Robert Doyle Marshall Jr. is an American film and theater director, producer, and choreographer renowned for his outstanding work in the film and theater industry. Born on October 17, 1960, in Madison, Wisconsin, he made a significant impact on the Broadway musical landscape. Notably, he directed the film adaptation of the Broadway musical 'Chicago', based on the play of the same name by playwright Maurine Dallas Watkins. His exemplary work on the film earned him the esteemed Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film as well as nominations for several prestigious awards like the Academy Award for Best Director, Golden Globe Award for Best Director, and the BAFTA Award for Best Direction. Along with this, he directed other acclaimed movies like Memoirs of a Geisha, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Into the Woods, Mary Poppins Returns, and the Disney live-action remake The Little Mermaid.

During his early life, Marshall attended Falk School, and late on he graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School. He eventually graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1982. He initiated his career journey in the film industry by successfully performing as a dancer in many Broadway shows, transitioning into choreography, and later directed some of the most famed movies. His contributions to the Hollywood industry are highly recognized and appreciated, and over the years has maintained his reputation as a formidable director and choreographer.