Robert Zemeckis - Milestones

• 2004: Helmed the animated feature "The Polar Express" starring Tom Hanks in several roles
• 2000: Reunited with Tom Hanks as producer and director of "Cast Away", filmed over a stretch of time in 1999-2000 with a break for Hanks to lose weight
• 2000: During break from filming "Cast Away", produced and helmed the thriller "What Lies Beneath", starring Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer; film released before "Cast Away"
• 1999: Made "Robert Zemeckis on Smoking, Drinking and Drugging in the 20th Century: In Pursuit of Happiness" for Showtime
• 1998: Served as a producer on the remake of "The House on Haunted Hill"
• 1997: Helmed the screen adaptation of Carl Sagan's book "Contact"; also produced
• 1995: Was one of the executive producers of the feature "Tales From the Crypt Presents Demon Knight"
• 1994: Directed the box office hit "Forest Gump", starring Tom Hanks; film won eight Academy Awards, including one for Best Director
• 1993: Produced first network TV series, "Johnny Bago," a CBS adventure-comedy series
• 1993: Created and produced "Tales from the Cryptkeeper", an ABC animated series
• 1992: Directed with mixed results the black comedy "Death Becomes Her", featuring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn
• 1992: Scripted and executive produced "Trespass", helmed by Walter Hill
• 1992: Feature debut as executive producer, "The Public Eye"
• 1991: TV acting debut, "Parker Lewis Can't Lose!", a Fox sitcom that featured his then-wife Mary Ellen Trainor
• From 1989 to 1996: TV producing debut as one of the co-executive producers of "Tales From the Crypt", an HBO horror anthology series
• 1988: Directed the live-action and animated combination "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"
• 1986: TV directing debut, "Go to the Head of the Class", an episode of "Amazing Stories"
• 1985: With Gale co-wrote the blockbuster "Back to the Future"; also directed
• 1984: Enjoyed box-office hit as director of the adventure love story "Romancing the Stone"
• 1980: Helmed the comedy "Used Cars"
• 1979: Co-wrote with Gale, "1941", a sprawling comedy directed by Steven Spielberg
• 1978: Feature film directorial debut, "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"; also co-wrote script with Gale
• 1973: Made award-winning 14-minute student film "A Field of Honor"
• 1972: Directed first "professional" short "The Lift", an 8-minute student film
• 1971: Met future writing partner Bob Gale at USC
• Began making 8mm films in high school
• Screened "A Field of Honor" for Steven Spielberg and John Milius who helped him and Gale get a development deal for an original screenplay that became "1941"
• Helmed the sequels "Back to the Future II" (1989) and "Back to the Future III" (1990) back to back
• Born and raised on the south side of Chicago