Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin (May 8, 1903 – February 26, 1971), better known as Fernandel, was a French actor. May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... 1903 has the latest occurring solstices and equinoxes for 400 years, because the Gregorian calendar hasnt had a leap year for seven years or a century leap year since 1600. ... February 26 is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ...

He was born in Marseille, France. He was a comedy star who first gained popularity in French vaudeville, operettas, and music-hall revues. City motto: Actibus immensis urbs fulget Massiliensis. ... Comedy is the use of humour in the performing arts. ... Vaudeville was a style of multi-act theater which flourished in North America from the 1880s through the 1920s. ... Operetta (literally, little opera) is a performance art-form similar to opera, though it generally deals with less serious topics. ... Music Hall is a form of British theatrical entertainment which reached its peak of popularity between 1850 and 1960. ...

In 1930, he appeared in his first motion picture and for more than forty years he would be France's top comedic actor. 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. 1930 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... For other uses see film (disambiguation) Film refers to the celluliod media on which movies are printed Film — also called movies, the cinema, the silver screen, moving pictures, photoplays, picture shows, flicks, or motion pictures, — is a field that encompasses motion pictures as an art form or as part of... Don Camillo was a catholic priest and the main protagonist in Giovanni Guareschis tales. ...

He also appeared in Italian and American films. His first Hollywood motion picture was in 1956 in Around the World in Eighty Days in which he played David Niven's coachman. His popular performance in that film led to starring with Bob Hope and Anita Ekberg in the 1958 comedy, Paris Holiday. ... 1956 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Around the World in Eighty Days is a 1956 movie based on the novel of the same name by Jules Verne. ... David Niven was the second unofficial James Bond. ... Leslie Townes Hope KBE (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003), best known as Bob Hope, was a famous entertainer, having appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, on radio and television, movies and in army concerts. ... Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg (born September 29, 1931 in Malmö) was a model and actress. ...

In addition to acting, Fernandel also directed or co-produced several of his own films.

Fernandel died from cancer and is buried in the Cimetière de Passy, Paris, France. The Cimetière de Passy is a famous cemetery located in 2, rue du Commandant SchÅ“lsing, in the quarter of Passy in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, France. ...