Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin (May 8, 1903 - February 26, 1971), better known as Fernandel, was a French actor and singer.
He was born in Marseille, France. He was a comedy star who first gained popularity in French vaudeville, operettas, and music-hall revues.
In 1930, he appeared in his first motion picture and for more than forty years he would be France's top comedic actor. He was perhaps best-loved for his portrayal of the irascible Italian village priest at war with the town's communist mayor in the Don Camillo series of motion pictures. His horselike teeth became part of his trademark.
He also appeared in Italian and American films. His first Hollywood motion picture was in 1956 in Around the World in Eighty Days in which he played David Niven's coachman. His popular performance in that film led to starring with Bob Hope and Anita Ekberg in the 1958 comedy, Paris Holiday.
In addition to acting, Fernandel also directed or co-produced several of his own films.
Fernandel died from lung cancer and is buried in the Cimetière de Passy, Paris, France.
The apocryphal biography of Fernand Contadin tells the invention of his artistic name Fernandel by his sister-in-law ("Voici le Fernand d'elles"). At the beginning of the thirties he became a typical actor of the comedy genre: popular, common, likable and with a concealed grain of drama. Marc Allégret was the director of his first successful film Meilleure bobonne, La (1930). He tried to work as director twice during World War II but did not succeed in that.
