Solidly built, husky-voiced performer whose background as a boxer initially landed him numerous roles as tough cops or bad guys. Ventura made a competent debut in Jacques Becker's gangster study "Touchez pas au Grisbi" (1953) and, after supporting parts in several other films starring Jean Gabin, was turning in immaculately nuanced lead performances by the end of the decade. Superb as the title character of Claude Pinoteau's taut spy thriller "Le Silencieux" (1972).