DIRECTOR · BORN 1932 · DIED 2018
Miloš Forman
- Born
- 18 February 1932, Čáslav, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]
- Died
- 13 April 2018
- Known for
- The Godfather (1972), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Amadeus (1984), Keeping the Faith (2000)
20 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Miloš Forman (18 February 1932 – 13 April 2018) was a director best known for The Godfather, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Amadeus.
Miloš Forman over the years
20 Interesting Facts About Miloš Forman
Interesting Facts (5)
- #001
Forman's sons Andrew and James were named after comedian Andy Kaufman and actor Jim Carrey. Carrey played Kaufman in Forman's 1999 film Man on the Moon. The choice of names reflects Forman's admiration for both Kaufman and Carrey.
- #002
Forman is known as one of the first directors to consider adapting J.R.R. Tolkien's novel 'The Lord of the Rings' into a live-action film. Although the attempt never came to fruition, it shows Forman's interest in large-scale and fantastical stories. The work later became one of the most ambitious projects in film history.
- #003
Two of Forman's films are part of the prestigious Criterion Collection: Loves of a Blonde (1965) and The Firemen's Ball (1967). This selection emphasizes the importance and artistic value of both films in film history. The Criterion Collection carefully restores films and releases them with special extras, passing them on to future generations.
- #004
Michael Crichton personally chose Forman to direct Disclosure (1994). However, Forman left the project because he had creative differences with Crichton. The departure stemmed from the mismatch between the visions of two strong figures, and the film was ultimately directed by Barry Levinson.
- #005
Forman studied directing at the Prague Film Academy (FAMU) alongside his friend Giorgos Skalenakis. The connection underscores the importance of the friendships and professional ties he formed during his student years. Skalenakis went on to become one of the notable figures of Greek cinema.
Behind the Scenes (2)
- #006
In the short story 'La pomme d'or de l'éternel désir' from Milan Kundera's collection 'Laughable Loves', the narrator's womanizing friend Martin introduces himself to a naive village girl as Miloš Forman and claims that the narrator is Forman's regular cinematographer Miroslav Ondříček. This literary reference shows Forman's place in Czech culture and his connection to Kundera.
- #007
For many years, Forman served as head of Columbia University's film department. During this post, he regularly took annual leave to make films. His academic career shows the importance he gave to film education and his desire to contribute to the training of new generations of directors.
Characters & Cast (2)
- #008
In the early 1990s, Forman was preparing to direct a film called Hell Camp from an original screenplay he wrote with Adam Davidson. The film, planned to be shot in New York and Tokyo, was to star Dylan Walsh and to be about two young Americans learning Japanese discipline and fighting spirit at a military-style camp in Japan. In the story, one of them falls in love with a Japanese girl while the other becomes a sumo wrestler. Shooting was planned to begin in November 1991 and the film was to be released at Christmas 1992, but the film never came to be.
- #009
In 1995, it was announced that Forman would direct a remake of Dodsworth (1936) for Warner Bros., from a screenplay by Alfred Uhry and starring Harrison Ford. The project, however, never came to fruition. The development shows how many projects in Hollywood can remain stuck in the planning stage.
Career & Awards (7)
- #010
Forman became a United States citizen in 1975. This step consolidated his career in American cinema and made him a lasting figure in Hollywood. His naturalization was part of building a new life after his escape from the communist regime in Czechoslovakia.
- #011
Over the course of his career, Forman directed 8 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Brad Dourif, Howard E. Rollins Jr., Elizabeth McGovern, F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce and Woody Harrelson. Of these actors, Nicholson, Fletcher and Abraham succeeded in winning the Oscar for their performances.
- #012
Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas and producer Irwin Winkler first considered Forman to direct Basic Instinct (1992). Although Forman liked the script and was interested in directing the film, Carolco, which had paid a record 3 million dollars for the script, signed Paul Verhoeven to direct.
- #013
Forman directed two films nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and Amadeus (1984). Both films won the award in that category, achieving great success. These two victories ensured that Forman is remembered as one of the most important directors in film history.
- #014
Over the course of his career, Forman was romantically linked with actresses Beverly D'Angelo, Catherine Deneuve and Nastassja Kinski. Forman was a striking figure in both his professional and personal life.
- #015
Forman was honored with the fourth annual John Huston Award for Artists Rights, presented by the Artists Rights Foundation. The award recognized his efforts to defend artists' rights and his ethical stance in the film world. By accepting it, Forman once again demonstrated his commitment to artists' rights.
- #016
In 2007, Forman presided over the Official Competition jury of the 7th Marrakech International Film Festival. The role once again demonstrated his activity at international festivals and his standing in the film world. The Marrakech festival is an important platform for African and Middle Eastern cinema.
Life & Family (4)
- #017
Forman was raised by his mother Anna (Svabova), who ran a summer hotel, and his father Rudolf, a professor. The family was Protestant and was arrested during World War II on the charge of taking part in the anti-Nazi underground resistance; his father died in the Buchenwald concentration camp and his mother in Auschwitz. In adulthood Forman learned that his biological father was Otto Kohn, an architect of Jewish origin, which made him the biological half-brother of mathematician Joseph J. Kohn.
- #018
Miloš Forman had a brother named Pavel Forman. Little information about Pavel is available, but Miloš's family ties are part of his personal background. This detail offers a small glimpse into Forman's family life.
- #019
Forman is the father of twin sons Matej Forman and Petr Forman with Věra Křesadlová. The twins followed in their father's footsteps and built careers in film and theater.
- #020
Forman directed Amadeus (1984), about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Man on the Moon (1999), about the life of Andy Kaufman. In an interesting coincidence, both Mozart and Kaufman died at the age of 35.
Related pages
- Alfonso Cuarón — Miloš Forman comes up in the facts on that page
- Edward Norton — Miloš Forman comes up in the facts on that page
- Luc Besson — Miloš Forman comes up in the facts on that page
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work