Roman Polanski

Where to watch Roman Polanski

• The PianistMovie · 2002

Biography

Roman Polański (born 18 August 1933) is a Polish-French film director, producer, writer and actor. Born in Paris to Polish parents, Polański relocated with his family to Poland in 1937. After surviving the Holocaust, he continued his education in Poland and became a critically acclaimed director of both art house and commercial films. Polański's first feature-length film, Knife in the Water (1962), made in Poland, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. He has since received five more Oscar nominations, and in 2002 received the Academy Award for Best Director for his film, The Pianist. He has also been the recipient of two Baftas, four Césars, a Golden Globe and the Palme d'Or. He left Poland in 1961 to live in France for several years, then moved to the United Kingdom where he collaborated with Gérard Brach on three films, beginning with Repulsion (1965). In 1968 he moved to the United States, immediately cementing his burgeoning directing status with the 1968 groundbreaking Academy Award winning horror film Rosemary's Baby. In 1969, Polański's pregnant wife, Sharon Tate, was murdered while staying at the Polańskis' Benedict Canyon home above Los Angeles by members of the Manson Family. Following Tate's death, Polański returned to Europe and spent much of his time in Paris and Gstaad, but did not make another film until he filmed Macbeth (1971) in England. The following year he went to Italy to make What? (1973) and subsequently spent the next five years living near Rome. However, he traveled to Hollywood to direct Chinatown (1974) for Paramount Pictures, with Robert Evans serving as producer. The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, and was a critical and box-office success; the script by Robert Towne won for Best Original Screenplay. Polański's next film, The Tenant (1976), was shot in France, and completed the "Apartment Trilogy", following Repulsion and Rosemary's Baby. In 1977, after a photo shoot in Los Angeles, Polański was arrested for the sexual abuse of a 13 year old girl. He was charged with rape but pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a minor. To avoid sentencing, Polański fled to his home in London, and then moved on to France the following day. He has had a U.S. arrest warrant outstanding since then, and an international arrest warrant since 2005. Polański continued to make films such as The Pianist (2002), a World War II-set adaptation of Jewish-Polish musician Władysław Szpilman's autobiography of the same name, which echoed some of Polański's earlier life experiences. Like Szpilman, Polański escaped the ghetto and the concentration camps while family members were killed. The film won three Academy Awards including Best Director, the Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or, and seven French César Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. He then released the successful films Oliver Twist (2005), To Each His Own Cinema (2007), and The Ghost Writer (2010), completed while under house arrest. In September 2009, Polański was arrested by Swiss police, at the request of U.S. authorities, when he traveled to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Zurich Film Festival. In October 2009, the U.S. requested his extradition; however, on July 12, 2010, the Swiss rejected that request and instead declared him a "free man" after releasing him from custody.

Filmography

1. 2025Breakdown: 1975as Self - Director of Chinatown (archive footage)
2. 2025Chaos: The Manson Murdersas Self
3. 2023The PalaceDirector · Writer
4. 2019An Officer and a Spyas Concertgoer (uncredited) · Director · Writer
5. 2019Manson: Music from an Unsound Mindas Self (archive footage)
6. 2017Based on a True StoryDirector · Screenplay
7. 2015Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mansas Self (archive footage)
8. 2014Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreauas Self (archive footage)
9. 2013Venus in FurDirector · Screenplay
10. 2013Seduced and Abandonedas Self
11. 2012Roman Polanski: A Film Memoiras Self
12. 2011Carnageas Neighbor · Director · Screenplay
13. 2010The Ghost WriterDirector · Screenplay · Producer
14. 2008Quiet Chaosas Steiner
15. 2008Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desiredas Self (archive footage)
16. 2007Spine Tingler! The William Castle Storyas Self (archive)
17. 2007To Each His Own CinemaDirector · Producer
18. 2007Rush Hour 3as Det. Revi
19. 2005Oliver TwistDirector · Producer
20. 2003Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywoodas Self
21. 2002The Revengeas Józef Papkin
22. 2002The PianistDirector · Producer
23. 1999The Ninth GateDirector · Screenplay · Producer
24. 1996E! True Hollywood Story1 episode
25. 1994Dead Tiredas Roman Polanski
26. 1994A Pure Formalityas Inspector
27. 1994Death and the MaidenDirector
28. 1992Bitter MoonDirector · Screenplay · Producer
29. 1988Franticas Taxi Driver (uncredited) · Director · Writer
30. 1986PiratesDirector · Writer
31. 1979TessDirector · Screenplay
32. 1976The Tenantas Trelkovsky · Director · Screenplay
33. 1974Blood for Draculaas Gambler
34. 1974Chinatownas Man with Knife · Director · Writer
35. 1972What?as Mosquito · Director · Screenplay
36. 1972Weekend of a Championas Self · Producer
37. 1971MacbethDirector · Screenplay
38. 1970Elvis: That's the Way It Isas Self (uncredited)
39. 1970A Day at the BeachWriter · Producer
40. 1969The Magic Christianas Solitary Drinker
41. 1968Rosemary's BabyDirector · Screenplay
42. 1967The Fearless Vampire Killersas Alfred · Director · Screenplay · Story
43. 1966Cul-de-sacDirector · Writer
44. 1965Repulsionas Spoon Player · Director · Screenplay
45. 1964The World's Most Beautiful SwindlersDirector · Writer
46. 1962MammalsDirector · Writer
47. 1962Knife in the Wateras Young Man (voice) · Screenplay · Director
48. 1961The Fat and the Leanas the lean · Director · Writer · Producer
49. 1960Innocent Sorcerersas Dudzio
50. 1960Goodbye, Till Tomorrowas Romek
51. 1960Bad Luckas Tutor (uncredited)
52. 1959When Angels Fallas Old Woman · Director · Screenplay
53. 1959Lotnaas Musician (uncredited)
54. 1959The Lampas A passer-by (uncredited) · Director · Screenplay
55. 1958Two Men and a Wardrobeas Bad Boy · Director · Writer
56. 1957A Toothful SmileDirector · Screenplay
57. 1957Kanalas Resistance Member pushed into a Sewer (uncredited)
58. 1957MurderDirector · Writer
59. 1957Break Up the DanceDirector · Writer
60. 1955A Generationas Mundek