Miloš Forman

STAMFORD,CT, USA-MAY 28, 2009 : Forman answers questions about the film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest“ at Avon Theatre. miromiro/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Jan Tomáš Forman

Date of Birth: 18 February, 1932

Place of Birth: Čáslav, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic)

Date of Death: April 13, 2018

Place of Death: Danbury, Connecticut, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*biological father – Ashkenazi Jewish
*mother – Czech

Miloš Forman was a Czech and American film director, screenwriter, actor, and professor. He twice won the Academy Award for Best Director, for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) and Amadeus (1984). Beginning his career in then-Czechoslovakia, and part of the Czechoslovak New Wave, there he directed and co-wrote the films Black Peter, Audition (1964), Loves of a Blonde, and The Firemen’s Ball, and co-wrote the film Leave It to Me. Moving to the U.S. in 1968, he also directed the films Taking Off, Hair (1979), Ragtime, Valmont, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Man on the Moon, and Goya’s Ghosts; and also co-wrote Taking Off, Valmont, and Goya’s.

Miloš was born in Čáslav, and was raised the son of Anna (Švábová), who ran a summer hotel, and Rudolf Vladimir Forman, a professor. Anna and Rudolf were Protestants. Rudolf was born in Tabor, Bohemia, the son of Josef Forman and Anna Portes. Miloš’ mother Anna was born in Babí, Náchod. The couple was arrested in 1940, first Rudolf and then Anna, for their activities against the Nazi occupation. His father was killed in Mittelbau-Dora, a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp, in 1944, and his mother was killed at Auschwitz in 1943. He was raised by uncles and family friends. His brother, Pavel, was a painter.

In 1964, after Miloš released his first feature film, he learned that his biological father was architect Otto Kohn, with whom his mother had had an affair. Otto was born in Líbeznice, Bohemia, to a Jewish family, and died in New York City in 1965. Miloš’ biological half-brother was academic and mathematician Joseph J. Kohn.

Miloš’ film The Firemen’s Ball was a popular satire on Communism during the Prague Spring of 1968, but after Czechloslovakia was invaded in August 1968 by Warsaw Pact countries seeking to remove dissent, Miloš moved to the U.S. He became a U.S. citizen in 1977. He was married to Martina Zbořilová, until his death. He had two children with his former wife, Czech actress and singer Věra Křesadlová; and two children with Martina. His granddaughter is Czech actress Antonie Formanová.

Miloš’ biological paternal grandfather was Hugo Kohn (the son of Markus/Marcus Kohn and Katharina Guth). Hugo was born in Prague. Markus was born in Roztoky, the son of Simon Kohn and Esther Theresia Hirsch. Katharina was born in Velké Přítočno, the daughter of Salomon Abraham Guth and Anna Grossmann.

Miloš’ biological paternal grandmother was Amalie Porges (the daughter of Moritz Porges and Franziska/Fraziska Meissner). Amalie was born in Prague. Moritz was the son of Joseph Porges and Karolina Raitler. Franziska was the daughter of Josef Meissner and Ludmila Roubicek.

Miloš’ maternal grandfather was Vincenz Vavřinec Šváb (the son of Frantisek Šváb and Anna Antos). Vincenz was born in Náchod. Anna was the daughter of Vaclav Antos.

Miloš’ maternal grandmother was Františka Plná/Plny (the daughter of Josef Plný and Anna Dorota Zítek/Zítková). Františka was born in Náchod.

Sources: Genealogy of Miloš Forman – https://www.geni.com

Article discussing Miloš’ biological father – https://www.chicagotribune.com

Migration record of Miloš’ biological uncle (father’s brother) – https://www.familysearch.org

Death notice of Miloš’ biological paternal grandmother, Amalie Porges – https://images.findagrave.com

Baptismal record of Miloš’ mother – https://www.familysearch.org