Robert Stromberg is an American special effects artist, production designer, filmmaker, and film director. He is best known for his work on Avatar (2009) and Alice in Wonderland (2010), for which he won consecutive Academy Awards, and for directing Disney's Maleficent (2014).

Early life and education

Stromberg grew up in Carlsbad, California. He attended Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad, California. As a child he pursued drawing and painting, training under a former Disney illustrator who had moved to his community.

Career

His credits include films such as James Cameron's Avatar, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, and Sam Raimi's Oz the Great and Powerful.

He made his directorial debut with the 2014 Disney film Maleficent, a re-imagining of the iconic Disney villain.

Matte painting and visual effects

Stromberg began his career as a matte painter and visual effects artist, contributing to series such as Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager.

Production design

Stromberg served as production designer on James Cameron's Avatar (2009), which earned him an Academy Award alongside Rick Carter and Kim Sinclair. He followed with another Academy Award win for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010).[citation needed]

Filmography

Director

Film

Television

YearTitleNotes
2015What Lives InsideBranded miniseries
2019Project Blue Book2 episodes (Also executive producer)

Visual effects

Film

YearTitleNotes
2003Master and Commander: The Far Side of the WorldOscar nominee

Television

YearTitleNotes
1990sStar Trek: The Next GenerationWon Emmy Award Also matte painter
1995Star Trek: VoyagerWon Emmy Award
2008John AdamsWon Primetime Emmy Award
2011–2012Boardwalk EmpireWon 2 Primetime Emmy Awards

Production designer

YearTitleNotes
2009AvatarWon Academy Award for Best Production Design
2010Alice in WonderlandWon Academy Award
2013Oz the Great and Powerful
2016The BFG

External links