Robert Zemeckis Biography (1952-)

Full name, Robert L. Zemeckis; born May 14, 1952, in Chicago, IL; married Mary Ellen Trainor (an actress; divorced); married Leslie Harter, December 4, 2001; children: (first marriage) Alexander Francis. Addresses: Office: Imagemovers, 100 University City Plaza, Bldg. 484, Universal City, CA 91608; and Dark Castle Entertainment, 4000 Warner Blvd., Bldg. 90, Burbank, CA 91522.; Agent: Creative Artists Agency, 9830 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212.; Publicist: Rogers & Cowan Public Relations, 1888 Century Park E., Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90067.

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: Director, writer, producer, editor
Birth Details: May 14, 1952; Chicago, Illinois, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Film Work
Director
The Lift (student film), 1972
(And producer) A Field of Honor (short film), 1973
I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Universal, 1978
Used Cars, Columbia, 1980
Romancing the Stone (also known as 2 bribones tras la esmeraldaperdida), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1984
Back to the Future, Universal, 1985
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (live-action and animated), Buena Vista,1988
Back to the Future Part II, Universal, 1989
Back to the Future Part III, Universal, 1990
(And producer, with Steve Starkey) Death Becomes Her (also known as La muerte le sienta bien), Universal, 1992
Forrest Gump, Paramount, 1994
(And producer) Contact, Warner Bros., 1997
(And producer) Cast Away, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2000
(And producer) What Lies Beneath, DreamWorks, 2000
Executive Producer
Trespass (also known as Looters), Universal, 1992
The Public Eye, Universal, 1992
Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight (also known as Demon Keeper and Demon Knight), Universal, 1995
Robert Zemeckis Presents: The Frighteners (also known as Frighteners), Universal, 1996
Matchstick Men, Warner Bros., 2003
Producer
Bordello of Blood (also known as Tales from the Crypt Presents:Bordello of Blood), Universal, 1996
The House on Haunted Hill, Warner Bros., 1999
Thir13en Ghosts (also known as Thirteen Ghosts), Warner Bros., 2001
Ritual (also known as Tales from the Crypt Presents: Revelation and Tales from the Crypt Presents: Voodoo), Miramax/Dimension Films/RKO Radio Pictures, 2001
Ghost Ship, Warner Bros., 2002
Gothika, Warner Bros., 2003
Clink Inc., DreamWorks, 2003
Television Work
Series
Co-executive producer, Tales from the Crypt (series of specials; also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1989-1996
Executive producer, Deadline (also known as Bay City Storyand Manhattan Exclusive), ABC, 1991
Creator, Back to the Future (also known as Back to the Future:The Animated Series), CBS, 1991
Creator and producer, Tales from the Cryptkeeper (animated), ABC,1993-1996
Creator and producer, Johnny Bago, CBS, 1993
Executive producer, Secrets of the Cryptkeeper's Haunted House, 1996
Executive producer, Perversions of Science, HBO, 1997
Television Executive Producer
Specials
"The Man Who Was Death," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1989
(And director) "And All through the House," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1989
"Dig That Cat ... He's Real Gone!," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1989
"Only Sin Deep," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1989
"Lover Come Hack to Me," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1989
"Collection Completed," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1989
"Dead Right," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1990
"The Switch," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1990
"Cutting Cards," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1990
"'Til Death," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1990
"Three's a Crowd," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1990
"The Thing from the Grave," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1990
"The Sacrifice," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1990
"For Crying Out Loud," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1990
"Four-Sided Triangle," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1990
(And director) "The Ventriloquist's Dummy," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1990
"Judy, You're Not Yourself Today," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1990
"Fitting Punishment," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO'sTales from the Crypt), HBO, 1990
"Korman's Kalamity," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO'sTales from the Crypt), HBO, 1990
"Lower Berth," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Talesfrom the Crypt), HBO, 1990
"Mute Witness to Murder," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1990
"Television Terror," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO'sTales from the Crypt), HBO, 1990
"My Brother's Keeper," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1990
"The Secret," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1990
Two-Fisted Tales, Fox, 1991
"The Trap," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1991
"Loved to Death," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1991
"Carrion Death," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1991
"Abra Cadaver," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Talesfrom the Crypt), HBO, 1991
"Top Billing," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Talesfrom the Crypt), HBO, 1991
"Dead Wait," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1991
"The Reluctant Vampire," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1991
"Easel Kill Ya," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1991

"Undertaking Palor," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO'sTales from the Crypt), HBO, 1991
"Mournin' Mess," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1991
"Split Second," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Talesfrom the Crypt), HBO, 1991
"Deadline," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1991
"Spoiled," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales fromthe Crypt), HBO, 1991
(And director) "Yellow," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1991
"None But the Lonely Heart," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1992
"This'll Kill Ya," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1992
"On a Deadman's Chest," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1992
"Seance," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales fromthe Crypt), HBO, 1992
"Beauty Rest," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Talesfrom the Crypt), HBO, 1992
"What's Cookin'," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1992
"The New Arrival," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1992
"Showdown," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1992
"King of the Road," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1992
"Maniac at Large," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1992
"Split Personality," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO'sTales from the Crypt), HBO, 1992
"Strung Along," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Talesfrom the Crypt), HBO, 1992
"Werewolf Concerto," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO'sTales from the Crypt), HBO, 1992
"Curiosity Killed," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1992
"Death of Some Salesmen," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1993
"As Ye Sow," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1993
"Forever Ambergris," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO'sTales from the Crypt), HBO, 1993
"Food for Thought," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1993
"People Who Live in Brass Hearses," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1993
"Two for the Show," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1993
"House of Horror," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1993
"Well-Cooked Hams," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1993
"Creep Course," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Talesfrom the Crypt), HBO, 1993
"Came the Dawn," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1993
"Oil's Well That Ends Well," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1993
"Half-way Horrible," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO'sTales from the Crypt), HBO, 1993
"Till Death Do We Part," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1993
"Let the Punishment Fit the Crime," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1994
"Only Skin Deep," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1994
"Whirlpool," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1994
"Operation Friendship," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1994
"Revenge Is the Nuts," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1994
"The Bribe," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1994
"The Pit," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales fromthe Crypt), HBO, 1994
"The Assassin," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Talesfrom the Crypt), HBO, 1994
"Staired in Horror," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO'sTales from the Crypt), HBO, 1994
"In the Groove," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1994
"Surprise Party," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1994
"Doctor of Horror," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1995
"Comes the Dawn," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1995
"99 and 44/100 Percent Pure Horror!," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1995
(And director) "You, Murderer," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1995
"Fatal Caper," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Talesfrom the Crypt), HBO, 1996
"Last Respects," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1996
"A Slight Case of Murder," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1996
"Escape," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales fromthe Crypt), HBO, 1996
"Horror in the Night," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1996
"Cold War," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1996
"Kidnapper," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1996
"Report from the Grave," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1996
"Smoke Wrings," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Talesfrom the Crypt), HBO, 1996
"About Face," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1996
"Confession," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1996
"Ear Today ... Gone Tomorrow," Tales from the Crypt (also known asHBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1996
"The Third Pig," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1996
(And director) "Robert Zemeckis on Smoking, Drinking, and Drugging in the20th Century: In Pursuit of Happiness," In the 20th Century, Showtime, 1999
Television Director
Episodic
"Go to the Head of the Class," Amazing Stories, 1986
"Johnny Bago Free at Last," Johnny Bago, CBS, 1993
Television Work
Other
Producer, W.E.I.R.D. World (movie), 1995
Executive producer, Ticket to Ride (pilot), The WB, 2002
Television Appearances: Specials
Roger Rabbit and the Secrets of Toontown, CBS, 1988
Premiere Presents: Christmas Movies '89, Fox, 1989
The Secrets of the Back to the Future Trilogy, syndicated, 1990
Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects, 1994
Through the Eyes of Forrest Gump, 1994
Inside the Academy Awards, TNT, 1995
MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special, 1995
Presenter, The 68th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1996
Steven Spielberg: An Empire of Dreams, Arts and Entertainment, 1998
The Warner Bros. Story: No Guts, No Glory--75 Years of Blockbusters, TNT, 1998
The Warner Bros. Story: No Guts, No Glory: 75 Years of Stars, TNT,1998
The Inside Reel: Digital Filmmaking, PBS, 2001
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Tom Hanks, USA Network, 2002
Television Appearances
Episodic
Firstworks, The Movie Channel, 1988
The Magical World of Disney, 1988
Steven Spielberg, "Rock 'n Roles," Parker Lewis Can't Lose (also known as Parker Lewis), Fox, 1991
American Cinema, PBS, 1995
The Directors, Encore, 1999
Mad TV, 2001
RECORDINGS
Videos
The Making of "1941," 1996
Behind the Scenes: Cast Away, 2000
Back to the Future: Making the Trilogy, 2002
WRITINGS
Screenplays
The Lift (student film), 1972
A Field of Honor (short film), 1973
(With Bob Gale) I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Universal, 1978
(With Gale) 1941 (also based on a story by Zemeckis), Universal, 1979
(With Gale) Used Cars, Columbia, 1980
(With Gale) Back to the Future, Universal, 1985
Back to the Future III (also based on a story by Zemeckis and Gale), Universal, 1990
(With Gale) Trespass (also known as Looters), Universal, 1992
Also wrote (with Gale) the unpublished screenplays Car Pool and Growing Up.
Television Episodes
(With Bob Gale and David Chase) "Chopper," Kolchak: The Night Stalker, ABC, 1995
Also coauthor of episodes of Get Christie Love and McCloud,NBC.

Further Reference

ADAPTATIONS

The screenplay Back to the Future Part II was based on characterscreated by Zemeckis and Bob Gale; the screenplay Bordello of Blood wasbased on a story by Zemeckis. The 1984 television special Used Cars was based on the 1980 screenplay by Zemeckis and Gale. The television episode"Go to the Head of the Class," directed by Zemeckis and first broadcast in the series Amazing Stories, was included in the video Amazing Stories: Book Two, 1992.

OTHER SOURCES

Books

International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 2: Directors, St. James Press, 1996
Newsmakers, Issue 1, Gale, 2002

Periodicals

American Film, July-August, 1988, pp. 32-35
Forbes, December 1, 1997, p. S121
Hollywood Reporter, Robert Zemeckis Tribute Issue, March 9, 1995
New Statesman and Society, December 2, 1992, p. 33
Newsweek, December 4, 1989, p. 78
New York, July 18, 1994, pp. 50-51
New Yorker, June 18, 1990, pp. 91-92; August 24, 1992, p. 80; July25, 1994
People Weekly, January 11, 1993, pp. 17-18; June 28, 1993, pp. 10-11
Rolling Stone, June 28, 1990, p. 31; August 20, 1992, p. 57; February 4, 1993, p. 37
Starlog, January, 1990, pp. 37-40, 73; December, 1992, October, 1997
Time, June 27, 1988, p. 72

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