Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin (; 8 May 1903 – 26 February 1971), better known as Fernandel (), was a French comic actor. Born in Marseille, France, to Désirée Bedouin and Denis Contandin, originating in Perosa Argentina, a town located in the province of Turin, Italy, he became a comedy star, first gaining popularity in French vaudeville, operettas, and music-hall revues. His stage name originated from his marriage to Henriette Manse, the sister of his best friend and frequent cinematic collaborator Jean Manse. So attentive was he to his wife that his mother-in-law amusingly referred to him as Fernand d'elle ("Her Fernand").Fernandel 1903–1971 (biography) . French Film Guide.
Biography
Appearing as Fernandel since 1922, in 1930, Fernandel appeared in his first motion picture and for more than forty years he would be one of France's top comic actors. 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 horse-like teeth became part of his trademark.
He also appeared in Italian and American films. His first Hollywood motion picture was 1956's Around the World in 80 Days in which he played David Niven's coachman. His popular performance in that film led to his 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. His profile was raised in Britain by the 60s TV advertisements for Dubonnet in which he would say "Do 'Ave A Dubonnet"
Fernandel died from lung cancer and is buried in the Cimetière de Passy, Paris, France.
Family He had two daughters, Josette (1926) and Janine (1930), and a son Franck (1935). His son, known as Franck Fernandel, became an actor and a singer. Franck acted alongside his father in two films, Gilles Grangier's L'Âge ingrat and Georges Bianchi's En avant la musique.
Literature In The Stranger by Albert Camus, Meursault and his girlfriend Marie Cordona watch a movie starring Fernandel on the day after the funeral of Meursault's mother. According to Meursault, "The movie was funny in parts, but otherwise it was just too stupid." In the book, the film is unspecified; in the film version The Stranger (2025 film) by François Ozon, it is Le Schpountz
Filmography
Year Title Role Director Notes1931Black and WhiteLe groom viergeMarc Allégret and Robert FloreyOn purge bébéHorace TruchetJean RenoirThe Darling of ParisFicelleAugusto GeninaBric-à-brac et compagnieFernandAndré E. Chotin1932Sailor's SongCarmine Gallone LilacLe garçon d'honneurAnatole LitvakLe rosier de Madame HussonIsidoreDominique Bernard-DeschampsVive la classeMoussinMaurice CammageNo WomenCasimirMario BonnardFun in the BarracksVanderagueMaurice TourneurMan Without a NameJulotRoger Le Bon and Gustav UcickyUn beau jour de nocesGustave DupiedMaurice CammagePar habitudeValentin BourgeasseMaurice CammageL'Ordonnance malgré luiAlfred LeveneuxMaurice Cammage1933Le jugement de minuitSam HackittAlexander Esway and André CharlotThe OrderlyÉtienneViktor TourjanskyD'amour et d'eau fraîcheEloiFélix GandéraLe coq du régimentMédardMaurice CammageLe gros lotMaurice CammageÇa colleChristian-Jaque1934La garnison amoureuseFrédéric, un cavalierMax de VaucorbeilThe Bread PeddlerBillenbuisRené StiUne nuit de foliesFernandMaurice CammageLe train de huit heures quarante-septCroquebolHenry WulschlegerLes bleus de la marineLafraiseMaurice CammageAngèleSaturninMarcel Pagnol SkylarkMécheletJean Tarride Hotel Free ExchangeBoulotMarc AllégretLe cavalier LafleurFernand LafleurPierre-Jean Ducis The Darling of His ConciergeEugene CrochardGiuseppe Guarino1935 Ferdinand the RoistererFerdinand PiatRené StiJim la houletteMoluchetAndré Berthomieu1936Les gaîtés de la financeMarivol LambinetJack ForresterA LegionnaireFernand EspitalionChristian-Jacque1937JosetteAlbert Durandal aka AlbertalChristian-Jacque Francis the FirstHonorinChristian-JacqueLes dégourdis de la 11èmeL'ordonnance PatardChristian-Jacque IgnaceLe soldat Ignace BoitaclouPierre ColombierLife Dances OnFabien CoutissolJulien DuvivierThe Kings of SportFernandPierre ColombierHarvestUrbain GédémusMarcel Pagnol1938HerculeHercule MaffreAlexander EswayHeartbeatIrénée Fabre, 'le Schpountz'Marcel PagnolBarnabéBarnabéAlexander EswayTricoche and CacoletTricochePierre ColombierErnest the RebelErnest PicChristian-Jaque1939Raphaël le tatouéModeste Manosque, alias RaphaëlChristian-JaqueThe Five Cents of LavaredeArmand LavarèdeMaurice CammageBerlingot and CompanyFrançois ArnaudFernand RiversFric-FracMarcelClaude Autant-Lara and Maurice Lehmann1940The Mondesir HeirBienaimé de Mondésir, le baron de Mondésir & ses aïeuxAlbert ValentinMonsieur HectorHectorMaurice CammageLa Fille du PuisatierFélipe RambertMarcel PagnolThe Marvelous NightLe bergerJean-Paul Paulin1941The AcrobatErnest SauceJean Boyer The Suitors ClubAntoine ValoisirMaurice GleizeThe Italian Straw HatFadinardMaurice Cammage1942SimpletSimpletFernandel and Carlo RimLes petits riensAstierRaymond Leboursier1943The Lucky StarAugusteJean Boyer A Dog's LifeGustave BourdillonMaurice Cammage Don't Shout It from the RooftopsVincent FleuretJacques Daniel-NormanLa cavalcade des heuresAntoninYvan NoéAdrienAdrien MoulinetFernandel1945St. Val's MysteryLe détective Désiré, Henri Le SecRené Le HénaffNaisToineRaymond Leboursier1946Hoboes in ParadisePonsRené Le Hénaff The Adventure of CabassouCabassouGilles Grangier PétrusPétrusMarc AllégretRooster HeartTulipeMaurice Cloche1948Emile the AfricanÉmile BoulardRobert Vernay If It Makes You HappyMartial GonfaronJacques Daniel-NormanThe Cupboard Was BareAlfred PucCarlo Rim1949The Heroic Monsieur BonifaceBonifaceMaurice LabroOn demande un assassinBobErnst Neubach1950I'm in the RevuePhilippe - le peintre dévotMario SoldatiCasimirCasimirRichard PottierTu m'as sauvé la vieFortuné RichardSacha Guitry MurdersNoël AnnequinRichard PottierUniformes et grandes manœuvresLucRené Le Hénaff1951TopazeAlbert TopazeMarcel PagnolThe SleepwalkerVictor BonifaceMaurice LabroThe Red InnThe MonkClaude Autant-Lara AdhémarAdhémar PommeFernandelVillage FeudUrbain CoindetHenri Verneuil1952Little World of Don CamilloDon CamilloJulien DuvivierAn Artist with LadiesMarius, dit MarioJean BoyerForbidden FruitDoctor Charles PellegrinHenri Verneuil1953 The Baker of ValorgueFélicien Hébrard - le boulangerHenri Verneuil CarnivalDardamelleHenri VerneuilThe Return of Don CamilloDon CamilloJulien DuvivierThe Most Wanted ManJoe CalvetHenri Verneuil1954Mam'zelle NitoucheCélestin FloridorYves AllégretThe Sheep Has Five LegsAlain / Désiré / Étienne / Bernard / Charles / Édouard (their father)Henri VerneuilAli Baba and the Forty ThievesAli BabaJacques Becker1955Spring, Autumn and LoveFernand 'Noël' SarrazinGilles GrangierDon Camillo's Last RoundDon CamilloCarmine Gallone1956Don JuanSganarelleJohn Berry Fernandel the DressmakerFernand VignardJean BoyerAround the World in 80 Daysa coachman in ParisMichael Andersoncameo appearanceThe Virtuous BigamistPaul VerdierMario SoldatiHonoré de MarseilleHonoréMaurice Régamey1957The Man in the RaincoatAlbert ConstantinJulien Duvivier Sénéchal the MagnificentFrançois, Lucien SénéchalJean BoyerEasiest ProfessionBaptistin Lachaud dit TistinJean Boyer1958Paris HolidayFernydelGerd OswaldThe Law Is the LawFerdinand PastorelliChristian-Jaque Life TogetherMarcel Gaboufigue (Marguerite's husband)Clément DuhourThe Lord's VineyardHenri LévrierJean Boyer1959 The Big ChiefAntoine VenturenHenri VerneuilLe Confident de ces damesGiuliano GobertiJean BoyerLa Vache et le PrisonnierCharles BaillyHenri Verneuil1960CroesusJulesJean GionoLe caïdJustin MigonetBernard Borderie1961CocagneMarc-AntoineMaurice ClocheThe Last Judgementthe widowerVittorio De SicaDon Camillo: MonsignorDon CamilloCarmine GalloneDynamite Jack Dynamite Jack / Antoine EspérandieuJean Bastia1962L'assassin est dans l'annuaireAlbert RimondLéo JoannonLe Diable et les Dix CommandementsFather GilbertJulien Duvivier The Changing of the GuardAttilio CappelaroGiorgio Bianchi1963The Trip to BiarritzGuillaume DodutGilles GrangierBlague dans le coinJeff BurlingtonMaurice LabroLe bon roi DagobertMonsieur Pelletan / Le roi DagobertPierre ChevalierFernand JouvinGilles Grangier1964Relax DarlingFrançois FaustinJean Boyer That Tender AgeAdolphe LartigueGilles Grangier1965Don Camillo in MoscowDon CamilloLuigi Comencini1966Your Money or Your LifeCharles MigueJean-Pierre MockyLe voyage du pèreQuantinDenys de La Patellière1968L'Homme à la BuickArmand FavrotGilles Grangier1969Nuit de TerreurFernandoCamillo Mastrocinque1970Heureux qui comme Ulysse...AntoninHenri Colpi
Selected discography "Félicie aussi" (1939)
References
External links
Fernandel by Diggi