Zimmerman initially aspired to be an actor and enrolled at Northwestern University to study acting and directing.[1] He then changed his major to theatre production, in order to take an assistantship in technical theatre.[2] Zimmerman then became an associate professor of drama at Northwestern University for 5 years, where he was a Technical Director and Scene Designer for the university's theatre.[3]
Zimmerman began working for NBC in 1965, as an assistant art director on Days of Our Lives.[4] Zimmerman has worked on a project with the Institute for Creative Technologies in Southern California, called the "Experience Learning System", which was commissioned by the US Army.[5]