Photo: Steve Granitz © WireImage.com

Born Robert W. Welch III in Yardley, PA; educated at the University of Arizona College of Architecture. Art director and production designer who entered American film with 1979's HEAD OVER HEELS. Other notable credits include: (as art director) LOOKER (1981, set designer), THE STAR CHAMBER (1983), SWING SHIFT (also prod. designer) and BEST DEFENSE (both 1984), THE COLOR PURPLE (1985) and VIOLETS ARE BLUE (1986, also prod. designer); (as production designer) THE LOST BOYS (1987), BEETLEJUICE and THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST (both 1988), GHOSTBUSTERS II (1989), JOE VERSUS THE VOLCANO and EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (both 1990), GRAND CANYON (1991), BATMAN RETURNS (1992), WOLF (1994), A LITTLE PRINCESS (1995, also 2nd unit director), THE BIRDCAGE (1996), MEN IN BLACK (1997), PRIMARY COLORS (1998), WILD WILD WEST (1999), WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM? (2000), MEN IN BLACK II (2002), and LAND OF THE LOST (scheduled for release in 2009). Welch directed 2003's DR. SEUSS' THE CAT IN THE HAT. Since 1992, he has been married to actress Catherine O'Hara; they have 2 children.  Nominated for Art Direction/Set Decoration 1985: THE COLOR PURPLE - Art Direction (w. J. Michael Riva)  Nominated for Achievement in Art Direction 1995: A LITTLE PRINCESS - Art Direction  Nominated for Achievement in Art Direction 1996: THE BIRDCAGE - Art Direction  Nominated for Achievement in Art Direction 1997: MEN IN BLACK - Art Direction 4 nominations