Born and raised in Southern California, Bob Lewis started his interest in film creating 8mm films with friends in high school. This early fascination would lead him to attend San Francisco State University, where he created his own degree combining interdisciplinary studies in film and video. Following his studies, Lewis honed his skills with production jobs in Sacramento where he made industrial and educational films. Later teaching film editing at City College of San Francisco part time, a friend there would ask him to join in going to Los Angeles to take the Assistant Directors Training Program entrance exam. Although he did not pass the exam on his first try, he achieved a high enough score that he was invited to take the exam the following year by the program administrators. The second time he would pass and join the program, leading him into his career in the industry.
Bob Lewis started his Assistant Director career working on iconic programs such as The Love Boat and Dynasty as a Trainee. As a Second Assistant Director, he worked in television on MacGyver, Cover Up, Moonlighting, and Hollywood Beat. In features, he worked as a Second Assistant on The Hunt for Red October, Wild at Heart and Iron Will, to name a few. As a First Assistant Director, he has worked on the television series Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and the television feature Highjacked: Flight 285.
In 2003, Lewis was hired by the Contract Services Administration Trust Fund to help develop and teach Safety Pass Training courses for both IATSE and the DGA, which he would instruct until 2018. Lewis served on the Western AD/UPM Council for 21 years in a variety of roles, including a term as Secretary-Treasurer. He has also served two cycles on the Negotiating Committee and was a member of the Membership Review Committee, New Member Orientation Committee, Low Budget Committee, and the Administrative Committee.
He has been a member of the Guild since 1985.