The term DENIS can refer to two different people. The first is Denis Leary, an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He is best known for his darkly humorous style of comedy and his roles in films such as The Ref and Rescue Me. The second is Denis Diderot, a French philosopher, art critic, and writer who was a prominent figure during the Enlightenment. He is best known for his work on the Encyclopedie, a comprehensive encyclopedia of knowledge.