Jean-louis De Turenne ’64

Jean-Louis de Turenne died April 19, 2011, in Monaco after a long illness.

Born of the highest French nobility and raised in Philadelphia by his French mother and American stepfather, Jean-Louis attended The Hill School. At Princeton, he was a member of Triangle, had a program on WPRB called Ici Paris, dined at Charter Club, and majored in French.

After military service, he headed the French Film Office in New York, where he met his lovely wife, Mimi; together they made a glamorous couple known for their wonderful parties and generosity to all.

Upon returning to Paris, Jean-Louis continued his career in film, soon establishing his own company, which became a leader in distributing U.S. movies, including those of Woody Allen, in France. He also produced a number of successful films.  

Unfortunately, his health declined, forcing him into early retirement in Monaco.

Jean-Louis was refined and unpretentious, possessed a mildly self-deprecating sense of humor, never took himself too seriously, and was a paragon of natural elegance: always impeccably dressed and polite to a fault. He was full of fun and fantasy; no one was better company. How we shall miss him!

He is survived by three children, Stéphanie, Nicholas, and Nathalie, and his second wife, Babette.