Andrex (1907–1989) was a French film actor and singer. He was a close friend of the comedian Fernandel and appeared in many films alongside him.
![Andrex]()
French card.
![Andrex]()
French postcard by EPC (Editions et Publications Cinématographiques), no. 225. Photo: Studio Harcourt.
![Andrex]()
French postcard, no. 113. Photo: Teddy Piaz.
Andrex was born as André Jaubert in 1907 in Marseille, France. (Andrex is in English language countries also the name of a toilet roll!) At the Copello school, he met Fernandel. They became friends for life. Later, Fernandel launched him in the cinema, and helped him getting roles.
Aided by Maurice Chevalier, he made his debut as a singer at the Alcazar in Marseille, before 'going up' in Paris and performing at the Mayol Concert. He then turned to the theatre and the operetta. In 1932, he was hired by Henri Varna at the Casino de Paris, which opened the doors for him of the biggest Music Halls in the capital: the ABC, Bobino, and the Théâtre de l'Empire.
In 1931, he appeared in the short film Une idée de génie/An idea of genius (Louis Mercanton, 1931). In 1933, he played for the first time with his childhood friend Fernandel in the comedy Le Coq du régiment/The Rooster of the Regiment (Maurice Cammage, 1933). In total, they appeared in 29 films together.
When Fernandel had a contract for a new film he quite often asked if there was a part for Andrex, so he could "have a laugh and play balls" between the takes. Thus Andrex acted in Marcel Pagnol's masterpiece Angèle (Marcel Pagnol, 1934), and in other popular successes of the time: Ignace (Pierre Colombier, 1937), Barnabé (Alexandre Esway, 1938) and Les Cinq Sous de Lavarède/The Five Cents of Lavarede (Maurice Cammage, 1939).
Without Fernandel, he also played in the classic Manon (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1949), featuring Cécile Aubry and co-starring Serge Reggiani and Michel Auclair.
![Andrex]()
French card, no. 533. Photo: Studio Piaz.
![Andrex]()
French postcard, no. 127. Photo: Roger Carlet.
Andrex is best remembered for his roles in such Fernandel films as Rascasse in Simplet (Fernandel, 1942) and as the mechanic Pastèque (Watermelon) in Honoré de Marseille (Maurice Regamey, 1956).
He also appeared in the film which brought Bourvil and Fernandel together, La Cuisine au beurre (Gilles Grangier, 1963). That year, he also portrayed alongside Jean Gabin in Monsieur/Mister (Jean-Paul Le Chanois, 1963), Antoine, a gangster more naive than clever.
Apart from his acting career, Andrex continued to sing songs such as 'Comme de course', 'La Samba brésilienne' (Brazilian Samba), 'Le Régiment des Mandolines' and his greatest success 'Chez Bébert (le monte-en-l'air)'. He participated in many galas in Lyon organised by his friend Jo Darlays.
Andrex appeared in the drama L'Âge ingrat/That Tender Age (Gilles Grangier, 1964), the first film produced by Gafer, a production company founded by Jean Gabin and Fernandel.
In the early 1970s, he tried his hand at television series and appeared in the TV film Le Petit Théâtre de Jean Renoir/The Little Theatre of Jean Renoir (1970), the last completed work by Jean Renoir.
After the death, in 1971, of his wife, actress Ginette Baudin, and of Fernandel, his great friend, who helped him to have small roles in the cinema, Andrex's appearances in the media became increasingly rare. In 1973, he participated with other artists in the successful recording of French songs from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.
In 1979, he appeared in the film Charles et Lucie/Charles and Lucie (Nelly Kaplan, 1979), before his final film appearance in Cap Canaille (Juliet Berto, Jean-Henri Roger, 1983).
Andrex died in 1989 in Paris, from a heart attack. He was 82. Andrex rests with his wife Ginette Baudin at the cemetery of Saint-Ouen.
![Andrex]()
French card by Editions O.P., Paris, no. 105. Photo: Studio Piaz.
![Andrex]()
Belgian postcard by P.E., no. 68. Photo: Studio Verhassel, Brussels.
Soources: Wikipedia (French and English) and IMDb.
French card.
French postcard by EPC (Editions et Publications Cinématographiques), no. 225. Photo: Studio Harcourt.
French postcard, no. 113. Photo: Teddy Piaz.
Friends for life
Andrex was born as André Jaubert in 1907 in Marseille, France. (Andrex is in English language countries also the name of a toilet roll!) At the Copello school, he met Fernandel. They became friends for life. Later, Fernandel launched him in the cinema, and helped him getting roles.
Aided by Maurice Chevalier, he made his debut as a singer at the Alcazar in Marseille, before 'going up' in Paris and performing at the Mayol Concert. He then turned to the theatre and the operetta. In 1932, he was hired by Henri Varna at the Casino de Paris, which opened the doors for him of the biggest Music Halls in the capital: the ABC, Bobino, and the Théâtre de l'Empire.
In 1931, he appeared in the short film Une idée de génie/An idea of genius (Louis Mercanton, 1931). In 1933, he played for the first time with his childhood friend Fernandel in the comedy Le Coq du régiment/The Rooster of the Regiment (Maurice Cammage, 1933). In total, they appeared in 29 films together.
When Fernandel had a contract for a new film he quite often asked if there was a part for Andrex, so he could "have a laugh and play balls" between the takes. Thus Andrex acted in Marcel Pagnol's masterpiece Angèle (Marcel Pagnol, 1934), and in other popular successes of the time: Ignace (Pierre Colombier, 1937), Barnabé (Alexandre Esway, 1938) and Les Cinq Sous de Lavarède/The Five Cents of Lavarede (Maurice Cammage, 1939).
Without Fernandel, he also played in the classic Manon (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1949), featuring Cécile Aubry and co-starring Serge Reggiani and Michel Auclair.
French card, no. 533. Photo: Studio Piaz.
French postcard, no. 127. Photo: Roger Carlet.
A gangster more naive than clever
Andrex is best remembered for his roles in such Fernandel films as Rascasse in Simplet (Fernandel, 1942) and as the mechanic Pastèque (Watermelon) in Honoré de Marseille (Maurice Regamey, 1956).
He also appeared in the film which brought Bourvil and Fernandel together, La Cuisine au beurre (Gilles Grangier, 1963). That year, he also portrayed alongside Jean Gabin in Monsieur/Mister (Jean-Paul Le Chanois, 1963), Antoine, a gangster more naive than clever.
Apart from his acting career, Andrex continued to sing songs such as 'Comme de course', 'La Samba brésilienne' (Brazilian Samba), 'Le Régiment des Mandolines' and his greatest success 'Chez Bébert (le monte-en-l'air)'. He participated in many galas in Lyon organised by his friend Jo Darlays.
Andrex appeared in the drama L'Âge ingrat/That Tender Age (Gilles Grangier, 1964), the first film produced by Gafer, a production company founded by Jean Gabin and Fernandel.
In the early 1970s, he tried his hand at television series and appeared in the TV film Le Petit Théâtre de Jean Renoir/The Little Theatre of Jean Renoir (1970), the last completed work by Jean Renoir.
After the death, in 1971, of his wife, actress Ginette Baudin, and of Fernandel, his great friend, who helped him to have small roles in the cinema, Andrex's appearances in the media became increasingly rare. In 1973, he participated with other artists in the successful recording of French songs from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.
In 1979, he appeared in the film Charles et Lucie/Charles and Lucie (Nelly Kaplan, 1979), before his final film appearance in Cap Canaille (Juliet Berto, Jean-Henri Roger, 1983).
Andrex died in 1989 in Paris, from a heart attack. He was 82. Andrex rests with his wife Ginette Baudin at the cemetery of Saint-Ouen.
French card by Editions O.P., Paris, no. 105. Photo: Studio Piaz.
Belgian postcard by P.E., no. 68. Photo: Studio Verhassel, Brussels.
Soources: Wikipedia (French and English) and IMDb.