Philip Kaufman, a renowned director and screenwriter, was born in the vibrant city of Chicago, Illinois. He began his academic journey at the prestigious University of Chicago, followed by a stint at the esteemed Harvard Law School. His early success in the film industry was marked by winning the Prix de la Nouvelle Critique at the 1965 Cannes Film Festival for his 1964 film, Goldstein. This achievement was a testament to his exceptional storytelling abilities.
Kaufman's professional trajectory took an interesting turn when he was initially set to direct The Outlaw Josey Wales in 1976. However, due to a complex love triangle involving Clint Eastwood and the late Sondra Locke, Kaufman was replaced as director by Eastwood himself.
Kaufman's breakthrough as a director came with the 1978 remake of Don Siegel's 1956 sci-fi classic, Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This film featured a memorable cameo by Siegel as a cab driver, further emphasizing the connection between the two filmmakers. Kaufman's subsequent work earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay based on Material from Another Medium in 1988 for The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
The director's 1990 film, Henry & June, was a significant milestone in his career, as it was the first major studio release to be rated NC-17, sparking a great deal of controversy.
