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Jean RenoActor
Date of Birth: 30.07.1948
Country:  France |
Content:
Biography of Jean Reno
Jean Reno is a famous French actor of Spanish origin. He gained popularity after the release of the drama film "Leon" and was in demand for his roles as a lonely hitman. Reno captured the attention of the audience with his performances in other films as well. Alongside his dramatic career, Reno also developed a successful comedic career, starring in the funny film "Les Visiteurs".
Reno's creative biography includes dozens of films, including famous movies such as "Wasabi", "Unlucky", "The Da Vinci Code", "Ronin", and "Godzilla". Originally named Juan Moreno, Jean Reno was born in the Moroccan city of Casablanca. His parents, who were originally from Spain, had to leave their home country due to the rise of military dictator Francisco Franco. The family lived in Africa for the first 12 years of Reno's life before relocating to the more liberal France.
However, obtaining citizenship for foreign nationals was not easy, so Reno's parents had to work in blue-collar jobs. His mother became a seamstress and his father worked in a printing house. When Reno was 17 years old, his mother passed away unexpectedly. In order to establish himself in the new country, Reno needed a French passport, so he enlisted in the National Guard to obtain it. After serving in the army for about 4 years and officially becoming a French citizen, Jean Reno decided to pursue a career in theater or cinema, as he had been attracted to acting since childhood.
In 1970, he started attending acting courses at the renowned Rene Simon Studio in Paris. During this period, he adopted the stage name Jean Reno, translating his name Juan into the French transcription and discarding the first two letters of his surname. While studying at the acting courses, the young man worked wherever he could. It is known that he worked as a driver, accountant, and even a customs officer.
After gaining theoretical knowledge and experience, Reno made his debut in television productions in the series "One Mystery a Day" and later on the theatrical stage in the philosophical play "This Man" based on Friedrich Nietzsche's works. His first feature film was "The Hypothesis of the Stolen Painting" in 1978.
Films
Despite having a successful career as a theater actor, Reno faced difficulties in the film industry. However, his meeting with young director Luc Besson changed his fortune. In 1981, the short film "Le Dernier Combat" was released, followed by "Subway" in 1985, which made France talk about Jean Reno, even though his role was secondary. He then appeared in several films by other directors, such as "The Telephone Always Rings Twice", "Personal Affairs", "I Love You", and "The Crimson Rivers".
Eventually, Reno reunited with Besson and played the role of diver Enzo Molinari in the film "The Big Blue", which earned him his first nomination for the Cesar Award. In 1990, Reno played the secondary role of a killer in the crime thriller "Nikita" and presented himself as a rugged, lonely hitman, a role that would become his trademark for many years. His favorite director, Luc Besson, specially wrote a script for Reno after seeing him in the film "Nikita", leading to their collaboration on the film "Leon" in 1994, which brought them both fantastic popularity. Reno tried to change people's perception of him as an actor with only one character and participated in films of other genres, such as the historical comedy "Les Visiteurs", the romantic comedy "French Kiss", the modern Western "The Jaguar", the surrealistic melodrama "Beyond the Clouds", the energetic comedy "Place Vendome", and others. Some of these works were successful, but it was his portrayal of the solitary villain that became Reno's ticket to the world of American cinema and the Hollywood studios.
Reno's first Hollywood film was the blockbuster "Mission: Impossible", in which he played the role of secret agent Franz Krieger. Director Brian De Palma invited Reno for the role, believing that the actor could make an impression on the audience without saying a word. His next successful film was the monster film "Godzilla". This time, Reno was given the opportunity to portray a "good guy" and he excelled in the role of a man who saves the world from the creature.
Reno showcased his talent alongside acclaimed actor Robert De Niro in the action thriller "Ronin", which is considered his best performance of the 20th century. In the new millennium, 52-year-old Jean Reno achieved even greater success. The psychological thriller "Crimson Rivers", based on the famous novel by Jean-Christophe Grange, became extremely popular, leading to a sequel released four years later, titled "Crimson Rivers 2: Angels of the Apocalypse". In 2001, an American adaptation of "Les Visiteurs" was released, titled "Just Visiting", in which Reno and Christian Clavier reprised their roles as a count and his squire from medieval France. The film was set in modern-day America. The same year, Reno starred in another globally famous film, playing the role of Police Commissioner Hubert Fiorentini in the action-comedy "Wasabi". The eccentric policeman discovers he has an almost adult daughter, who is half Japanese, and the new father tries to protect her from the yakuza, who are hunting her down.
Other notable works from the 21st century include the comedy film "Unlucky", in which Reno co-starred with Gerard Depardieu, the romantic drama "Love Story", the crime comedy "The Pink Panther", the dramatic thriller "The Crimson Rivers 2: Angels of the Apocalypse", the comic book film "The Corsican File", the adaptation of Dan Brown's popular novel "The Da Vinci Code", the Franco-Spanish culinary comedy "Chef", and the outstanding performance in the adaptation of Jean-Christophe Grange's novel "Empire of the Wolves".
In 2014, Reno appeared in the adventurous tragicomedy film "Hector and the Search for Happiness", playing a supporting role. In January 2017, the comedy film "The Family" was released, in which Reno portrayed the character of Patrick, an international thief. The criminal devises a plan that involves his daughters, whom he has never seen in his life. The thief tries to combine his "work" with attempts to rebuild his relationship with his abandoned children.
Personal Life
Reno's first marriage took place before he became a famous actor, and the name of his first wife remains unknown to the public. He had two children - a daughter named Sandra and a son named Michael - from this marriage. The couple divorced due to Reno's affair with Polish fashion model Natalia Dyszkiewicz, who later became his second wife. Reno and Dyszkiewicz had a son named Tom and a daughter named Serena. This marriage ended in 2001.
After a 5-year break, Reno married for the third time. His chosen one was Romanian model and actress Sofia Boruca. Interestingly, the French Minister of the Interior, Nicolas Sarkozy, served as a witness for the groom.
Reno lives alternatingly in an apartment in Paris and in mansions in Los Angeles and Malaysia. His hobbies include a great passion for football. Reno is a fan of the Inter Milan football team. Additionally, Jean Reno is a big fan of rock and roll legend Elvis Presley's work.
Present
In 2016, after a 17-year hiatus, Jean Reno returned to the screens in the role of Count Godfrey de Montmirail in the comedy film "The Visitors: Bastille Day". In this new sequel, the famous count and his squire are transported to the year 1789, during the time of the French Revolution.
In January 2017, the premiere of the comedy film "The Family" took place, with Reno in the lead role. The actor played the role of Patrick, a thief working internationally. Patrick devises a robbery plan that involves his daughters, who have never seen their father before. The thief tries to combine his "work" with his attempts to rebuild his relationship with his abandoned children.
After a short break, Jean Reno is ready for new achievements. He is currently involved in 7 projects. One of them is the war drama film "Waiting for Anya", in which Reno will appear alongside Angelica Huston. The British film tells the story of inhabitants of a small French village who hide several Jewish children from the Nazis. In 2019, Reno will also appear in the French thriller "Cold Blood Legacy" and the Spanish drama "4 latas".
In early 2019, it was announced that Jean Reno, along with Chadwick Boseman and Delroy Lindo, will be part of the main cast of Spike Lee's drama "Da 5 Bloods". The film tells the story of Vietnam War veterans who return to the battlegrounds years later in the remote jungles. Here, they try to resolve their own issues and help their fellow soldier. It is also known that Jean Reno will appear alongside Vincent Cassel in the horror film "Fantomas", directed by Christophe Gans.
