Fernand Gravey
Fernand Gravey (actually Fernand Maurice Noël Mertens, born December 25, 1905 in Ixelles, Belgium, † November 2, 1970 in Paris) was a Belgian actor.
Life
Gravey, son of actor couple Georges Mertens and Fernande Dépernay, already stood as a child of five years on the stage and turned 1913/14, first films. Since he grew up in England, he mastered English as well as French. During World War II he served in the British Merchant Navy. After minor French films - the first including L' amour chante was from 1930 - 1936 he went to Hollywood, where he was employed as Fernand Gravet in a number of major productions of MGM.
Shortly before the beginning of World War II, he returned to France and also starred in films, made under the supervision of the Nazis there. At the same time he was a member of the French secret service and fought in the Foreign Legion. In the 1950s he was hailed as a war hero and took his film career again. Even in international productions, he received roles, such as in William Wyler's How to steal a Million. Throughout his life remained Gravey the theater actively connected.
Gravey was married to silent film actress Jane Renouardt since 1936.