Roman Raymond Polanski (pl. Roman Rajmund Polański) (born August 18, 1933) is a Polish-French film director, producer, writer and actor. Polanski began his career in Poland, and later became a celebrated  Academy Award-winning director of both art house and commercial films, making such films as Rosemary's Baby (1968) and Chinatown (1974). Polanski is one of the world's best known contemporary film directors and is widely considered as one of the greatest directors of his time. He is also known for his turbulent and controversial personal life.  In 1969, his pregnant wife, Sharon Tate, was murdered by the Manson Family.

In 1977, he was arrested in Los Angeles and pleaded guilty to "unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor", a 13-year-old girl. Polanski was 44 years old at the time of the crime.  Released after a 42-day psychiatric evaluation, Polanski fled to France. For decades, Polanski has been considered by U.S. authorities to be a fugitive from justice, and a U.S. arrest warrant has been outstanding since 1978.  Polanski for many years avoided visits to countries that were likely to extradite him, such as the United Kingdom. However, on September 26, 2009, he was arrested by Swiss police on arrival at Zürich Airport while trying to enter Switzerland, on his outstanding 2005 international arrest warrant and at the request of United States authorities.  Prior to his arrest, he traveled mostly between France, where he resides, and Poland. As a French citizen, he was protected by France's limited extradition with the United States.

After fleeing to Europe following his U.S. conviction, Polanski continued to direct films, including Frantic (1988), Death and the Maiden (1994), The Ninth Gate (1999), the Academy Award-winning (for best director) and Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or-winning The Pianist (2002), and Oliver Twist (2005). He has also done occasional work in theatre and in the films of other directors. (via Wikipedia)