Roman Polanski
Photo from TMDB

Person

Roman Polanski

Known for
Directing
Born
August 18, 1933
Place of birth
Paris, France
Also known as
Роман Поляньскі, Raymond Roman Thierry Liebling, Роман Полянский

IMDb

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.

Biography from TMDB, which often draws on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source · CC BY-SA 4.0

In Catlg

6 Works in the catalog credit them.

Directing (6)

Writing (5)

Acting (2)

Producing (2)

Filmography

  • Conversations with a Killer: The Charles Manson TapesTV · 2026 · as Self - Victim (archive footage) · 1 episode
  • La scripteFilm · 2026 · as Lui-même
  • Being Bo WiderbergFilm · 2025 · as Self (archive footage)
  • Breakdown: 1975Film · 2025 · as Self - Director of Chinatown (archive footage)
  • Chaos: The Manson MurdersFilm · 2025 · as Self
  • Mia Farrow: Shadows and LightFilm · 2025 · as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
  • The FamilyFilm · 2023 · as Self
  • The PalaceFilm · 2023 · Director
  • The PalaceFilm · 2023 · Writer
  • The Playboy MurdersTV · 2023 · as Self (archive footage) · 1 episode
  • Deneuve, la reine CatherineFilm · 2022 · as Self (archive footage)
  • Françoise Dorléac, from The Man from Rio to The Young Girls of RochefortFilm · 2021 · as self
  • Polanski, Horowitz. The Wizards From the GhettoFilm · 2021 · as Self
  • Helter Skelter: An American MythTV · 2020 · as Self - Widower of Sharon Tate (archive footage) · 2 episodes
  • In The Tracks Of - Alexandre DesplatFilm · 2020 · as Self
  • An Officer and a SpyFilm · 2019 · as Concertgoer (uncredited)
  • An Officer and a SpyFilm · 2019 · Director
  • An Officer and a SpyFilm · 2019 · Writer
  • Manson: Music from an Unsound MindFilm · 2019 · as Self (archive footage)
  • Polanski, le travail à l'oeuvreFilm · 2019 · as Self
  • Sharon Tate Home MoviesFilm · 2019 · as Self (archive footage)
  • Sharon Tate Home MoviesFilm · 2019 · Director
  • ValerieFilm · 2019 · Acting
  • Françoise Dorléac, une promesseFilm · 2018 · as Self
  • Based on a True StoryFilm · 2017 · Director
  • Based on a True StoryFilm · 2017 · Screenplay
  • Mansfield 66/67Film · 2017 · as Self - Filmmaker(archive footage)
  • Face of Evil: The Charles Manson MurdersFilm · 2015 · Acting
  • Roman by PolanskiFilm · 2015 · Acting
  • Steve McQueen: The Man & Le MansFilm · 2015 · as Self (archive footage)
  • Henri Langlois vu par...Film · 2014 · as Self
  • Henri Langlois vu par...Film · 2014 · Director
  • Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. MoreauFilm · 2014 · as Self (archive footage)
  • Toil And Trouble: Making 'Macbeth'Film · 2014 · as Self
  • Seduced and AbandonedFilm · 2013 · as Self
  • Vangelis and the Journey To IthakaFilm · 2013 · as Self
  • Venus in FurFilm · 2013 · Director
  • Venus in FurFilm · 2013 · Screenplay
  • Weekend of a ChampionFilm · 2013 · as Himself
  • 28 minutesTV · 2012 · as Self · 1 episode
  • A Special DayFilm · 2012 · as Self
  • Close UpFilm · 2012 · as Self (archive footage)
  • Komeda, Komeda...Film · 2012 · as Self
  • Remembering 'Rosemary's Baby'Film · 2012 · as Self
  • Roman Polanski: A Film MemoirFilm · 2012 · as Self
  • Roman Polanski: Odd Man OutFilm · 2012 · as Self (archive footage)
  • CarnageFilm · 2011 · as Neighbor
  • CarnageFilm · 2011 · Director
  • CarnageFilm · 2011 · Screenplay
  • Catherine Deneuve, belle et bien làFilm · 2010 · as Self (archive footage)
  • Cracow by PolanskiFilm · 2010 · Acting
  • Komeda: A Soundtrack for a LifeFilm · 2010 · as Self
  • The Ghost WriterFilm · 2010 · Director
  • The Ghost WriterFilm · 2010 · Producer
  • The Ghost WriterFilm · 2010 · Screenplay
  • Memories of a Young PianistFilm · 2009 · as Man in Tavern (archive footage)
  • On the Trail of the New WaveFilm · 2009 · as Self (archive footage)
  • BicycleFilm · 2008 · as Boy who wants to buy a bicycle
  • BicycleFilm · 2008 · Director
  • BicycleFilm · 2008 · Writer
  • Il falso bugiardoFilm · 2008 · as Self (archive footage)
  • Quiet ChaosFilm · 2008 · as Steiner
  • Roman Polanski: Wanted and DesiredFilm · 2008 · as Self (archive footage)
  • Making of ChinatownFilm · 2007 · Acting
  • Once Upon a Time... 'Tess'Film · 2007 · as Self
  • Rush Hour 3Film · 2007 · as Det. Revi
  • Spine Tingler! The William Castle StoryFilm · 2007 · as Self (archive)
  • To Each His Own CinemaFilm · 2007 · Director
  • To Each His Own CinemaFilm · 2007 · Producer
  • Polanski par PolanskiFilm · 2006 · as Self
  • The Best of Twist: Sets, Costumes & PhotographyFilm · 2006 · Acting
  • Twist by PolanskiFilm · 2006 · Acting
  • Le court des grandsFilm · 2005 · Director
  • Oliver TwistFilm · 2005 · Director
  • Oliver TwistFilm · 2005 · Producer
  • Filming 'Tess'Film · 2004 · as Self
  • Leçon de CinémaTV · 2004 · as Self · 2 episodes
  • Tess: From Novel to ScreenFilm · 2004 · as Self
  • Tess: The ExperienceFilm · 2004 · as Self
  • A British Horror FilmFilm · 2003 · as Self
  • Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved HollywoodFilm · 2003 · as Self
  • Knife in the Water: A Ticket to the WestFilm · 2003 · as Self
  • Two Gangsters and an IslandFilm · 2003 · as Self
  • Un film et son époqueTV · 2003 · as Self · 1 episode
  • Biography: Sharon Tate – Murdered InnocenceFilm · 2002 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • Heart of the FestivalFilm · 2002 · as Self (archive footage)
  • Polanski y los ojos del malFilm · 2002 · as Himself
  • The PianistFilm · 2002 · Director
  • The PianistFilm · 2002 · Producer
  • The RevengeFilm · 2002 · as Józef Papkin
  • The Unbeatable Bruce LeeFilm · 2001 · Acting
  • Last PicturesFilm · 2000 · as Self
  • Light Keeps Me CompanyFilm · 2000 · as Self
  • Rosemary's Baby: A RetrospectiveFilm · 2000 · as Self
  • The Ten Commandments of CreativityFilm · 2000 · as Self
  • Tribute to Alfred LepetitFilm · 2000 · as Self
  • The Last Days of Sharon TateFilm · 1999 · as Self (archive footage)
  • The Ninth GateFilm · 1999 · Director
  • The Ninth GateFilm · 1999 · Producer
  • The Ninth GateFilm · 1999 · Screenplay
  • Playboy: The Story of XFilm · 1998 · as Self (archive footage)
  • Dracula: The True StoryFilm · 1997 · as Himself
  • Scene by SceneTV · 1997 · as Self · 1 episode
  • E! True Hollywood StoryTV · 1996 · Acting · 1 episode
  • Elle s'appelait FrançoiseFilm · 1996 · as Self
  • Empire of the CensorsFilm · 1995 · as Self
  • Sex, Lies and Jerzy KosinskiFilm · 1995 · Acting
  • A Pure FormalityFilm · 1994 · as Inspector
  • Dead TiredFilm · 1994 · as Roman Polanski
  • Death and the MaidenFilm · 1994 · Director
  • Back in the USSRFilm · 1992 · as Kurilov
  • Bitter MoonFilm · 1992 · Director
  • Bitter MoonFilm · 1992 · Producer
  • Bitter MoonFilm · 1992 · Screenplay
  • Dracula in the MoviesFilm · 1992 · as (archive footage)
  • Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a TimeFilm · 1992 · as Self (archive footage)
  • The King of AdsFilm · 1991 · Director
  • En attendant GodotFilm · 1989 · as Lucky
  • FranticFilm · 1988 · as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
  • FranticFilm · 1988 · Director
  • FranticFilm · 1988 · Writer
  • Na siehste!TV · 1987 · as Self · 1 episode
  • PiratesFilm · 1986 · Director
  • PiratesFilm · 1986 · Writer
  • Wedden, dat..?TV · 1986 · as Self · 1 episode
  • Clive James Meets Roman PolanskiFilm · 1984 · Acting
  • Chassé-croiséFilm · 1982 · Acting
  • Na sowas!TV · 1982 · as Self · 1 episode
  • WortwechselTV · 1982 · as Self · 1 episode
  • 7 sur 7TV · 1981 · as Self · 1 episode
  • Wetten, dass..?TV · 1981 · as Self · 1 episode
  • Bavarian Film AwardsTV · 1979 · as Self · 1 episode
  • Ciné regards: Tess: Roman PolanskiFilm · 1979 · as Self
  • TessFilm · 1979 · Director
  • TessFilm · 1979 · Screenplay
  • Ciné regardsTV · 1978 · as Self · 1 episode
  • The Evolution of SnuffFilm · 1978 · Acting
  • The South Bank ShowTV · 1978 · Acting · 1 episode
  • Cérémonie des CésarTV · 1976 · as Self - Presenter · 1 episode
  • The TenantFilm · 1976 · as Trelkovsky
  • The TenantFilm · 1976 · Director
  • The TenantFilm · 1976 · Screenplay
  • ApostrophesTV · 1975 · as Self · 1 episode
  • Les Rendez-vous du dimancheTV · 1975 · as Self · 2 episodes
  • Blood for DraculaFilm · 1974 · as Gambler
  • ChinatownFilm · 1974 · as Man with Knife
  • ChinatownFilm · 1974 · Director
  • ChinatownFilm · 1974 · Writer
  • Spécial cinémaTV · 1974 · as Self · 2 episodes
  • Con bravuraFilm · 1972 · as Caroler
  • Le Grand ÉchiquierTV · 1972 · as Self · 1 episode
  • Polanski Meets MacbethFilm · 1972 · as Self
  • Weekend of a ChampionFilm · 1972 · as Self
  • Weekend of a ChampionFilm · 1972 · Producer
  • What?Film · 1972 · as Mosquito
  • What?Film · 1972 · Director
  • What?Film · 1972 · Screenplay
  • MacbethFilm · 1971 · Director
  • MacbethFilm · 1971 · Screenplay
  • The Boat on the GrassFilm · 1971 · Writer
  • A Day at the BeachFilm · 1970 · Producer
  • A Day at the BeachFilm · 1970 · Writer
  • Ciao, Federico!Film · 1970 · as Self (uncredited)
  • Elvis: That's the Way It IsFilm · 1970 · as Self (uncredited)
  • The Magic ChristianFilm · 1969 · as Solitary Drinker
  • Mia and RomanFilm · 1968 · as Himself
  • Rosemary's BabyFilm · 1968 · Director
  • Rosemary's BabyFilm · 1968 · Screenplay
  • The Dick Cavett ShowTV · 1968 · as Self - Guest · 1 episode
  • The Girl Across the WayFilm · 1968 · Writer
  • The New CinemaFilm · 1968 · as Self
  • Apropos FilmTV · 1967 · as Self · 1 episode
  • Lionpower from MGMFilm · 1967 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • The Fearless Vampire KillersFilm · 1967 · as Alfred
  • The Fearless Vampire KillersFilm · 1967 · Director
  • The Fearless Vampire KillersFilm · 1967 · Screenplay, Story
  • The NomadFilm · 1967 · as Self
  • Tonite Let's All Make Love in LondonFilm · 1967 · as Self
  • Valley of the Dolls: A World Premiere VoyageFilm · 1967 · as Himself
  • Cul-de-sacFilm · 1966 · Director
  • Cul-de-sacFilm · 1966 · Writer
  • NET PlayhouseTV · 1966 · Director · 1 episode
  • NET PlayhouseTV · 1966 · Writer · 1 episode
  • RepulsionFilm · 1965 · as Spoon Player
  • RepulsionFilm · 1965 · Director
  • RepulsionFilm · 1965 · Screenplay
  • A Taste for WomenFilm · 1964 · Screenplay
  • Grand Ecran: RepulsionFilm · 1964 · as Self
  • The River of DiamondsFilm · 1964 · as Random Citizen
  • The River of DiamondsFilm · 1964 · Director
  • The River of DiamondsFilm · 1964 · Writer
  • The World's Most Beautiful SwindlersFilm · 1964 · Director
  • The World's Most Beautiful SwindlersFilm · 1964 · Writer
  • Knife in the WaterFilm · 1962 · as Young Man (voice)
  • Knife in the WaterFilm · 1962 · Director
  • Knife in the WaterFilm · 1962 · Screenplay
  • MammalsFilm · 1962 · Director
  • MammalsFilm · 1962 · Writer
  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonTV · 1962 · as Self · 1 episode
  • Ostrożnie yetiFilm · 1961 · as Driver
  • SamsonFilm · 1961 · as Partner of Malina's Blackmailer (uncredited)
  • The Fat and the LeanFilm · 1961 · as the lean
  • The Fat and the LeanFilm · 1961 · Director
  • The Fat and the LeanFilm · 1961 · Producer
  • The Fat and the LeanFilm · 1961 · Writer
  • Bad LuckFilm · 1960 · as Tutor (uncredited)
  • Goodbye, Till TomorrowFilm · 1960 · as Romek
  • Innocent SorcerersFilm · 1960 · as Dudzio
  • LotnaFilm · 1959 · as Musician (uncredited)
  • The LampFilm · 1959 · as A passer-by (uncredited)
  • The LampFilm · 1959 · Director
  • The LampFilm · 1959 · Screenplay
  • When Angels FallFilm · 1959 · as Old Woman
  • When Angels FallFilm · 1959 · Director
  • When Angels FallFilm · 1959 · Screenplay
  • Two Men and a WardrobeFilm · 1958 · as Bad Boy
  • Two Men and a WardrobeFilm · 1958 · Director
  • Two Men and a WardrobeFilm · 1958 · Writer
  • What Will My Wife Say to This?Film · 1958 · as Dancer
  • A Toothful SmileFilm · 1957 · Director
  • A Toothful SmileFilm · 1957 · Screenplay
  • Break Up the DanceFilm · 1957 · Director
  • Break Up the DanceFilm · 1957 · Writer
  • KanalFilm · 1957 · as Resistance Member pushed into a Sewer (uncredited)
  • Koniec nocyFilm · 1957 · as 'Mały'
  • MurderFilm · 1957 · Director
  • MurderFilm · 1957 · Writer
  • WrakiFilm · 1957 · as Romek
  • Nikodem DyzmaFilm · 1956 · as Porter (uncredited)
  • A GenerationFilm · 1955 · as Mundek
  • Godzina bez słońcaFilm · 1955 · Acting
  • Magical BicycleFilm · 1955 · as Adaś
  • Trzy startyFilm · 1955 · as Basia's Brother
  • Three StoriesFilm · 1953 · as Genek "Mały" (segment 2)
  • The Stalking MoonFilm · as Fabrice Fournier

Filmography from TMDB. This product uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.

Sources