Tom Rolf

Ernst Ragnar Rolf (December 31, 1931 – July 14, 2014), better known as Tom Rolf, was a Swedish film editor who worked on at least 48 feature films in a career spanning over fifty years. Most notable among these films are Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver, for which he was nominated for the 1976 BAFTA Award for Best Editing, and Philip Kaufman's The Right Stuff, for which he and his editing team won the 1983 Oscar for Best Film Editing. Other notable films he edited include WarGames, Jacob's Ladder, Heat and The Horse Whisperer.

A member of the American Cinema Editors (ACE) since the mid-1950s, Rolf served two terms as president of that guild. He also served on the Board of Governors at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for five terms (15 years), representing the editing branch from 1992 through 2007.

Early life Ernst R. Rolf was born in Stockholm, Sweden on New Year's Eve, 1931, the son of actor Ernst Rolf and Norwegian-born actress Tutta Rolf.

Career

Early years, Levy-Gardiner-Laven and first films of the '70s At the start of his career, Rolf spent a then-required eight years serving as an apprentice and assistant editor. Badham later recruited Rolf for his 1987 crime-comedy Stakeout, though this time the editor was paired up with Michael Ripps.

For director Adrian Lyne, Rolf edited 1986's 9½ Weeks and 1990's Jacob's Ladder. The latter is considered by some, including author and film scholar Vincent LoBrutto, to be a landmark in film editing due to the intricacies and complexities involved in cutting the picture and because it "furthered the montage style of editing and allowed filmmakers to strive for new forms." In 2010, Rolf told The Hollywood Reporter that Jacob's Ladder was the film he enjoyed working on the most, stating he was "very proud of that one."

Death On July 14, 2014, Rolf died at his home in France due to complications following hip surgery. He was 82.

Selected filmography

+ Producer Year Film Director Credit1967 ClambakeArthur H. NadelAssociate producer

+ Writer Year Film Director1971 The Resurrection of Zachary WheelerBob Wynn

TV movies

TV series