- Emigrated to the U.S. around 1969.
- Studied at FAMU, the Prague film academy.
- Worked as a screenwriter on some of the early films of Miloš Forman.
- His grandmother was a scenarist for silent films.
- Father of Ivan Passer Jr..
- He was the son of Jewish parents who had survived the Holocaust.
- Star Barbra Streisand wanted Passer to direct Yentl (1983) with her in the leading role, but after reading the screenplay he declined, because he thought the story was too unrealistic and told her, that audiences traditionally never accepted women masquerading as men in movies, reminding her of Katharine Hepburn's disastrous Christopher Strong (1933). While all of Passer's arguments were convincing, Streisand continued to develop the project and would later direct herself. Ironically, it became a big hit.
- Brother of Eva Límanová.
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