ROBERT ZEMECKIS
Date of Birth: May 14, 1952
Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Robert Zemeckis began making films with an 8mm camera while in
high school. He attended Northern Illinois University before transferring to the University of
Southern California School of Cinema.
After winning a student Academy Award for his film Field of Honor (1973), Zemeckis showed the film to
directors Steven Spielberg and John Milius. Later, the filmmakers made it possible for Zemeckis and
his USC writing partner Bob Gale to get a development deal for their original screenplay 1941 (1979) that
Spielberg chose to direct. Even though the film had disappointing box office returns, Spielberg was
convinced that his protegés were valuable commodities.
Zemeckis made his directorial debut in 1978 with a screenplay he co-wrote with Bob Gale, I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978). Despite the film's low budget, it demonstrated Zemeckis' ability to combine credible
live-action sequences with elaborate special effects devices. The two teamed again to make Used Cars (1980).
After semi-successful films such as Romancing the Stone, Death Becomes Her, and The Public Eye, Zemeckis
struck gold with the Back to the Future (1985) trilogy, which earned more than $350 worldwide. He also
directed the top-grossing film of 1988 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988).
By the early 1990s, Zemeckis was recognized as a director of great technical skill but little personal
viewpoint, something that changed with the 1994 release of Forrest GumpForrest Gump amazed everyone by being the top money spinner of the summer
of 1994--and one of the highest-grossing movies of all time. As an added bonus, it helped Zemeckis
snag a Best Director Oscar, as well as several other awards.
He has also directed several projects for the small screen, including Tales From the Crypt (on which he
also serves as an executive producer) and an episode of Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories.
Zemeckis sits on USC School of Cinema-Television's Board of Councilors. He married actress Leslie Harter in 2001. From 1980 to 2000 he was married to actress Mary Ellen Trainor, with whom he has a child.
Filmography:
A Christmas Carol (2009)
Beowulf (2007)
The Polar Express (2004)
Macabre (2001)
Cast Away (2000)
What Lies Beneath (2000)
Contact (1997)
Forrest Gump (1994)
Death Becomes Her (1992)
Back to the Future Part III (1990)
Back to the Future Part II (1989)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Back to the Future (1985)
Romancing the Stone (1984)
Used Cars (1980)
I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978)
Field of Honor (1973)
The Lift (1972)