Jean Baudrillard (1929-2007) was a French sociologist, philosopher, and cultural theorist known for his critiques of contemporary society, media, and consumer culture. He rose to prominence in the 1980s with works like 'Simulacra and Simulation,' where he explored the concept of hyperreality and the blurring of reality and simulation in a media-saturated world. Baudrillard's ideas on simulation, simulacra, and the loss of the real had a significant impact on fields like sociology, media studies, and cultural studies.