A "whizkid" with special effects, Robert is from the Spielberg camp of film-making (Steven Spielberg produced many of his films). Usually working with writing partner Bob Gale, Robert's earlier films show he has a talent for zany comedy (Romancing the Stone, 1941) and special effect vehicles (Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Back to the Future). Although these films are made purely for entertainment, with rarely much character development or a thoughtful plot, they are good fun. His later films, though, have become more serious and thoughtful, with the hugely successful Tom Hanks vehicle Forrest Gump and the Jodie Foster film Contact, both critically acclaimed movies. Again, these films incorporate stunning effects. Robert has proved he can work a serious story around great effects, a feat many directors cannot achieve.


Sits on USC School of Cinema-Television's Board of Councilors. First television script that he and Bob Gale sold in Hollywood was for "Kolchak: The Night Stalker: Chopper (#1.15)" (1975). Announced through his company ImageMovers in August 2002 that he will direct a film adaptation of the popular horror/fantasy comic book "Route 666." The comic, published by CrossGen Comics, centers on a young woman who is besieged by demons and other strange creatures during the Cold War. Owns two production companies - ImageMovers and DarkCastle Entertainment (which he co-owns with Joel Silver). Is a good friend of director Peter Jackson. The two of them have used four of the same actors: Michael J. Fox, who appeared in the Back to the Future trilogy, played the lead role in Jackson's The Frighteners (1996), which Zemeckis produced; Peter Dobson, who also appeared in The Frighteners, also played Elvis Presley in Forrest Gump (1994), although Kurt Russell provided the voice; Elijah Wood made his film debut in Back to the Future Part II (1989), then went on to play Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings trilogy; Miranda Otto, who played a distraught neighbor in What Lies Beneath (2000), played Eowyn in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). Shares the same birthday as George Lucas. Was initially signed to direct Cocoon (1985) but changed his mind when Michael Douglas hired him to direct Romancing the Stone (1984). Has in his archives a letter of rejection from every studio rejecting Back to the Future (1985), because they thought it was too soft for the type of teen movie at the time, except for Disney who thought it was too racy. Has an affinity for Italy. His mother was born in Italy, he and his second wife Leslie Zemeckis were married in Italy, and they have a vacation home (a villa) in Tuscany, Italy.