Carol Sue Littleton, (born October 23, 1942) is an American film editor. Her work includes Body Heat (1981), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), The Big Chill (1983), Places in the Heart (1984), Silverado (1985), The Accidental Tourist (1988), and Wyatt Earp (1994). She won the Primetime Emmy Award for the ABC movie Tuesdays with Morrie (1999). In January 2024, she received an Honorary Oscar for her work.
Early life and education Carol Littleton was born 1942 in Oklahoma CityBetty Littleton: A Family Portrait. AuthorHouse, 2010, , pp. 275-295. but her family later moved to Miami in Northeastern Oklahoma, where she grew up.An Interview with Carol Littleton, ACE. In: medium.com, February 3, 2017 She attended the University of Oklahoma College of Arts & Sciences, obtaining her bachelor's degree in 1965 and her master's in 1970.University of Oklahoma webpage retrieved July 9, 2008.
Career Her obsession with film editing started in France, when Littleton became acquainted with French New Wave cinema. During the 1970s, Carol Littleton owned a production company that made commercials. She moved into working as a film editor with director Karen Arthur on Legacy (1975). Other films were to follow and Littleton received an Academy Award nomination for editing Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982). Commencing with Body Heat (1981), Littleton had an extended collaboration with the director Lawrence Kasdan. Kasdan hired Littleton for Body Heat not only for her skill, but specifically because she was a woman. He believed only a woman editor could bring the eroticism he wanted to the film. Of the 11 films that Kasdan has directed, Littleton edited nine.
In the late 1980s, Carol Littleton was elected to and served as the president of the Motion Picture Editors Guild. Littleton served as president of the Motion Picture Editors Guild from 1988 to 1991, and as vice president from 1994 to 2001, as well as from 2005 to 2007. Littleton has been elected as a member of the American Cinema Editors, and has served as ACE vice president since 2019. She is also a current member of the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Film Editors Branch). Littleton is one of the editors that author Gabriella Oldham interviewed for her book First Cut: Conversations with Film Editors (1992).
Personal life Carol Littleton was married to cinematographer John Bailey from 1972 until his death in 2023.
Filmography Film YearTitleDirectorNotes1975LegacyKaren Arthur1977The HazingDouglas CurtisAlternative title: The Curious Case of the Campus Corpse1978The Mafu Cage Karen ArthurAlternative title: Don't Ring the Doorbell1979French Postcards Willard Huyck1980RoadieAlan RudolphAs supervising editorTom Walls was the main editor1981Body HeatLawrence Kasdan1982E.T. the Extra-TerrestrialSteven Spielberg1983The Big ChillLawrence Kasdan1984Places in the HeartRobert Benton1985SilveradoLawrence Kasdan1986Brighton Beach MemoirsGene Saks1987Swimming to CambodiaJonathan Demme1988VibesKen Kwapis1988The Accidental TouristLawrence Kasdan1990White PalaceLuis Mandoki1991Grand CanyonLawrence Kasdan1993Benny & JoonJeremiah S. Chechik1994China MoonJohn BaileyCo-edited with Jill Savitt1994Wyatt EarpLawrence Kasdan1996DiaboliqueJeremiah S. Chechik1998TwilightRobert Benton1998BelovedJonathan DemmeCo-edited with Andy Keir1999MumfordLawrence KasdanCo-edited with William Steinkamp2000What Women WantNancy MeyersAs additional editorThomas J. Nordberg & Stephen A. Rotter were the main editors 2001The Anniversary PartyJennifer Jason LeighAlan CummingCo-edited with Suzanne Spangler2002The Truth About CharlieJonathan DemmeCo-edited with Suzanne Spangler2003DreamcatcherLawrence KasdanCo-edited with Raúl Dávalos2004The Manchurian CandidateJonathan DemmeCo-edited with Craig McKay2007In the Land of WomenJon KasdanCo-edited with Marty Levenstein2007Margot at the WeddingNoah Baumbach2008The Other Boleyn GirlJustin ChadwickCo-edited with Paul Knight2010Country StrongShana FesteCo-edited with Conor O’Neill2011The Rum DiaryBruce Robinson2012Darling CompanionLawrence Kasdan2015A Walk in the WoodsKen KwapisCo-edited with Julie Garcés
Television YearTitleDirectorNotes1978Battered Peter WernerTV movie1999Tuesdays with MorrieMick JacksonABC television movie2016All the WayJay RoachHBO television movie2018My Dinner with HervéSacha GervasiHBO television film
Accolades Year Association Award Project Result Ref.1983 Academy Award Best Film Editing E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial BAFTA Film Award Best Editing American Cinema Editors Best Edited Feature Film 2000 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Tuesdays with Morrie 2016 American Cinema Editors Career Achievement Award 2017 Best Edited Miniseries or Television Movie All the Way 2023 Academy Award Honorary Academy Award
See also List of film director and editor collaborations
References
External links
Focus on Editing: Emmy Winner — Carol Littleton, A. C. E. TV Technology NewBay Media