Fernandel

Fernandel (1903-1971), French actor born in Marseille. Originally named Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin, he made his debut as a singer at the age of five. Although it looked as if he would follow his father into the banking profession, he became a singer in 1921, working in burlesque. In 1930, together with the French actor Raimu, he made his first film appearance in the French director Marc Allégret's Le Blanc et le Noir.

Fernandel soon became a very popular character actor, thanks to his distinctive equine face, which he exploited to the full, in roles both comic and dramatic. His versatile talent can be seen in more than a hundred films, some memorable, others less so. In the latter part of his 40-year career, Fernandel branched out into production: in 1964 he founded, along with Jean Gabin, the production company Gafer. Among his successes are La Fille du Puisatier (1941; The Well-Digger's Daughter) directed by Marcel Pagnol, Le Petit Monde de Don Camillo (1952; The Little World of Don Camillo), and La Vache et le Prisonnier (1959; The Cow and I).

He was made a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur, an Officier des Palmes Académiques, and a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.