He graduated from the University of Utah with a B.S in Physics and Computer Science and a Ph.D. in Computer Science. He is credited with the Catmull-Rom spline and the Catmull-Clark subdivision surface. He has been credited on films such as Bolt, Up, The Princess and the Frog, Brave, Wreck-It Ralph, Monsters University, Frozen, Big Hero 6, Inside Out, and Zootropolis. During his career Catmull has won five Academy Awards.