Born in Frankfurt am Main, Zimmer began his musical career playing keyboards and synthesizers with, among others, the bands Helden (with Warren Cann from Ultravox) and The Buggles ("Video Killed the Radio Star"). He was also a member of the electro-wave band Krisma. In the 1980s, he worked with Stanley Myers, a film composer. His breakthrough came in 1988, with the score for Rain Man, which was nominated for an Academy Award.

Since then, Zimmer has composed music for many major blockbusters. In 1995, he received an Academy Award for Best Original Score for the animated movie The Lion King. He composed the theme for the boxing series The Contender and also produced the soundtracks for the 2005 anime series Blood+. Other composers like Steve Jablonsky, James Dooley, Heitor Pereira and Geoff Zanelli work in Zimmer's studio, Remote Control Productions (formerly known as Media Ventures). Accomplished composers including Harry Gregson-Williams, Mark Mancina, John Van Tongeren, Steve Jablonsky, Geoff Zanelli, John Powell and Klaus Badelt are also all former members of the studio.