Roman Polanski
Biography
Roman Polanski is a Polish-French film director, producer, writer and actor. Born in Paris to Polish parents, he relocated with his family to Poland in 1937. Polanski's first feature-length film, Knife in the Water, was made in Poland in 1962 and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. He has received five more Oscar nominations and the Academy Award for Best Director for his film, The Pianist. Polanski has also been the recipient of multiple other awards, including two Baftas, four Césars, a Golden Globe. He was born on August 18, 1933, in Paris, France.
Career overview
Roman Polanski is a film director, producer, writer, and actor. His first feature-length film, Knife in the Water, was made in Poland in 1962. This film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Polanski has received multiple Oscar nominations, including five, and won the Academy Award for Best Director for his film, The Pianist, in 2002.
Polanski's career spans a wide range of film types, including art house and commercial films. He has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including two Baftas, four Césars, a Golden Globe, and the Academy Award for Best Director. Polanski's work has been critically acclaimed, and he has established himself as a notable figure in the film industry.
Polanski has directed a large number of films throughout his career, with 177 known credits. His work has been recognized and celebrated globally, and he continues to be a prominent figure in the film industry.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- La scripte (2026) as Lui-même
- Breakdown: 1975 (2025) as Self - Director of Chinatown (archive footage)
- Chaos: The Manson Murders (2025) as Self
- Being Bo Widerberg (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- Mia Farrow: Shadows and Light (2025) as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
- The Playboy Murders (2023) as Self (archive footage)
- The Palace (2023) Director
- The Palace (2023) Writer
- The Family (2023) as Self
- Deneuve, la reine Catherine (2022) as Self (archive footage)
- Polanski, Horowitz. The Wizards From the Ghetto (2021) as Self
- Françoise Dorléac, from The Man from Rio to The Young Girls of Rochefort (2021) as self
- Helter Skelter: An American Myth (2020) as Self - Widower of Sharon Tate (archive footage)
- In The Tracks Of - Alexandre Desplat (2020) as Self
- An Officer and a Spy (2019) as Concertgoer (uncredited)
- An Officer and a Spy (2019) Director
- An Officer and a Spy (2019) Writer
- Polanski, le travail à l'oeuvre (2019) as Self
- Valerie (2019)
- Manson: Music from an Unsound Mind (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- Sharon Tate Home Movies (2019) Director
- Françoise Dorléac, une promesse (2018) as Self
- Based on a True Story (2017) Director
- Based on a True Story (2017) Screenplay
- Mansfield 66/67 (2017) as Self - Filmmaker(archive footage)
- Captain Jokes Parrot's Disaster of the Caribbean (2017) Characters
- Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans (2015) as Self (archive footage)
- Roman by Polanski (2015)
- Face of Evil: The Charles Manson Murders (2015)
- Henri Langlois vu par... (2014) as Self
- Henri Langlois vu par... (2014) Director
- Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau (2014) as Self (archive footage)
- Toil And Trouble: Making 'Macbeth' (2014) as Self
- Seduced and Abandoned (2013) as Self
- Venus in Fur (2013) Director
- Venus in Fur (2013) Screenplay
- Weekend of a Champion (2013) as Himself
- 28 minutes (2012) as Self
- A Special Day (2012) as Self
- Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir (2012) as Self
- Komeda, Komeda... (2012) as Self
- Remembering 'Rosemary's Baby' (2012) as Self
- Close Up (2012) as Self (archive footage)
- Roman Polanski: Odd Man Out (2012) as Self (archive footage)
- Tower Heist (2011) Thanks
- Carnage (2011) as Neighbor
- Carnage (2011) Director
- Carnage (2011) Screenplay
- The Ghost Writer (2010) Director
- The Ghost Writer (2010) Screenplay
- The Ghost Writer (2010) Producer
- Komeda: A Soundtrack for a Life (2010) as Self
- Catherine Deneuve, belle et bien là (2010) as Self (archive footage)
- Cracow by Polanski (2010)
- Cracow by Polanski (2010) Idea
- Memories of a Young Pianist (2009) as Man in Tavern (archive footage)
- On the Trail of the New Wave (2009) as Self (archive footage)
- Quiet Chaos (2008) as Steiner
- Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008) as Self (archive footage)
- Il falso bugiardo (2008) as Self (archive footage)
- Bicycle (2008) as Boy who wants to buy a bicycle
- Bicycle (2008) Director
- Bicycle (2008) Writer
- Rush Hour 3 (2007) as Det. Revi
- To Each His Own Cinema (2007) Director
- To Each His Own Cinema (2007) Producer
- Once Upon a Time... 'Tess' (2007) as Self
- Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story (2007) as Self (archive)
- Polanski par Polanski (2006) as Self
- Twist by Polanski (2006)
- The Best of Twist: Sets, Costumes & Photography (2006)
- Oliver Twist (2005) Producer
- Oliver Twist (2005) Director
- Le court des grands (2005) Director
- Leçon de Cinéma (2004) as Self
- Tess: The Experience (2004) as Self
- Tess: From Novel to Screen (2004) as Self
- Hedda Gabler (2004) Stage Director
- Filming 'Tess' (2004) as Self
- Un film et son époque (2003) as Self
- Two Gangsters and an Island (2003) as Self
- Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003) as Self
- Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003) as Self (archive footage)
- A British Horror Film (2003) as Self
- Knife in the Water: A Ticket to the West (2003) as Self
- The Pianist (2002) Director
- The Pianist (2002) Producer
- Heart of the Festival (2002) as Self (archive footage)
- The Revenge (2002) as Józef Papkin
- Sharon Tate: Murdered Innocence (2002) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Polanski y los ojos del mal (2002) as Himself
- The Unbeatable Bruce Lee (2001)
- Light Keeps Me Company (2000) as Self
- Last Pictures (2000) as Self
- The Ten Commandments of Creativity (2000) as Self
- Tribute to Alfred Lepetit (2000) as Self
- Rosemary's Baby: A Retrospective (2000) as Self
- The Ninth Gate (1999) Director
- The Ninth Gate (1999) Screenplay
- The Ninth Gate (1999) Producer
- The Last Days of Sharon Tate (1999) as Self (archive footage)
- Playboy: The Story of X (1998) as Self (archive footage)
- Scene by Scene (1997) as Self
- Dracula: The True Story (1997) as Himself
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
- Elle s'appelait Françoise (1996) as Self
- Empire of the Censors (1995) as Self
- Sex, Lies and Jerzy Kosinski (1995)
- Dead Tired (1994) as Roman Polanski
- Death and the Maiden (1994) Director
- A Pure Formality (1994) as Inspector
- Bitter Moon (1992) Screenplay
- Bitter Moon (1992) Producer
- Bitter Moon (1992) Director
- Dracula in the Movies (1992) as (archive footage)
- Back in the USSR (1992) as Kurilov
- Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time (1992) as Self (archive footage)
- The King of Ads (1991) Director
- En attendant Godot (1989) as Lucky
- Frantic (1988) as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
- Frantic (1988) Director
- Frantic (1988) Writer
- Na siehste! (1987) as Self
- Wedden, dat..? (1986) as Self
- Pirates (1986) Director
- Pirates (1986) Screenplay
- Clive James Meets Roman Polanski (1984)
- Wortwechsel (1982) as Self
- Na sowas! (1982) as Self
- Chassé-croisé (1982)
- Wetten, dass..? (1981) as Self
- 7 sur 7 (1981) as Self
- Bavarian Film Awards (1979) as Self
- Tess (1979) Screenplay
- Tess (1979) Director
- Ciné regards: Tess: Roman Polanski (1979) as Self
- Ciné regards (1978) as Self
- The Evolution of Snuff (1978)
- Cérémonie des César (1976) as Self - Presenter
- The Tenant (1976) as Trelkovsky
- The Tenant (1976) Director
- The Tenant (1976) Screenplay
- Apostrophes (1975) as Self
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975) as Self
- Spécial cinéma (1974) as Self
- Chinatown (1974) as Man with Knife
- Chinatown (1974) Director
- Chinatown (1974) Additional Writing
- Blood for Dracula (1974) as Gambler
- Le Grand Échiquier (1972) as Self
- Con bravura (1972) as Caroler
- Polanski Meets Macbeth (1972) as Self
- What? (1972) as Mosquito
- What? (1972) Screenplay
- What? (1972) Director
- Weekend of a Champion (1972) as Self
- Weekend of a Champion (1972) Producer
- Macbeth (1971) Screenplay
- Macbeth (1971) Director
- The Boat on the Grass (1971) Writer
- A Day at the Beach (1970) Producer
- A Day at the Beach (1970) Writer
- Elvis: That's the Way It Is (1970) as Self (uncredited)
- Ciao, Federico! (1970) as Self (uncredited)
- The Magic Christian (1969) as Solitary Drinker
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Rosemary's Baby (1968) Director
- Rosemary's Baby (1968) Screenplay
- The Girl Across the Way (1968) Writer
- Mia and Roman (1968) as Himself
- The New Cinema (1968) as Self
- Lionpower from MGM (1967) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967) as Alfred
- The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967) Director
- The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967) Screenplay
- The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967) Story
- Tonite Let's All Make Love in London (1967) as Self
- Apropos Film (1967) as Self
- Valley of the Dolls: A World Premiere Voyage (1967) as Himself
- The Nomad (1967) as Self
- NET Playhouse (1966) Director
- NET Playhouse (1966) Writer
- Cul-de-sac (1966) Director
- Cul-de-sac (1966) Writer
- G.G. Passion (1966) Co-Producer
- Repulsion (1965) as Spoon Player
- Repulsion (1965) Screenplay
- Repulsion (1965) Director
- The River of Diamonds (1964) as Random Citizen
- The River of Diamonds (1964) Director
- The River of Diamonds (1964) Writer
- The World's Most Beautiful Swindlers (1964) Director
- The World's Most Beautiful Swindlers (1964) Writer
- A Taste for Women (1964) Screenplay
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- Knife in the Water (1962) as Young Man (voice)
- Knife in the Water (1962) Screenplay
- Knife in the Water (1962) Director
- Mammals (1962) Director
- Mammals (1962) Writer
- Samson (1961) as Partner of Malina's Blackmailer (uncredited)
- The Fat and the Lean (1961) as the lean
- The Fat and the Lean (1961) Director
- The Fat and the Lean (1961) Producer
- The Fat and the Lean (1961) Writer
- Ostrożnie yeti (1961) as Driver
- Goodbye, Till Tomorrow (1960) as Romek
- Innocent Sorcerers (1960) as Dudzio
- Bad Luck (1960) as Tutor (uncredited)
- Bad Luck (1960) Assistant Director
- When Angels Fall (1959) as Old Woman
- When Angels Fall (1959) Screenplay
- When Angels Fall (1959) Director
- The Lamp (1959) as A passer-by (uncredited)
- The Lamp (1959) Director
- The Lamp (1959) Screenplay
- Lotna (1959) as Musician (uncredited)
- What Will My Wife Say to This? (1958) as Dancer
- Two Men and a Wardrobe (1958) as Bad Boy
- Two Men and a Wardrobe (1958) Director
- Two Men and a Wardrobe (1958) Writer
- Kanal (1957) as Resistance Member pushed into a Sewer (uncredited)
- Break Up the Dance (1957) Director
- Break Up the Dance (1957) Writer
- Wraki (1957) as Romek
- Koniec nocy (1957) as 'Mały'
- Koniec nocy (1957) Assistant Director
- A Toothful Smile (1957) Director
- A Toothful Smile (1957) Screenplay
- Murder (1957) Director
- Murder (1957) Writer
- Nikodem Dyzma (1956) as Porter (uncredited)
- A Generation (1955) as Mundek
- Godzina bez słońca (1955)
- Magical Bicycle (1955) as Adaś
- Trzy starty (1955) as Basia's Brother
- Three Stories (1953) as Genek "Mały" (segment 2)
- The Stalking Moon as Fabrice Fournier