Norman Hollyn, a prolific film and film music editor whose credits include “The Cotton Club,” “Sophie’s Choice” and “Heathers,” died over the weekend after suffering a coronary embolism and cardiac arrest. He was 66.
Hollyn, who was also a professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, was in Yokohama, Japan, where he was serving as a guest lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts.
Hollyn began his career as an apprentice sound editor on Bob Fossee’s “Lenny” in 1974, and was an apprentice editor on “Network” two years later. His subsequent credits include “Hair,” “Fame,” the Rodney Dangerfield comedy “Easy Money,” “Mr. Destiny,” and “It’s Pat: The Movie,” among many others. Hollyn also had numerous television credits, including the ABC miniseries “Wild Palms.”
Hollyn wrote the “The Film Editing Room Handbook” in 1984.
“All of us at the USC School of Cinematic Arts are profoundly saddened by the passing of Norman Hollyn, who was an extraordinary film, television and music editor, and was the inaugural holder of the Michael Kahn Endowed Chair in Editing here at SCA,” Dean Elizabeth M. Daley said in a statement posted to the school’s Facebook page.
“Norm died in Yokohama, Japan, where he was sharing his wonderful knowledge with students from Tokyo University of the Arts. Norm was such an important member of our faculty for many years and his loss is devastating. We will grieve with his family in the days ahead and find a time this Spring to join together to celebrate his life and his many contributions to all of us here at SCA.”
“There are truly not enough words to pay tribute one of the most wonderful and talented humans we’ve had the honor to know,” the American Cinema Editors said in a statement on Twitter. “Norm was an admired film editor, honored professor, esteemed writer, film historian, world lecturer & a cherished friend.”