Mike Hill obit

Mike Hill Dies: Oscar-Winning Film Editor Of Ron Howard Movies Was 73

 

He was not on the list.

Mike Hill, the film editor who, along with editing partner Dan Hanley, cut 22 consecutive Ron Howard feature films beginning with Night Shift in 1982 through Heart of the Sea in 2015, died of Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia (COP) January 5 at his home in Omaha, Nebraska. He was 73.

His death was announced through a family spokesperson.

An Oscar winner for Apollo 13 (1996) and three-time nominee (A Beautiful Mind, 2002; Cinderella Man, 2006 and Frost/Nixon, 2009, all with Hanley), Hill was “a remarkable and dedicated collaborator on our 22 movies but an even more valued friend,” Howard said in a statement.

“He was a gifted and lauded film editor, but he was even prouder of his family and the life they built together in Omaha,” Howard continued. “Mike was a highly intelligent and creative guy who lived his life with honesty, integrity and a great sense of irony and wicked humor. He also had pretty good corner jump shot as I recall from our 3-on-3 basketball days.”

Born in Omaha, Hill found his first editorial job with a local television station there as an assistant editor cutting commercials into movies. Among the movies he later recalled adding commercials to were A Streetcar Named Desire and On The Waterfront, both directed by Elia Kazan, whose The Last Tycoon would provide Hill with an an apprentice editor job at Paramount.

Hill’s credits with Howard also include Willow, Cocoon and The Da Vinci Code.

In addition to the Oscar nominations, Hill had three BAFTA nominations, with a win for Rush in 2014, and three ACE Eddie nominations. Hill was a member of the AMPAS and ACE.

He is survived by his wife LeAnne, daughter Jesica and son-in-law Brandon.

 

Editor

Dr. Abdul Kalam

Editor (tentative)

Pre-production

 

In the Heart of the Sea (2015)

In the Heart of the Sea

6.9

Editor

2015

 

Daniel Brühl and Chris Hemsworth in Rush (2013)

Rush

8.1

Editor

2013

 

My Doll (2013)

My Doll

Short

Editor

2013

 

Telephone (2011)

Telephone

Short

Editor

2011

 

Vince Vaughn and Kevin James in The Dilemma (2011)

The Dilemma

5.3

Editor

2011

 

Tom Hanks in Angels & Demons (2009)

Angels & Demons

6.7

Editor

2009

 

Frank Langella and Michael Sheen in Frost/Nixon (2008)

Frost/Nixon

7.7

Editor (edited by)

2008

 

Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou in The Da Vinci Code (2006)

The Da Vinci Code

6.6

Editor

2006

 

Cinderella Man (2005)

Cinderella Man

8.0

Editor

2005

 

Tommy Lee Jones, Cate Blanchett, and Jenna Boyd in The Missing (2003)

The Missing

6.5

Editor

2003

 

Meredith Monroe and Riley Smith in Full Ride (2002)

Full Ride

5.3

Editor

2002

 

Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind (2001)

A Beautiful Mind

8.2

Editor

2001

 

Jim Carrey in How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

6.3

Editor

2000

 

Matthew McConaughey in Edtv (1999)

Edtv

6.1

Editor

1999

 

Mel Gibson in Ransom (1996)

Ransom

6.7

Editor

1996

 

Apollo 13 (1995)

Apollo 13

7.7

Editor

1995

 

Glenn Close, Robert Duvall, Michael Keaton, Marisa Tomei, and Randy Quaid in The Paper (1994)

The Paper

6.7

Editor

1994

 

Far and Away (1992)

Far and Away

6.6

Editor (as Michael Hill)

1992

 

Backdraft (1991)

Backdraft

6.7

Editor (as Michael Hill)

1991

 

John Ritter, Amy Yasbeck, and Michael Oliver in Problem Child (1990)

Problem Child

5.5

Editor (as Michael Hill)

1990

 

Steve Martin, Keanu Reeves, Martha Plimpton, Tom Hulce, Rick Moranis, Jason Robards, Dianne Wiest, and Mary Steenburgen in Parenthood (1989)

Parenthood

7.1

Editor (as Michael Hill)

1989

 

Brad Greenquist in Pet Sematary (1989)

Pet Sematary

6.5

Editor (as Michael Hill)

1989

 

Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Billy Barty, Warwick Davis, Kevin Pollak, Kate Greenfield, Ruth Greenfield, Jean Marsh, Rick Overton, and Pat Roach in Willow (1988)

Willow

7.2

Editor (as Michael Hill)

1988

 

Combat High (1986)

Combat High

5.3

TV Movie

Editor

1986

 

John Candy in Armed and Dangerous (1986)

Armed and Dangerous

5.7

Editor (as Michael Hill)

1986

 

Michael Keaton, George Wendt, Rodney Kageyama, and Gedde Watanabe in Gung Ho (1986)

Gung Ho

6.3

Editor (as Michael Hill)

1986

 

Cocoon (1985)

Cocoon

6.7

Editor (as Michael Hill)

1985

 

Obsessive Love (1984)

Obsessive Love

5.3

TV Movie

Editor

1984

 

Splash (1983)

Splash

6.3

Editor (as Michael Hill)

1983

 

Baby Sister (1983)

Baby Sister

5.4

TV Movie

Editor (as Michael Hill)

1983

 

Jennifer Jason Leigh and Peter Barton in The First Time (1982)

The First Time

5.2

TV Movie

Editor (as Michael Hill)

1982

 

Michael Keaton, Shelley Long, and Henry Winkler in Night Shift (1982)

Night Shift

6.5

Editor (edited by)

1982

 

Tyne Daly and Sharon Gless in Cagney & Lacey (1981)

Cagney & Lacey

6.8

TV Series

Editor (as Michael Hill, edited by)

1981

1 episode

 

Editorial Department

What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)

What's Love Got to Do with It

7.3

additional film editor (as Michael J. Hill)

1993

 

The Gathering, Part II (1979)

The Gathering, Part II

6.2

TV Movie

assistant editor (as Michael Hill)

1979

 

John Lansing, Stacey Pickren, and Joey Travolta in Sunnyside (1979)

Sunnyside

5.3

assistant editor

1979

 

Bound for Glory (1976)

Bound for Glory

7.2

apprentice editor

1976

 

Producer

Work Their Best

Short

associate producer

2015