Robert C. Jones

Robert Clifford Jones (March 30, 1936 – February 1, 2021) was an American film editor. As an editor, he had notable collaborations with the directors Arthur Hiller (seven films from 1967 to 1992) and Hal Ashby (four films from 1973 to 1982). He was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), and Bound for Glory (1976). He also received an Academy Award for writing the screenplay for the film Coming Home (1978).

Early life Jones was born in Los Angeles on March 30, 1936. His father, Harmon Jones, was a Canadian-born film editor who was nominated for an Oscar for his work on Gentleman's Agreement. Jones enrolled in college, but subsequently dropped out and worked at a shipping room for 20th Century Fox. He started off as an assistant film editor for movies like Untamed (1955) and The Long, Hot Summer (1958). He described his job as "magic", adding that it had "opened my eyes to what my dad had done". Jones worked at the Army Pictorial Center from 1958 to 1960. Even though he did not attend film school or have any formal training in editing, he was thrust into the role of a film editor. He credits this stint for giving him the "experience and confidence" needed to pursue a career in film editing. serving in that capacity for 15 years.

Personal life Jones was married to Sylvia Hirsch Jones, a professor of psychology, for 59 years until his death. She assisted Jones during the early part of her career on films like See No Evil, Hear No Evil and The Babe.

Filmography + Editor Year Film Director Notes 1963 A Child Is WaitingJohn Cassavetes

+ Thanks Year Film Director Role1982 Lookin' to Get OutHal AshbySpecial thanks: For being there

+ Writer Year Film Director Notes Other notes 1978 Coming Home Hal AshbyFourth collaboration with Hal Ashby1979 Being ThereFifth collaboration with Hal Ashby

TV movies

+ Additional crew Year Film Director Role1986 PicnicMarshall W. MasonTechnical director

TV series

TV specials

+ Thanks Year Title Role2021 93rd Academy AwardsIn memoriam

Academy Awards Year Category Work Result Ref. 1964 Best Film Editing It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World 1968 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner 1977 Bound for Glory 1979 Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Coming Home