Jean Reno (born Juan Moreno y Herrera-Jiménez, 1948) is a French and Spanish actor. He became a leading man of French cinema through his collaborations with director Luc Besson and has also worked in many international productions. He received three César Award nominations, for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, and his films include La Femme Nikita, Mission: Impossible, Ronin, The Pink Panther and The Da Vinci Code.
Early life
Reno was born in Casablanca, in French Morocco, to Spanish parents who had moved to North Africa to find work and to escape Francoist Spain. At the age of 17 he moved with his family to France, where he studied acting at the Cours Simon School of Drama in Paris. He also served in the French Army after his family gained French citizenship. He grew up speaking Spanish at home and French in Morocco.
Career
Because of his large frame, Reno was often cast as heavies early in his career before moving on to romantic comedies and action films. He appeared in many films by Luc Besson, and their collaborations, such as La Femme Nikita and Léon: The Professional, achieved strong critical and commercial success. He has also starred in several American productions, and in 2024 he released his first novel, Emma.
Personal life
Reno has been married three times and has six children, two from each marriage. He maintains homes in Paris, Malaysia and Los Angeles and holds dual French and Spanish citizenship. He has said that his roots are above all Spanish and Andalusian. He has received several state honours, including the Officer of the National Order of Merit and the Commander of the Legion of Honor.