French Famous Names Starting with Letter J

Was a film director, actor, translator, animator, critic and theorist. He was the son of mathematici

Was a film director, actor, translator, animator, critic and theorist. He was the son of mathematician and twice prime-minister of France, Paul Painlevé. In the Lycée Louis Le Grand, he was a poor and inattentive student who preferred to skip classes and go to the Jardin d'Acclimatation where he was assisting the guard in taking care of the animals. Painlevé later wrote: "In high school, my classmates hated me. They hated people in the margins

Was a navigator, cartographer, and poet. Jean and his brother Raoul made numerous voyages for the sh

Was a navigator, cartographer, and poet. Jean and his brother Raoul made numerous voyages for the shipowner Jean Ango, and sailed to the coasts of Brazil, North America, West Africa and Sumatra.

Is a French lawyer and businessman. He is one of the best-known French entrepreneurs of the business

Is a French lawyer and businessman. He is one of the best-known French entrepreneurs of the business development in Africa.He learned the languages of the countries of Black Africa: the Lingala, the kigwandi, the Tshiluba and Dioula.

Was a French Jesuit missionary, and founder of an order of Catholic Religious Sisters. He entered th

Was a French Jesuit missionary, and founder of an order of Catholic Religious Sisters. He entered the Society of Jesus, 15 August, 1640, and after completing his studies spent a number of years in the classroom, teaching both the lower and higher studies of the college courses and particularly, for the space of six years, philosophy. Later he was applied to preaching, his life's work; to this he gave himself up almost exclusively for eighteen years, until advancing age forced him instead to take up directing sodalities and hearing confessions.

A French existentialist philosopher and pioneer, dramatist and screenwriter, novelist and critic. He

A French existentialist philosopher and pioneer, dramatist and screenwriter, novelist and critic. He was a leading figure in 20th century French philosophy.

Was a writer and professor of literature. Of French descent, he was born in Algeria, but left as par

Was a writer and professor of literature. Of French descent, he was born in Algeria, but left as part of the diaspora of French colonists referred to as pied-noirs following the Algerian War.

Was a French politician. Jean Pelet was descended from Pelet, baron de Salgas, who spent 14 years co

Was a French politician. Jean Pelet was descended from Pelet, baron de Salgas, who spent 14 years condemned to the galleys after being from the nobility, having his lands confiscated and his castles razed for not revoking his Protestant faith. (Jean himself was a member of the consistory of the reformed church of Paris and the father of Joseph Pelet de la Lozère (1785-1871), conseiller d'État, peer of France several times a minister in the July Monarchy.) Jean was the son of the businessman Jean Pelet and his wife Marie Castanier. He became avocat to the parlement de Provence as a young man and was attached to the bar of Florac.

Was a successful portraitist for French Royalty in the first half of the 16th Century, as well as an

Was a successful portraitist for French Royalty in the first half of the 16th Century, as well as an architect, sculptor and limner of illuminated manuscripts. He was active mostly in France and in Italy and London as well. Perréal’s major patrons were Charles of Bourbon, King Charles VIII, Louis XII and Francis I, all of France. It is mentioned that in honor of Charles of Bourbon he painted escutcheons for the entry of the nobleman to the city of Lyon[1], but the date of Charles' birth, 1489, and the time of the artist's residence in Lyons do not coincide accurately. His most remarkable works are often considered to be a portrait of Charles VIII (Musée Condé) and a miniature piece, Pierre Sala, an image of a poet who, like Perréal, was a royal valet de chambre.

Is a former football midfielder from France, who earned twelve international caps (one goal) for the

Is a former football midfielder from France, who earned twelve international caps (one goal) for the French national team during the late 1970s. Petit played most of his professional career for AS Monaco, with whom he won the French title in 1978. He was a member of the French team in the 1978 FIFA World Cup.

Was one of the most famous French painters and sculptors of the second half of the 20th century.Dubu

Was one of the most famous French painters and sculptors of the second half of the 20th century.Dubuffet was born in Le Havre. He moved to Paris in 1918 to study painting at the Académie Julian, but after six months he left the Académie to study independently. In 1924, doubting the value of art, he stopped painting and took over his father's business selling wine. He took up painting again in the 1930s, but again stopped, only turning to art for good in 1942. His first solo show came in 1944. He approached the surrealist group in 1948, then the College of Pataphysique in 1954.

Is a French footballer who plays for FC Petrolul Ploiesti in Romanian Liga II.Mendy started his prof

Is a French footballer who plays for FC Petrolul Ploiesti in Romanian Liga II.Mendy started his professional career at Swiss 1. Liga.

Was one of the most important French composers and music theorists of the Baroque era. He replaced J

Was one of the most important French composers and music theorists of the Baroque era. He replaced Jean-Baptiste Lully as the dominant composer of French opera and he is also considered the leading French author of music for the harpsichord of his time alongside François Couperin.

Is a French writer and journalist.[1] He received the Albert Londres Prize for journalism in 1988, a

Is a French writer and journalist.[1] He received the Albert Londres Prize for journalism in 1988, and his novel L'organisation received the Medicis award in 1996.

Is a French actor and writer. He is an officer in the Légion d'honneur and the Ordre des Arts et de

Is a French actor and writer. He is an officer in the Légion d'honneur and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and a grand officer in the Ordre national du Mérite. He was married to actress Françoise Engel (who died in 2005), and is a professor in the dramatic arts of the Simon Course.

Was a French actor.Aumont was born in Paris as Jean-Pierre Philippe Salomons to Alexandre Salomons,

Was a French actor.Aumont was born in Paris as Jean-Pierre Philippe Salomons to Alexandre Salomons, owner of La Maison du Blanc (a linen department store) and Suzanne Cahen. His mother's uncle was well-known stage actor Georges Berr. His father, whose family came from Holland, was Jewish and his mother also came from a Jewish family. Aumont began studying drama at the Paris Conservatory, following his mother, at the age of sixteen. His professional stage debut occurred at the age of 21. His film debut came one year later, when Jean de la Lune (Jean of the Moon) was produced in 1931.

Was a French physician and haematologist. He was the General Director of Centre National de Transfus

Was a French physician and haematologist. He was the General Director of Centre National de Transfusion Sanguine (CNTS) Paris and professor of haematology at the University of Paris, at the Necker Hospital for Sick Children.

Is a member of the Senate of France, representing the Savoie department. He is a member of the Union

Is a member of the Senate of France, representing the Savoie department. He is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement.

Was a Grand Prix motor racing driver and a member of the French Resistance during World War II.Born

Was a Grand Prix motor racing driver and a member of the French Resistance during World War II.Born in Paris, France to a father who loved motor sports and was employed as the motoring correspondent for the Petit Parisien newspaper, Jean-Pierre Wimille developed a fascination with racing cars at a young age. He was 22 years old when he made his Grand Prix debut, driving a Bugatti 37A at the 1930 French Grand Prix in Pau.

Was a French Jesuit missionary to Canada. He entered the Jesuit novitiate at Nancy, 21 November 1650

Was a French Jesuit missionary to Canada. He entered the Jesuit novitiate at Nancy, 21 November 1650, and after studying at Pont-à-Mousson he became an instructor at Reims and Verdun. He completed the curriculum in 1665 and spent two years more as an instructor at Metz.

Was a French Olympic fencer. He won two gold medals at the 1932 Summer Olympics.[1][2]

Was a French Olympic fencer. He won two gold medals at the 1932 Summer Olympics.[1][2]

Is a French economist and public policy expert. He is currently Director of Bruegel, the Brussels-ba

Is a French economist and public policy expert. He is currently Director of Bruegel, the Brussels-based economic think tank.

Was a French politician. Poperen joined the Communist Party (PCF) at 18, and was also a member of th

Was a French politician. Poperen joined the Communist Party (PCF) at 18, and was also a member of the Union of Communist Students. He left the PCF after the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and became a founding member of the Unified Socialist Party (PSU) in 1960. Disagreeing with the PSU's party line, he founded the Union of Socialist Groups and Clubs (UGCS). The UGCS participated in the Federation of the Democratic and Socialist Left and joined the new Socialist Party at the party's second national congress.

Was French rugby union footballer. He was awarded the Légion d'honneur in 1959. He played over 50 t

Was French rugby union footballer. He was awarded the Légion d'honneur in 1959. He played over 50 times for France and is a member of the International Rugby Hall of Fame, being inducted in 2001. His younger brother also appeared for France. The pair appearing at international level on a number of occasions.

Was a French writer and Resistance fighter. In 1926 he married Marcelle Auclair with whom he had thr

Was a French writer and Resistance fighter. In 1926 he married Marcelle Auclair with whom he had three children (Michel, Françoise and Alain). At the beginning of World War II, he was mobilized and assigned to telephone control at Le Havre. After his first marriage ended, he married Claude Van Biema, a doctor. He was evacuated by sea to Casablanca and returned to France later.

Was a French former football midfielder and a manager.

Was a French former football midfielder and a manager.