Education
share:
TCM Archive Materials VIEW ALL ARCHIVES (0)
| Also Known As: | Fernand Joseph Desire Contandin | Died: | February 26, 1971 |
| Born: | May 8, 1903 | Cause of Death: | lung cancer |
| Birth Place: | France | Profession: | actor, vaudevillian, singer, comedian, delivery boy, bank messenger, shipping clerk, bank teller, docker |
Biography CLOSE THE FULL BIOGRAPHY
Popular, prolific long-faced French comedian with an enormous, horsey grin who, through the expressive use of his hands, homely face and voice, became one of the most beloved film stars in France and appeared, often as innocent peasant characters, in almost 150 films. Although he first gained screen popularity with a serious role in Bernard Deschamps's "Le Rosier de Madame Husson" (1932), Fernandel was best known for his numerous comic portrayals, especially as the title character, an irascible Italian village priest, in the "Don Camillo" series.
Popular, prolific long-faced French comedian with an enormous, horsey grin who, through the expressive use of his hands, homely face and voice, became one of the most beloved film stars in France and appeared, often as innocent peasant characters, in almost 150 films. Although he first gained screen popularity with a serious role in Bernard Deschamps's "Le Rosier de Madame Husson" (1932), Fernandel was best known for his numerous comic portrayals, especially as the title character, an irascible Italian village priest, in the "Don Camillo" series.
Filmographyclose complete filmography
CAST: (feature film)
Milestones close milestones
Notes
His stage name "Fernandel" supposedly came from the nickname his wife's family gave him--"le Fernand d'Elle" (her Fernand)--when he was first courting her.
Member of the Legion of Honor, described in the citation as a "merchant of happiness".
Please support TCMDB by adding to this information.
Click here to contribute