Film Editor Bud S. Smith Passes Away at 88

Prolific film editor Bud S. Smith has died at the age of 88. His death was confirmed by his wife. 

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Smith made a name for himself in the film industry as an editor. Smith’s earliest work as an editor came in 1965 with William Friedkin’s The Bold Men. Friedkin and Smith would collaborate again on several more projects. In 1977, the two worked together on Sorcerer, then again in 1980 with Cruising. Their most fruitful collaboration, however, came in 1973, with Friedkin’s iconic horror classic, The Exorcist. Upon its release, The Exorcist became a critical and financial darling and went on to be nominated for a multitude of Academy Awards. Among its nominations, it won Best Film Editing for the work of Jordan Leondopoulos, Evan Lottman, Norman Gay, and Smith himself. 

Deadline pointed out that the nomination for The Exorcist wasn’t the only time Smith was up for consideration for an Oscar. For his work on Adrian Lyne’s Flashdance, Smith, as well as Walt Mulconery, were both up for Best Film Editing at the 56th Academy Awards. Deadline also reported that Variety was the first to break the news of Smith’s passing.  

Some of Smith’s other credits as editor include The Karate Kid, Cat People, and Some Kind Of Wonderful. Smith is survived by his wife and he will be missed dearly by his family and film fans around the world.