Renoir, Jean (1894-1979)

French film director. His films, characterized by their humanism and naturalistic technique, include Boudu sauvé des eaux/Boudu Saved from Drowning (1932), Le Crime de Monsieur Lange/The Crime of Monsieur Lange (1936), La Grande Illusion (1937), and La Règle du jeu/The Rules of the Game (1939).

Renoir was born in Paris, France, the son of the impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir. He served in World War I and won the Croix de Guerre before turning to film-making. During World War II he left France for Hollywood, and later became a US citizen.

In 1975 he received an honorary Academy Award for his life's work.