Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin 8 May 1903 26 February 1971 better known as Fernandel was a French actor and singer Born in Marseille France to Désirée Bedouin and Denis Contandin originating in Perosa Argentina an Occitan town located in the province of Turin He was a comedy star who first gained popularity in French vaudeville operettas and musichall revues His stage name originated from his marriage to Henriette Manse the sister of his best friend and frequent cinematic collaborator Jean Manse So attentive was he to his wife that his motherinlaw amusingly referred to him as Fernand delle Fernand of her Wikipedia