Robert Zemeckis Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Robert Zemeckis is an American film director and screenwriter connected with numerous successful films from Back to the Future to Forrest Gump.

Childhood and Early Life

Robert Lee Zemeckis was born on May 14, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois. His father was Alphonse, a Lithuanian American, and his mother Rosa, an Italian American, raised him on the south side of the city. He grew up learning filmmaking on his own with his parents' 8mm camera.

Education

Robert Zemeckis went to Fenger Academy High School in Chicago. He attended the University of Southern California where he studied at the School of Cinematic Arts. This was where he met Bob Gale, a writer with whom he frequently collaborated with. One of his early achievements is the Student Academy Award for his short film A Field of Honor. He graduated in 1973.

Career

Robert Zemeckis' filmography ranges in a variety of film genres. Robert Zemeckis has produced dramas, horrors, comedies, and science fiction.  The first breakout film that he directed was the 1984 action-adventure comedy Romancing the Stone starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito. 

Soon after that, he started the first of his highly successful movie trilogy Back to the Future which he also helped write the screenplay. Another film that highlighted his use of special effects was Who Framed Roger Rabbit? in 1988.

In the 1990s, Robert Zemeckis produced a number of horror films and TV shows. He was executive producer of Tales From the Crypt from 1989 to 1996. He also created the comedy, fantasy-horror film Death Becomes Her in 1992.

His most acclaimed film of the 1990s was his directorial role in Forrest Gump starring Tom Hanks. He was recognized for his work with numerous awards for best director. Zemeckis and Hanks worked together again in the 2000 film Cast Away as well as the 2005 animated film The Polar Express for which he also wrote the screenplay.

In the 2000s, Robert Zemeckis was producing as well as directing. This included horror films including Gothika, House of Wax, and The Reaping. More recent films that highlight his use of special effects include Beowulf (2007) and A Christmas Carol (2009). Other films like Flight with Denzel Washington, The Walk with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Allied with Brad Pitt featured strength in its live-action setting.

Personal Life and Legacy

Robert Zemeckis married Mary Ellen Trainor in 1980. The couple had one son, Alexander. They divorced in 2000. Zemeckis later married Leslie Harter in 2001. The couple had two sons, Zane and Rhys.

Philanthropic Works / Humanitarian Work

Robert Zemeckis along with his wife Leslie, contribute to arts, education, and health organizations through the Robert Zemeckis Charitable Foundation. This includes the donation of the Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts at his alma mater, USC.

Awards and Achievements 

Oscar nominee, Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, Back to the Future, 1986; Oscar, Best Director, Forrest Gump, 1995; Golden Globe, Best Director, Forrest Gump, 1995

Directors Guide of America (DGA) Award, Best Director, Forrest Gump, 1995; BAFTA Children's Award nominee, Best Feature Film, The Polar Express, 2005

Summary of Major Works

Director:

Romancing the Stone, 1984, Back to the Future, 1985, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? 1998, Back to the Future Part II, 1989, Tales from the Crypt (3 episodes), 1989. 1991, and 1995

Back to the Future Part III, 1990, Forrest Gump, 1994, Cast Away, 2000, The Polar Express, 2004, Flight, 2012

Screenwriter:

Back to the Future, 1985, Back to the Future Part II, 1989, Back to the Future Part III, 1990, Back to the Future (animated TV series), 1991-1992, The Polar Express, 2004

Producer:

Tales from the Crypt, (TV series) 1989-1996, Tales from the Cryptkeeper (TV series), 1993-1994