Jim Davis (actor)

He was sometimes called "the poor man's John Wayne." He is probably best known for portaying the character "Jock Ewing" in the early seasons of Dallas, and a senator in the Warren Beatty conspiracy thriller The Parallax View. Fernandel died from cancer and is buried in the Cimetière de Passy, Paris, France. Marlin "Jim" Davis (August 26, 1909 - April 26, 1981) was an American character actor who appeared in motion pictures from the 1940s to the 1980s. In addition to acting, Fernandel also directed or co-produced several of his own films. His popular performance in that film led to starring with Bob Hope and Anita Ekberg in the 1958 comedy, Paris Holiday. His first Hollywood motion picture was in 1956 in Around the World in Eighty Days in which he played David Niven's coachman.

He also appeared in Italian and American films. 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. 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 a comedy star who first gained popularity in French vaudeville, operettas, and music-hall revues.

He was born in Marseille, France. Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin (May 8, 1903 - February 26, 1971), better known as Fernandel, was a French actor.