — Friend of Pin-Up Girl — Francis Rigaud — Uncredited cameo • 1963 — Jeff Gordon, Secret Agent — Jeff Gordon — Raoul André • Les Femmes d'abord — Bobby Carao — Raoul André • Tela de araña — Eddie Ross — José Luis Monter • Your Turn, Darling — Lemmy Caution — Bernard Borderie • 1964 — Die ganze Welt ist himmelblau — Himself — Franz Antel • How Do You Like My Sister? — Himself — Michel Boisrond • Let the Shooters Shoot — Jeff Gordon — Guy Lefranc • Nick Carter va tout casser — Nick Carter — Henri Decoin • Lucky Jo — Lucky Jo — Michel Deville • 1965 — Ces dames s'en mêlent — Jeff Gordon — Raoul André • Faites vos jeux, mesdames — Mike Warner — Marcel Ophuls • Cent briques et des tuiles — Le consommateur au bar — Pierre Grimblat • Alphaville — Lemmy Caution — Jean-Luc Godard • Je vous salue, mafia! — Rudy Hamberg — Raoul Lévy • Nick Carter and Red Club — Nick Carter — Jean-Paul Savignac (director) • |1966 — Attack of the Robots — Al Pereira — Jesus Franco • 1968 — Residencia para espías (Boarding House for Spies) — Dan Leyton — Jesus Franco • Ces messieurs de la famille — Cousin Lemmy — Raoul André • À tout casser — Ric — John Berry • 1969 — Les Gros Malins — Eddie — Raymond Leboursier • Lions Love — Himself — Agnès Varda • 1971 — Beware of a Holy Whore — Himself — Rainer Werner Fassbinder • Haytabo — Professor — Ulli Lommel • 1973 — Geen paniek — Bill Silkstocking — Ko Koedijk • 1974 — Une baleine qui avait mal aux dents — Eddie — Jacques Bral • 1975 — Souvenir of Gibraltar — Father Jo — Henri Xhonneux • A Second Spring — Frank Cabot — Ulli Lommel • 1977 — Bloedverwanten — Priest — Wim Lindner • Le Couple témoin — Dr. Goldberg — William Klein • 1978 — It Lives Again — Dr. Forrest — Larry Cohen • 1979 — The Third Generation — Peter Lurz — Rainer Werner Fassbinder • Ticket of No Return (Bildnis einer Trinkerin) — Küstler — Ulrike Ottinger • 1980 — Exit... nur keine Panik — Poigrard — Franz Novotny • Panic Time — Lemmy Caution — Udo Lindenberg • Car-napping — police officer Laroux — Wigbert Wicker • The Long Good Friday — Charlie — John Mackenzie • 1981 — Die Alptraumfrau — Lothar Lambert • Tango durch Deutschland — Eddie — Lutz Mommartz • Neige — Pierrot — Juliet Berto et Jean-Henri Roger • Freak Orlando — Säulenheiliger — Ulrike Ottinger • 1982 — Red Love — Pawel Pawlowitsch — Rosa von Praunheim • Boxoffice — Hugh Barren — Josef Bogdanovitch • 1983 — Non-Stop Trouble with Spies — Gregori Ustinov — Ottokar Runze • La Bête noire (film) — the bar proprietor — Patrick Chaput • Das Mikado Projekt — Beppo Bourbon — Torsten Emrich • 1984 — Flight to Berlin — Himself — Christopher Petit • Uno scugnizzo a New York — Sammy — Mariano Laurenti • Tiger: Springtime in Vienna — Lemmy Caution — Peter Patzak • Seifenblasen — Alfred Ninaus • 1985 — Seifenblasen — cameo appearance — Alfred Ninaus • Paul Chevrolet en de ultieme hallucinatie — Boy Pappa — Pim de la Parra • 1986 — Makaroni Blues — Lemmy Caution — Bela Csepesanyi • 1987 — Freckled Max and the Spooks — Alojz — Juraj Jakubisko • Helsinki Napoli All Night Long — Old Gangster — Mika Kaurismäki • 1989 — Europa, abends — Mr. Hardayle — Claudia Schröder • 1991 — Europa — Colonel Harris — Lars von Trier • Germany Year 90 Nine Zero — Lemmy Caution — Jean-Luc Godard • Tokyo no kyujitsu — William Wright — Naoki Nagao • 1993 — Three Shake-a-leg Steps to Heaven — Don Fabrizzi — Andy Bausch • 2010 — Dimension — N/A — Lars von Trier — Unfinished; filmed between 1990-97
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1."California Birth Index, 1905-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VL1H-SYB : 27 November 2014), Israel Constantine, 29 Oct 1913; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.
- 2."California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGL4-VY1T : 1 March 2021), Israel Constantine, 29 Oct 1913; citing Birth, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, California State Archives, Sacramento.
- 3.Azzopardi, Michel. Le temps des vamps: 1915-1965. L'Harmattan. 206. 1997. 978-2738456403.
- 4.McKinney, Mark. History and Politics in French-Language Comics and Graphic Novels. University of Mississippi Press. 300. 978-1617030475.
- 5.Eddie Constantine (obituary). Variety. 5 March 1993.
- 6.DISCOGS entry for La Vie En Rose / Édith Piaf Sings In English.
- 7.Vagg, Stephen. Forgotten British Film Studios: The Rank Organisation, 1959. Filmink. 27 June 2025.
- 8.Eddie Constantine biography at cinemapassion.com
- 9.Cesari, Francesco. The Films of Jesus Franco, 1953-1966. McFarland & Company. 309. 2024. 978-1-4766-9431-3.
- 10.Cesari, Francesco. The Films of Jesus Franco, 1953-1966. McFarland & Company. 326–237. 2024. 978-1-4766-9431-3.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
42,438 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Eddie ChambleePerson
- Eddie ClarkePerson
- Eddie CochranPerson
- Eddie CondonPerson
- Eddie CurtisPerson
- Eddie CusicPerson
- Eddie DanielsPerson
- Eddie DeanPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Eddie Constantine?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.