Jean Delannoy

Jean Delannoy (12 January 1908 – 18 June 2008) was a French actor, film editor, screenwriter and film director.

Although Delannoy was born in a Paris suburb, his family is from Haute-Normandie in the north of France. He was a Protestant, a descendant of Huguenots, some of whom fled the country during the French Wars of Religion first to settle in Wallonia then, after their name became De la Noye and then Delano, were on the second ship to emigrate to Plymouth, Massachusetts in America.

Jean Delannoy was a student in Paris when he began acting in silent films. He eventually landed a job with Paramount Studios Parisian facilities, working his way up to head film editor. In 1934 he directed his first film and went on to a long career, both writing and directing. In 1946, his film about a Protestant minister titled La symphonie pastorale was awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. In 1960, his film, Maigret tend un piège was nominated for a BAFTA award for "Best Film from any Source."

In recognition of his long service to the French motion picture industry, in 1986 Jean Delannoy was given an Honorary César Award.

Delannoy died of old age on 18 June 2008, at the age of 100.