Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin was born in Marseilles in 1903, and he spent most of his life in Provence.  He began his career in 1921 in comic theatre, most notably at the Bobino in Paris in 1928.  He adopted the stage name Fernandel after his mother-in-law referred to him as "Fernand d’elle".

Fernandel’s film career began in 1930 when he was cast by director Marc Allégret alongside another legend, Raimu, in Le Blanc et le Noir.  Equipped with a disarming toothy grin, Fernandel became one of the most popular comic actors of his generation, in both cinema and theatre.  His film career spanned 40 years, without a break, including nealy 150 films.  He also recorded many of the songs from these films, including Simplet, Ignace and Barnabé, many of which became national successes. 

Fernandel has already directed a number of films, but with far less success than his acting.  His film roles are too numerous to list, but his main successes include: Regain (1937), Le Schpountz (1938), La Fille du puisatier (1940) and La Vache et le Prisonnier (1959). 

Arguably Fernandel’s most popular role was the part of the temperamental Catholic priest in the series of Don Camillo film of the 1950s and 1960s, which began with Duvivier’s Le Petit Monde de Don Camillo (1952).

Through his phenomenal film career, Fernandel became one of the icons of French culture in the Twentieth Century, instantly recognisable and regarded with affection by almost everyone who has seen his films.  His blend of burlesque comedy, sardonic wit, engaging charm and poignant naivety has a timeless quality which makes his films as watchable today as when they were first made. 

Fernandel was publically recognised for his work, receiving such honours as the Knight of the Legion of Honour.   He died from cancer in 1971.  The director and writer Marcel Pagnol described Fernandel as the man who knew how to make people laugh, even those who have more reason to cry.