Raised in Pukerua Bay, just outside of Wellington, New Zealand

Began making a feature-length vampire film with a Super 8mm camera when he was a teenager

Bought a 16mm camera and decided to test it by making a 10-minute short science-fiction comedy film, "Roast of the Day"; some four years later, the result was Jackson's first feature, "Bad Taste"

Received $5000 grant from the New Zealand Film Commission; quit working as an apprentice photo engraver

Release of first completed feature film, "Bad Taste", which he also produced, starred in, wrote, photographed, edited and did makeup and special effects

First of three consecutive collaborations with producer Jim Booth, "Meet the Feebles"; co-written with Fran Walsh and Stephen Sinclair

Formed WETA, a special effects company

Release of international breakthrough feature, "Dead Alive/Braindead"

Last collaboration with producer Jim Booth, "Heavenly Creatures"; Booth died of cancer on January 4, 1994

Helmed "The Frighteners", a serio-comedic picture starring Michael J Fox

Directed the trilogy of films based on J.R.R. Tolkein's "The Lord of the Rings"; shot back-to-back; scheduled to be released over a three-year period, "The Fellowship of the Ring" (2001); "The Two Towers" (2002) and "The Return of the King" (2003)

"Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings" received Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay; received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Director; received a nomination by the Directors Guild of America for Outstanding Directorial Achievement

"Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture; received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Director; received a nomination by the Directors Guild of America for Outstanding Directorial Achievement

"Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" took the Oscar in each category in which it had been nominated, eleven of them in total, thereby joining "Ben Hur" and "Titanic" with the most Oscars in the record books

Directed the remake of the 1930's classic "King kong" starring Naomi Watts, Jack Black and Adrien Brody; earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Director