Son of the famous Impressionist painter Pierre Auguste, he had a happy childhood. Pierre Renoir was his brother, and Claude Renoir was his nephew. After the end of World War I, where he won the Croix de Guerre, he moved from scriptwriting to filmmaking. He married Catherine Hessling , for whom he began to make movies; he wanted to make a star of her. They separated in 1930, although he remained married to her until 1943. His next partner was Marguerite Renoir , whom he never married, although she took his name. He left France in 1941 during the German invasion of France during World War II and became a naturalized US citizen.

Son of impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir (aka Auguste Renoir ).Younger brother of Pierre RenoirUncle of Claude RenoirAlthough he became an American citizen, he was buried in France following a state funeral.Was voted the 12th-greatest director of all time by Entertainment Weekly magazine, making him the highest-rated French filmmaker on the list.He frequently acted in his own movies, earning praise for his performances as lovable bear-like lugs (he even dressed up like a bear in La règle du jeu (1939)).Biography in John Wakeman, editor, "World Film Directors, Volume One, 1890-1945," pp. 923-947. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1987.He once said that no other Hollywood director understood people better than Leo McCarey .Called "the boss" by director Jacques Rivette .Grand-uncle of actress Sophie Renoir .Orson Welles frequently cited him as the greatest film director of all time.He fought in the French army during World War I and was wounded in battle. His wounds never healed properly and he suffered from it for the rest of his life.Profiled in "Encyclopedia of French Film Directors" by Philippe Rege (Scarecrow Press).Grand-uncle of artist Alexandre Renoir .Darryl F. Zanuck , Renoir's sometimes producer during Renoir's mixed period making films in Hollywood said "Renoir has plenty of talent, but he's not one of us.".He had extremely long hair as a small child which was not cut at the insistence of his father, Auguste Renoir . His hair made him look like a little girl and caused him to be teased mercilessly. Little Jean with his long hair was depicted famously in one of his father's paintings. Jean was greatly relieved to go away for school because he knew they required boys to have short hair and they would cut his.