Fernando Fernán-Gómez (28 August 1921 – 21 November 2007) was a Spanish actor, screenwriter, film director, theater director and member of the Royal Spanish Academy for seven years. He was born in Lima, Peru while his mother, Spanish actress Carola Fernán-Gómez, was making a tour of Latin America. He would later use her surname for his stage name when he moved to Spain in 1924.

After the Spanish Civil War he began to study law but interrupted his studies to work in theater. In 1942 he began to act in movies but also continued working on plays. He formed his own theater company and received awards for directing and writing. In the 1950s he began to direct movies, including the film of his novel, El viaje a ninguna parte. He received praise for his 1958 comedy La vida por delante, which led to a sequel, La vida alrededor. In 1977, he won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 27th Berlin International Film Festival for his role in The Anchorite. He won the award again at the 35th Berlin International Film Festival in 1985 for his role in Stico. and finally the Honorary Golden Bear at the 55th Berlin International Film Festival in 2005.

Having been very much in demand during the 1970s and 1980s, the 1990s was a less active period for him, but towards the end of his life, he enjoyed something of a revival, featuring in three major projects: "Todo sobre mi madre," "Plenilunio", and a starring role in the hit "La lengua de las mariposas".

He married María Dolores Pradera in 1945; they divorced in 1959. He married Emma Cohen in 2000. Fernando Fernán Gómez died in Madrid on 21 November 2007. As he was a lifelong anarchist, his coffin was covered in a black and red anarchist flag.

Awards

Best Director
1987 El viaje a ninguna parte
Best Actor
1987 Mambrú se fue a la guerra
1999 El abuelo
Best Original Screenplay
1987 El viaje a ninguna parte
Best Supporting Actor
1993 Belle époque (film)
Best Adapted Screenplay
2001 Lázaro de Tormes