Jean Reno is an internationally renowned French actor best known for his roles in Hollywood films such as The Professional, Léon: The Professional, Godzilla and Mission Impossible. Born Juan Moreno y Herrera-Jiménez in Casablanca in Morocco on July 30th 1948, he moved to France at the age of three with his family.
Reno’s first foray into acting came while still a student when he joined a local theater group. His professional debut was in the play “Molière,” which was followed by many other stage performances. After appearing as an extra in several movies, Reno’s big break came when he was cast as a corrupt police officer in Nikita (1990). This performance earned him an award for Best Supporting Actor at the Cannes Film Festival.
Since then, Reno has gone on to star in numerous successful films including The Da Vinci Code (2006), Les Visiteurs (1993), Ronin (1998) and Godard’s Breathless (1960). In addition to becoming one of the most recognizable faces of European cinema, he has also appeared in numerous American productions such as Mission: Impossible (1996), Flyboys (2006) and Ocean´s Twelve (2004). He has won multiple awards including four César Awards from the French Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques.
Although he continues to appear in films, Reno is also heavily involved in charity work. He supports a number of charities, including the International Red Cross and Greenpeace. He has also founded his own foundation, Les Enfants de Jean Reno (The Children of Jean Reno). Through this initiative, he actively helps underprivileged children around the world.
Jean Reno’s career as an actor spans four decades and multiple countries. His diverse portfolio of roles demonstrates his incredible range and versatility as an actor. Thanks to his charismatic performances, he has become one of the most beloved stars of French cinema and a much-loved icon throughout Europe and beyond.