Ray Dolby

Ray Dolby founded Dolby Laboratories in 1965 and created an environment in which scientists and engineers continue to advance the science of sight and sound to make entertainment and communications more engaging. Dr. Dolby's pioneering work in noise reduction and surround sound led to the development of many state-of-the-art technologies, for which he obtained more than 50 U.S. patents.

Known for his insatiable curiosity, Dr. Dolby attributed his success to a personal quest for education that eventually led to a PhD in physics from Cambridge University. Early in his career, while attending high school and then Stanford University, he worked at Ampex Corporation and was the chief designer of all electronic aspects of the first practical videotape recording system.

Today, Dolby Laboratories technologies are an essential part of the creative process for recording artists and filmmakers, who continue to use Dolby® tools to bring their visions to life. In the 48 years since Ray Dolby founded Dolby Laboratories, the company has transformed the entertainment experience from the cinema to the living room to mobile entertainment. Tens of thousands of films and billions of products and devices with Dolby technologies have made their way to theatres and homes around the world.

The industry has awarded Dolby Laboratories with 10 Academy Awards® and 14 Emmy® Awards for its groundbreaking achievements. Additionally, Dr. Dolby has been the recipient of such prestigious honors and awards as The National Medal of Technology from President Clinton, The Order of Officer of the British Empire (OBE) from Queen Elizabeth II, Honorary Doctorate of Science from Cambridge University, Honorary Doctorate from the University of York, an Oscar, a Grammy, several Emmys, Audio Engineering Society (AES) Silver and Gold Medals and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Edison Medal.

In 2004, Ray Dolby was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in the United States and the Royal Academy of Engineers in the United Kingdom

Ray Dolby was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2014.