Fernandel

Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin, better known as Fernandel, was a French comic actor. Born in Marseille, France, to Désirée Bedouin and Denis Contandin, originating in Perosa Argentina, a town located in the province of Turin, Italy, he became a comedy star, first gaining popularity in French vaudeville, operettas, and music-hall 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 mother-in-law amusingly referred to him as Fernand d'elle.

8 May 1903

Born on the same birth day (8 May): Bobby Labonte • Buakaw Banchamek • Edward Gibbon • Felix Jones • Gaius de Gaay Fortman • Gordon McClymont • H. Robert Horvitz • Heather Harper • John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan • Korey Stringer • Lennie Hoffmann, Baron Hoffmann • Peter Benchley • Rick Zombo • Robert Johnson

Born in the same month (May 1903): Benjamin Spock • Bing Crosby • Cool Papa Bell • Countee Cullen • Manly Wade Wellman • Nikolay Zabolotsky • S. L. Kirloskar