Roman Polanski

Roman Polanski - French-polish Film Director, Family and Personal Life

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Roman Polanski's Personal Details

Roman Polanski is a film director and producer, considered as one of the few “truly international filmmakers”

InformationDetail
BirthdayAugust 18, 1933
NationalityFrench
FamousAtheists, Atheists/Agnostics, Holocaust Survivors, Film & Theater Personalities, Actors, Directors, French-polish Film Director
City/StateParis
SpousesSharon Tate
Known asRajmund Roman Thierry Polański
ChildrensMorgane Polanski
Universities
  • National Film School in Łódź
Birth PlaceParis, France
Height165
GenderMale
FatherRyszard Liebling
MotherBula Liebling
Net Worth$45 million as of Jun 16,2017
Sun SignLeo
Born inParis, France
Famous asFrench-Polish film director

Roman Polanski's photo

Who is Roman Polanski?

Roman Polanski is a celebrated film director, producer and actor who began his cinematic career making films in Poland before eventually making films in the United Kingdom, France and the United States. He made his American debut with the classic horror ‘Rosemary’s Baby’. He is regarded as a “truly international filmmaker” as he has made films in many countries. Born shortly before the World War II, he endured a very difficult childhood. He barely survived the Holocaust in which his mother died and was separated from his father for some time. Even before he had turned 12 he had witnessed all the horrors of war—he had been savagely beaten, starved, tortured and humiliated. As a young boy he had taken a fascination for films and addictively watched movies in order to escape the harsh realities of life. He was reunited with his father after the war and went to the National Film School in Poland. His first feature film was the Polish ‘Knife in the Water’ which garnered international recognition giving him the chance to take his work to a wider audience. He made films in several countries and ultimately made his American debut with ‘Rosemary’s Baby’. The brilliant director also made headlines for an infamous child sexual abuse case during the 1970s.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born as Rajmund Roman Thierry Polanski in France to Bula and Ryszard Polanski, a painter and manufacturer of sculptures. The family moved to his father’s native place, Poland when he was three.

The World War II started and his family endured terrible sufferings during the Holocaust. The young boy was separated from his family; he would later learn that his mother perished in the Nazi camps.

He struggled to live and was helped by some kind people in surviving the harsh situations. He was reunited with his father in 1944.

He loved watching movies from a young age and was fascinated with the idea of film making. He attended the National Film School in Lodz, Poland.

Career

He began his career as an actor and appeared in several of the films of celebrated Polish director, Andrzej Wajda, including ‘Pokolenie’ (1954), and ‘Zaczarowany Rower’ (1954).

He made his directorial debut in 1955 with a short film ‘Rower’ which was a semi-autobiographical feature film in which he also starred.

While at the Film School, he made several short films of which ‘Two Men and a Wardrobe’ (1958) and ‘When Angels Fall (1959)’ received considerable recognition. He graduated in 1959.

His made his directorial debut in 1962 with ‘Knife in the Water’, a drama film, shot using only three actors. The film was internationally recognized and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

In 1965, he made ‘Repulsion’, a British psychological horror starring Catherine Deneuve, Ian Hendry and John Fraser. The story is about a young woman who starts reliving traumas of her past when left alone in her home.

His directorial debut in America was with the critically acclaimed psychological horror ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ in 1968 which was based on a best selling novel of the same name by Ira Levin.

One of his most famous films, ‘Chinatown’ was released in 1974. It starred Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway and was based on a series of disputes over the southern California water.

In 1979, his romance film, ‘Tess’ was out. It tells the story of a strong-willed young peasant girl who realizes about her connections to an aristocratic family. The film won three Academy awards.

He made a romantic thriller, ‘Bitter Moon’ in 1992 which had Hugh Grant, Kristin Scott Thomas and Peter Coyote. It was a Franco-British-American movie with different titles in different countries.

‘The Pianist’ (2002) is another one of his more significant movies. Based on the World War II memoir of the same name by Wladyslaw Szpilman, it was a critically acclaimed as well as commercially successful film.

In 2010, he directed a political thriller ‘The Ghost Writer’ which was adapted from the novel ‘The Ghost’ by Robert Harris. It revolves around the story of a ghost writer hired to write about a former Prime Minister.

Major Works

The neo-noir film, ‘Chinatown’ was a highly acclaimed movie inspired by the California Water Wars. It is part mystery and part psychological drama which features a multi-layered story. The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards.

One of his best known films is ‘The Pianist’ which was a biographical drama based on the life of the real life pianist, Wladyslaw Szpilman. The movie won significant critical praise and won several prestigious awards including three Academy Awards.

Awards & Achievements

He won the Academy Award for Best Director for ‘The Pianist’ in 2002.

He is the recipient of several Cesar Awards, including the C�sar Award for Best Director for ‘Tess’ (1979), ‘The Pianist’ (2002), and ‘The Ghostwriter’ (2011).

Personal Life & Legacy

He had a brief marriage to actress Barbara Lass from 1959 to 1961.

His second marriage was to rising actress Sharon Tate whom he married in 1968. She was pregnant with their first child when she was brutally murdered by the Manson family members. This tragedy would haunt Polanski forever.

He married French actress Emmanuelle Seigner in 1989. The couple has two children.

Polanski has had a very controversial life. In 1977, he was arrested for the rape of a 13 year old girl and was indicted on six counts of criminal behaviour.

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Roman Polanski's awards

YearNameAward

Academy Awards(Oscars)

2003Best DirectorThe Pianist (2002)

Golden Globe Awards

1975Best Director - Motion PictureChinatown (1974)

BAFTA Awards

2003Best FilmThe Pianist (2002)
1975Best DirectionChinatown (1974)

Roman Polanski biography timelines

  • // 18th Aug 1933
    He was born as Rajmund Roman Thierry Polanski in France to Bula and Ryszard Polanski, a painter and manufacturer of sculptures. The family moved to his father’s native place, Poland when he was three.
  • // 1944
    He struggled to live and was helped by some kind people in surviving the harsh situations. He was reunited with his father in 1944.
  • // 1954
    He began his career as an actor and appeared in several of the films of celebrated Polish director, Andrzej Wajda, including ‘Pokolenie’ (1954), and ‘Zaczarowany Rower’ (1954).
  • // 1955
    He made his directorial debut in 1955 with a short film ‘Rower’ which was a semi-autobiographical feature film in which he also starred.
  • // 1959 To 1961
    He had a brief marriage to actress Barbara Lass from 1959 to 1961.
  • // 1962
    His made his directorial debut in 1962 with ‘Knife in the Water’, a drama film, shot using only three actors. The film was internationally recognized and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
  • // 1965
    In 1965, he made ‘Repulsion’, a British psychological horror starring Catherine Deneuve, Ian Hendry and John Fraser. The story is about a young woman who starts reliving traumas of her past when left alone in her home.
  • // 1968
    His directorial debut in America was with the critically acclaimed psychological horror ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ in 1968 which was based on a best selling novel of the same name by Ira Levin.
  • // 1968
    His second marriage was to rising actress Sharon Tate whom he married in 1968. She was pregnant with their first child when she was brutally murdered by the Manson family members. This tragedy would haunt Polanski forever.
  • // 1974
    One of his most famous films, ‘Chinatown’ was released in 1974. It starred Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway and was based on a series of disputes over the southern California water.
  • // 1979
    In 1979, his romance film, ‘Tess’ was out. It tells the story of a strong-willed young peasant girl who realizes about her connections to an aristocratic family. The film won three Academy awards.
  • // 1989
    He married French actress Emmanuelle Seigner in 1989. The couple has two children.
  • // 1992
    He made a romantic thriller, ‘Bitter Moon’ in 1992 which had Hugh Grant, Kristin Scott Thomas and Peter Coyote. It was a Franco-British-American movie with different titles in different countries.
  • // 2002
    ‘The Pianist’ (2002) is another one of his more significant movies. Based on the World War II memoir of the same name by Wladyslaw Szpilman, it was a critically acclaimed as well as commercially successful film.
  • // 2002
    He won the Academy Award for Best Director for ‘The Pianist’ in 2002.
  • // 2010
    In 2010, he directed a political thriller ‘The Ghost Writer’ which was adapted from the novel ‘The Ghost’ by Robert Harris. It revolves around the story of a ghost writer hired to write about a former Prime Minister.

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Roman Polanski's FAQ

  • What is Roman Polanski birthday?

    Roman Polanski was born at 1933-08-18

  • Where is Roman Polanski's birth place?

    Roman Polanski was born in Paris, France

  • What is Roman Polanski nationalities?

    Roman Polanski's nationalities is French

  • Who is Roman Polanski spouses?

    Roman Polanski's spouses is Sharon Tate

  • Who is Roman Polanski childrens?

    Roman Polanski's childrens is Morgane Polanski

  • What was Roman Polanski universities?

    Roman Polanski studied at National Film School in Łódź

  • How tall is Roman Polanski?

    Roman Polanski's height is 165

  • Who is Roman Polanski's father?

    Roman Polanski's father is Ryszard Liebling

  • Who is Roman Polanski's mother?

    Roman Polanski's mother is Bula Liebling

  • What is Roman Polanski's sun sign?

    Roman Polanski is Leo

  • How famous is Roman Polanski?

    Roman Polanski is famouse as French-Polish film director