Jean Reno

Jean Reno, born Juan Moreno y Herrera-Jiménez, is a French and Spanish actor known for his leading roles in French cinema as well as his work in international motion pictures. He gained prominent recognition through his frequent creative collaborations with filmmaker Luc Besson. Over his career, Reno has earned three César Award nominations for his performances in major French films such as The Big Blue, Les Visiteurs, and Léon: The Professional.

He was born on July 30, 1948, in Casablanca, French Morocco, to Spanish parents from Andalusia who had relocated to North Africa to find employment and escape Francoist Spain. Growing up, he learned French in Morocco and Spanish from his family, which included a younger sister. Following his mother's death during his teenage years, his family moved to France when he was seventeen. There, he fulfilled mandatory military service in the French Army after gaining citizenship and studied drama at the Cours Simon School of Drama in Paris.

Upon embarking on an acting career in France, he Frenchified his first name to Jean and shortened his family name to Reno. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall, he was initially cast in physically intimidating roles before expanding into action films and romantic comedies. His early screen work led to a fruitful artistic relationship with director Luc Besson, starting with Le Dernier Combat in 1983. Their partnerships resulted in widely acclaimed titles, including La Femme Nikita, as well as English-language hits such as The Big Blue and Léon: The Professional.

Reno's success in French cinema paved the way for major Hollywood and international productions. He appeared alongside prominent global actors in releases such as French Kiss, Mission: Impossible, Ronin, and Godzilla. Although he turned down the role of Agent Smith in The Matrix, he maintained a strong presence in domestic releases, headlining successful French features like Les Visiteurs, The Crimson Rivers, and Jet Lag.

In subsequent years, Reno took on key roles in studio projects, playing Gilbert Ponton in the 2006 remake of The Pink Panther and its sequel, as well as Captain Bezu Fache in The Da Vinci Code. His film credits also encompass titles such as Wasabi, Flushed Away, Hector and the Search for Happiness, The Promise, and Da 5 Bloods. Additionally, he provided the French voice dubbing for Mufasa in the animated film The Lion King.

Beyond feature films, Reno lent his physical appearance and French voice talent to the video game Onimusha 3: Demon Siege as the character Jacques Blanc. He starred in the 2013 English-language television series Jo, and appeared in commercial campaigns for companies including UPS in the United States and Toyota in Japan. In addition to his screen work, Reno became an author, releasing his debut novel Emma in 2024, followed by a 2026 sequel titled L'Évasion.

Reno holds dual French and Spanish citizenship and considers his roots deeply connected to Andalusia. He has been married three times: first to Geneviève, then to Polish model Nathalie Dyszkiewicz, and thirdly to model and actress Zofia Borucka in 2006. He is a father to six children, having two from each of his marriages, and maintains residences in Paris, Los Angeles, and Malaysia.