Marc Regis Hannah was born on October 13, 1956, in Chicago, Illinois, to Huber and Edith Hannah. He attended the Illinois Institute of Technology on a scholarship from AT&T's Bell Laboratories. Hannah received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1977 before continuing his studies at Stanford University, where he received his master's degree in 1978 and his doctorate in 1985.
He is the inventor of 3D graphics. In 1982, Marc Hannah co-founded Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI) with Jim Clark and five others, a company that became famous for its computer graphics technology. In 1986, he was appointed the company's lead scientist for the creation of computer programs such as Personal IRIS, Indigo, Indigo2, and Indy Graphics, which were used to create effects for films such as Jurassic Park, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and many others.
The Hunt for Red October and Field of Dreams. George Lucas's company Industrial Light & Magic used Silicon Graphics technology to create Terminator 2. Hannah's programs were also used to create television commercials and the opening intro for Monday Night Football. In addition, the company's technology has been used in engineering, research, and military applications. Hannah is a partial owner of Rondeau Bay, a construction company in Oakland, California.
Since 1994, Hannah has served on the Magic Edge Board of Directors. He has also been featured in Ebony Magazine, Electronics Magazine, Forbes, and PC Magazine. Additionally, Hannah has received the Professional Achievement Award from the Illinois Institute of Technology and the National Technical Association.