Milos Forman, who made an enviable number of masterpiece films in his career, has died. The writer and director was 86.
Born in Čáslav, in what was once known as Czechoslovakia in 1932, he suffered tragedy at an early age when his parents died in Nazi concentration camps. Raised by uncles and family friends, he went on to study at the Film Faculty of the Academy of Arts in Prague. Upon his graduation, he wrote two screenplays, the first of which, Nechte To Na Mně (Leave It To Me) was made by noted Czech director Martin Frič, while Forman was an assistant director on the second production, a comedy called Štěňata (Cubs) in 1958.
Working his way up the ranks, Forman was a writer or assistant director on a number of films in his native country, his work shot through with social themes and political material. Yet after The Fireman's Ball was banned following the Soviet invasion in 1968, he left for the United States.
Becoming known for New Wave work, he mace his US debut with Taking Of in 1971, scoring the Jury Prize at Cannes. Then came one of the movies for which he is best known, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, turned down by every major studio, the potent drama ended up taking five of the major Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Jack Nicholson, Best Actress for Louise Fletcher, with writers Bo Goldman and Lawrence Hauben snagging Best Adapted Screenplay and Forman Best Director.
The director continued his creative streak with Hair and Ragtime, and while neither set the box office alight, the latter nabbed eight Oscar nominations. If he was disappointed at all, Forman rebounded with Amadeus, another battle of wills brought to fizzing, dramatic life, which ended up with eight Oscars, including a second Best Director. He took a break after that, but returned with Valmont, which was unfavorably compared to Dangerous Liaisons, released the year before.
The People Vs. Larry Flynt proved to be a much more successful film, and garnered several more Oscar nominations. Andy Kaufman biopic Man On The Moon was also a triumph, though remembered more for its chaotic Jim Carrey performance, chronicled and reflected upon in the recent Jim And Andy: The Great Beyond.
Other Forman films included Goya's Ghosts and musical A Walk Worthwhile, while he also inspired – and taught – a variety of other filmmakers, mentoring the likes of Edward Norton (and taking a small role in his Keeping The Faith). He leaves a legacy of memorable work and helping others to succeed in his wake. He's survived by his wife, Martina Zborilova and four children.
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