Robert Zemeckis was born on May 14, 1952 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning American movie director, producer and writer.

Earlier in his career, Zemeckis co-wrote (with Bob Gale) and directed Back to the Future, which was the top-grossing release of 1985, and for which Zemeckis shared Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Original Screenplay. He went on to helm Back to the Future, Part II and Part III, completing one of the most successful film franchises ever.

By the early '90s, Zemeckis was recognized as a director of great technical skill but little personal viewpoint, something that changed with the 1994 release of Forrest Gump. As an added bonus, it helped Zemeckis snag a Best Director Oscar, as well as several other awards.

He found further success, albeit moderate by comparison, with Contact, a 1997 film starring Jodie Foster as an astronomer seeking out extraterrestrial life forms.

He also directed Cast Away (2000), The Polar Express (2004) and Beowulf (2007).

In the early eighties, Zemeckis married actress Mary Ellen Trainor, with whom he had a son, Alexander. He described the marriage as difficult to balance with filmmaking, and his relationship with Trainor eventually ended in divorce. In 2001, he married actress Leslie Harter Zemeckis.

Director

• A Christmas Carol (2009)
• Beowulf (2007)
• The Polar Express (2004)
• Cast Away (2000)
• What Lies Beneath (2000)
• The 20th Century: The Pursuit of Happiness (1999) (TV)
• Contact (1997)
• "Tales from the Crypt" (3 episodes, 1989-1995)
• Forrest Gump (1994)
• "Johnny Bago" (1 episode, 1993)
• Death Becomes Her (1992)
• Amazing Stories: Book Two (1992)
• Two-Fisted Tales (1991) (TV)
• Back to the Future Part III (1990)
• Back to the Future Part II (1989)
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
• "Amazing Stories" (1 episode, 1986)
• Back to the Future (1985)
• Romancing the Stone (1984)
• Used Cars (1980)
• I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978)
• A Field of Honor (1973)
• The Lift (1972)

Awards

• American Cinema Editors Golden Eddie Award 2000
• Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film "Forrest Gump" 1994
• Golden Globe Award Best Director "Forrest Gump" 1994
• NATO/ShoWest Director of the Year Award "Forrest Gump" 1994
• Oscar Best Director "Forrest Gump" 1994
• Los Angeles Film Critics Association Special Award "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" 1988
• Student Academy Award "A Field of Honor" 1973