# Fernandel

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French actor (1903–1971)

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Fernandel Fernandel in 1970 Born Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin (1903-05-08)8 May 1903 Marseille, France Died 26 February 1971(1971-02-26) (aged 67) Paris, France Occupations Actor director singer comedian Years active 1908–1970 Spouse Henriette-Félicie Manse ​ ​ (m. 1925)​

**Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin** (French pronunciation: [\[fɛʁnɑ̃ ʒozɛf deziʁe kɔ̃tɑ̃dɛ̃\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/French); 8 May 1903 – 26 February 1971),[1] better known as **Fernandel** ([\[fɛʁnɑ̃dɛl\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/French)), was a French comic actor. Born in [Marseille](/source/Marseille), France, to Désirée Bedouin and Denis Contandin, originating in [Perosa Argentina](/source/Perosa_Argentina), a town located in the [province of Turin](/source/Province_of_Turin), Italy,[2] he became a comedy star, first gaining popularity in French [vaudeville](/source/Vaudeville), [operettas](/source/Operetta), and [music-hall](/source/Music-hall) revues. His [stage name](/source/Stage_name) originated from his marriage to Henriette Manse, the sister of his best friend and frequent cinematic collaborator [Jean Manse](/source/Jean_Manse). So attentive was he to his wife that his mother-in-law amusingly referred to him as *Fernand d'elle* ("Fernand of her").[3][*[failed verification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability)*][4]

## Biography

Fernandel (left) and [Totò](/source/Tot%C3%B2) in *[The Law Is the Law](/source/The_Law_Is_the_Law)* (1958)

Appearing as Fernandel since 1922,[1] in 1930, Fernandel appeared in his first[1] [motion picture](/source/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](/source/Don_Camillo)*[5] series of motion pictures. His horse-like teeth became part of his trademark.

He also appeared in Italian and American films. His first [Hollywood](/source/Hollywood_(film_industry)) motion picture was 1956's *[Around the World in 80 Days](/source/Around_the_World_in_80_Days_(1956_movie))* in which he played [David Niven](/source/David_Niven)'s coachman. His popular performance in that film led to his starring with [Bob Hope](/source/Bob_Hope) and [Anita Ekberg](/source/Anita_Ekberg) in the 1958 comedy *[Paris Holiday](/source/Paris_Holiday_(1958_film))*.

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](/source/Dubonnet) in which he would say "*Do 'Ave A Dubonnet*"

Fernandel died from [lung cancer](/source/Lung_cancer)[6] and is buried in the [Cimetière de Passy](/source/Cimeti%C3%A8re_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](/source/Franck_Fernandel), became an actor and a singer. Franck acted alongside his father in two films, [Gilles Grangier](/source/Gilles_Grangier)'s *[L'Âge ingrat](/source/L'%C3%82ge_ingrat)* and [Georges Bianchi](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Georges_Bianchi&action=edit&redlink=1)'s *[En avant la musique](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=En_avant_la_musique&action=edit&redlink=1)*.[7]

## Literature

In *[The Stranger](/source/The_Stranger_(Camus_novel))* by [Albert Camus](/source/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)](/source/The_Stranger_(2025_film)) by [François Ozon](/source/Fran%C3%A7ois_Ozon), it is *[Le Schpountz](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Schpountz_(film,_1938))* [8]

## Filmography

Year Title Role Director Notes 1931 Black and White Le groom vierge Marc Allégret and Robert Florey On purge bébé Horace Truchet Jean Renoir The Darling of Paris Ficelle Augusto Genina Bric-à-brac et compagnie Fernand André E. Chotin 1932 Sailor's Song Carmine Gallone Lilac Le garçon d'honneur Anatole Litvak Le rosier de Madame Husson Isidore Dominique Bernard-Deschamps Vive la classe Moussin Maurice Cammage No Women Casimir Mario Bonnard Fun in the Barracks Vanderague Maurice Tourneur Man Without a Name Julot Roger Le Bon and Gustav Ucicky Un beau jour de noces Gustave Dupied Maurice Cammage Par habitude Valentin Bourgeasse Maurice Cammage L'Ordonnance malgré lui Alfred Leveneux Maurice Cammage 1933 Le jugement de minuit Sam Hackitt Alexander Esway and André Charlot The Orderly Étienne Viktor Tourjansky D'amour et d'eau fraîche Eloi Félix Gandéra Le coq du régiment Médard Maurice Cammage Le gros lot Maurice Cammage Ça colle Christian-Jaque 1934 La garnison amoureuse Frédéric, un cavalier Max de Vaucorbeil The Bread Peddler Billenbuis René Sti Une nuit de folies Fernand Maurice Cammage Le train de huit heures quarante-sept Croquebol Henry Wulschleger Les bleus de la marine Lafraise Maurice Cammage Angèle Saturnin Marcel Pagnol Skylark Méchelet Jean Tarride Hotel Free Exchange Boulot Marc Allégret Le cavalier Lafleur Fernand Lafleur Pierre-Jean Ducis The Darling of His Concierge Eugene Crochard Giuseppe Guarino 1935 Ferdinand the Roisterer Ferdinand Piat René Sti Jim la houlette Moluchet André Berthomieu 1936 Les gaîtés de la finance Marivol Lambinet Jack Forrester A Legionnaire Fernand Espitalion Christian-Jacque 1937 Josette Albert Durandal aka Albertal Christian-Jacque Francis the First Honorin Christian-Jacque Les dégourdis de la 11ème L'ordonnance Patard Christian-Jacque Ignace Le soldat Ignace Boitaclou Pierre Colombier Life Dances On Fabien Coutissol Julien Duvivier The Kings of Sport Fernand Pierre Colombier Harvest Urbain Gédémus Marcel Pagnol 1938 Hercule Hercule Maffre Alexander Esway Heartbeat Irénée Fabre, 'le Schpountz' Marcel Pagnol Barnabé Barnabé Alexander Esway Tricoche and Cacolet Tricoche Pierre Colombier Ernest the Rebel Ernest Pic Christian-Jaque 1939 Raphaël le tatoué Modeste Manosque, alias Raphaël Christian-Jaque The Five Cents of Lavarede Armand Lavarède Maurice Cammage Berlingot and Company François Arnaud Fernand Rivers Fric-Frac Marcel Claude Autant-Lara and Maurice Lehmann 1940 The Mondesir Heir Bienaimé de Mondésir, le baron de Mondésir & ses aïeux Albert Valentin Monsieur Hector Hector Maurice Cammage La Fille du Puisatier Félipe Rambert Marcel Pagnol The Marvelous Night Le berger Jean-Paul Paulin 1941 The Acrobat Ernest Sauce Jean Boyer The Suitors Club Antoine Valoisir Maurice Gleize The Italian Straw Hat Fadinard Maurice Cammage 1942 Simplet Simplet Fernandel and Carlo Rim Les petits riens Astier Raymond Leboursier 1943 The Lucky Star Auguste Jean Boyer A Dog's Life Gustave Bourdillon Maurice Cammage Don't Shout It from the Rooftops Vincent Fleuret Jacques Daniel-Norman La cavalcade des heures Antonin Yvan Noé Adrien Adrien Moulinet Fernandel 1945 St. Val's Mystery Le détective Désiré, Henri Le Sec René Le Hénaff Nais Toine Raymond Leboursier 1946 Hoboes in Paradise Pons René Le Hénaff The Adventure of Cabassou Cabassou Gilles Grangier Pétrus Pétrus Marc Allégret Rooster Heart Tulipe Maurice Cloche 1948 Emile the African Émile Boulard Robert Vernay If It Makes You Happy Martial Gonfaron Jacques Daniel-Norman The Cupboard Was Bare Alfred Puc Carlo Rim 1949 The Heroic Monsieur Boniface Boniface Maurice Labro On demande un assassin Bob Ernst Neubach 1950 I'm in the Revue Philippe - le peintre dévot Mario Soldati Casimir Casimir Richard Pottier Tu m'as sauvé la vie Fortuné Richard Sacha Guitry Murders Noël Annequin Richard Pottier Uniformes et grandes manœuvres Luc René Le Hénaff 1951 Topaze Albert Topaze Marcel Pagnol The Sleepwalker Victor Boniface Maurice Labro The Red Inn The Monk Claude Autant-Lara Adhémar Adhémar Pomme Fernandel Village Feud Urbain Coindet Henri Verneuil 1952 Little World of Don Camillo Don Camillo Julien Duvivier An Artist with Ladies Marius, dit Mario Jean Boyer Forbidden Fruit Doctor Charles Pellegrin Henri Verneuil 1953 The Baker of Valorgue Félicien Hébrard - le boulanger Henri Verneuil Carnival Dardamelle Henri Verneuil The Return of Don Camillo Don Camillo Julien Duvivier The Most Wanted Man Joe Calvet Henri Verneuil 1954 Mam'zelle Nitouche Célestin Floridor Yves Allégret The Sheep Has Five Legs Alain / Désiré / Étienne / Bernard / Charles / Édouard (their father) Henri Verneuil Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves Ali Baba Jacques Becker 1955 Spring, Autumn and Love Fernand 'Noël' Sarrazin Gilles Grangier Don Camillo's Last Round Don Camillo Carmine Gallone 1956 Don Juan Sganarelle John Berry Fernandel the Dressmaker Fernand Vignard Jean Boyer Around the World in 80 Days a coachman in Paris Michael Anderson cameo appearance The Virtuous Bigamist Paul Verdier Mario Soldati Honoré de Marseille Honoré Maurice Régamey 1957 The Man in the Raincoat Albert Constantin Julien Duvivier Sénéchal the Magnificent François, Lucien Sénéchal Jean Boyer Easiest Profession Baptistin Lachaud dit Tistin Jean Boyer 1958 Paris Holiday Fernydel Gerd Oswald The Law Is the Law Ferdinand Pastorelli Christian-Jaque Life Together Marcel Gaboufigue (Marguerite's husband) Clément Duhour The Lord's Vineyard Henri Lévrier Jean Boyer 1959 The Big Chief Antoine Venturen Henri Verneuil Le Confident de ces dames Giuliano Goberti Jean Boyer La Vache et le Prisonnier Charles Bailly Henri Verneuil 1960 Croesus Jules Jean Giono Le caïd Justin Migonet Bernard Borderie 1961 Cocagne Marc-Antoine Maurice Cloche The Last Judgement the widower Vittorio De Sica Don Camillo: Monsignor Don Camillo Carmine Gallone Dynamite Jack Dynamite Jack / Antoine Espérandieu Jean Bastia 1962 L'assassin est dans l'annuaire Albert Rimond Léo Joannon Le Diable et les Dix Commandements Father Gilbert Julien Duvivier The Changing of the Guard Attilio Cappelaro Giorgio Bianchi 1963 The Trip to Biarritz Guillaume Dodut Gilles Grangier Blague dans le coin Jeff Burlington Maurice Labro Le bon roi Dagobert Monsieur Pelletan / Le roi Dagobert Pierre Chevalier La Cuisine au beurre [fr] Fernand Jouvin Gilles Grangier 1964 Relax Darling François Faustin Jean Boyer That Tender Age Adolphe Lartigue Gilles Grangier 1965 Don Camillo in Moscow Don Camillo Luigi Comencini 1966 Your Money or Your Life Charles Migue Jean-Pierre Mocky Le voyage du père Quantin Denys de La Patellière 1968 L'Homme à la Buick Armand Favrot Gilles Grangier 1969 Nuit de Terreur Fernando Camillo Mastrocinque 1970 Heureux qui comme Ulysse... Antonin Henri Colpi

## Selected discography

- "[Félicie aussi](/source/F%C3%A9licie_aussi)" (1939)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-dmyb_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-dmyb_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-dmyb_1-2) [*Daily Mail Year Book*](https://books.google.com/books?id=kDUyAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Contandin%22). Associated Newspapers Groups, Limited. 1963. p. 84.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Le borgate"](http://www.comune.perosaargentina.to.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88:le-borgate&catid=45:territorio&Itemid=90). *comune.perosaargentina.to.it/* (in Italian). Comune di Perosa Argentina. 28 December 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Fernandel 1903–1971 (biography)](http://frenchfilmguide.com/biogs/FFG_Fernandel_bio.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20141103001602/http://frenchfilmguide.com/biogs/FFG_Fernandel_bio.html) 3 November 2014 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). French Film Guide.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Dayna Oscherwitz; MaryEllen Higgins (2009). [*The A to Z of French Cinema*](https://archive.org/details/atozoffrenchcine0000osch). Scarecrow Press. pp. [162](https://archive.org/details/atozoffrenchcine0000osch/page/162)–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8108-7038-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8108-7038-3). [*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Palacio, Manuel; Türschmann, Jörg (2013). [*Transnational Cinema in Europe*](https://books.google.com/books?id=VsT7AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA72). LIT Verlag Münster. p. 72. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-643-90478-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-643-90478-2).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Fernandel Death - Vanderbilt University"](https://catalog.library.vanderbilt.edu/discovery/fulldisplay/alma991043357599903276/01VAN_INST:vanui). *catalog.library.vanderbilt.edu*. Retrieved 20 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-purepeople20110608_7-0)** ["Décès de Franck Fernandel : Une vie dans l'ombre gigantesque de son père..."](http://www.purepeople.com/article/deces-de-franck-fernandel-une-vie-dans-l-ombre-gigantesque-de-son-pere_a81385/1) (in French). Purepeople. 8 June 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Camus, Albert (1989). *The Stranger*. Translated by Ward, Matthew (1st Vintage International ed.). New York: Vintage International. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-679-72020-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-679-72020-1).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Fernandel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Fernandel).

- [Fernandel](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0272794/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Fernandel singing 'Les gens riaient'](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4a2i5) on [Dailymotion](/source/Dailymotion)

- [Fernandel by Diggi](http://fernandel.online.fr)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST National United States France BnF data Italy Czech Republic Spain Netherlands Norway Korea Poland Israel Catalonia Artists MusicBrainz Discography of American Historical Recordings FID People Deutsche Biographie Léonore Deutsche Synchronkartei DDB Other IdRef Open Library SNAC Yale LUX

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