David Edward Blewitt (August 7, 1928 – July 8, 2010) was an American Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning film editor, whose credits included Ghostbusters in 1984. Blewitt earned an Academy Award nomination for his work on The Competition in 1980.

Early life Blewitt was born in Los Angeles, California, on August 7, 1928. He began his career in the entertainment industry by working as an usher at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles when he was 15 years old. Blewitt enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, where he worked as an aerial reconnaissance photographer. Blewitt returned to Los Angeles after World War II, where he initially worked as a cinematographer. His cinematography television credits included Hollywood and the Stars.

He transitioned to film editing when he joined David L. Wolper Productions where he met, and often collaborated with, Jack Haley Jr. Their joint productions included That's Entertainment! in 1974, That's Entertainment, Part II in 1976 and Life Goes to War: Hollywood and the Home Front. Blewitt's other credits with Wolper Prods. included Movin' with Nancy and The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.

Blewitt's larger, feature film credits included Butterflies Are Free, a 1972 film starring Goldie Hawn, and The Buddy Holly Story in 1978. He received an Academy Award nomination for The Competition, directed by Joel Oliansky. Blewitt was best associated with his editing in the 1984 blockbuster, Ghostbusters.

Blewitt's later television work included Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.

Blewitt won an Emmy Award in 1993 for editing in the television special, Bob Hope: The First 90 Years. In addition to his Emmy and Academy Award nominations, Blewitt received two ACE Eddie Awards from the American Cinema Editors, out of a total five nominations during his 40-year career. He was also a recipient of the American Cinema Editors Career Achievement Award in 2004.

David Blewitt died of complications from Parkinson's disease on July 8, 2010, at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, at the age of 81. He was survived by his wife, Ann; daughter, Risa Bastien, and Risa's husband, Steve Bastien; and his granddaughter, Annabel.

Blewitt was a first cousin once removed of U.S. President Joe Biden through his grandfather Edward Francis Blewitt, who was the maternal grandfather of Biden's mother Catherine Eugenia Finnegan.

Filmography + Editor Year Film Director Notes1971 The Love MachineJack Haley Jr. 1972 Hammersmith Is OutPeter Ustinov Butterflies Are Free Milton KatselasFirst collaboration with Milton Katselas1973 40 CaratsSecond collaboration with Milton Katselas1975 Report to the CommissionerThird collaboration with Milton Katselas1978 The Buddy Holly StorySteve RashFirst collaboration with Steve Rash1979 SteelSteve Carver 1980 In God We TrustMarty Feldman The CompetitionJoel Oliansky1981 Under the RainbowSteve RashSecond collaboration with Steve Rash 1983 Smokey and the Bandit Part 3Dick Lowry D.C. CabJoel SchumacherFirst collaboration with Joel Schumacher1984 GhostbustersIvan Reitman1985 Fast ForwardSidney Poitier1986 Psycho IIIAnthony Perkins1987 Hell Hunters1988 MoonwalkerColin Chilvers"Smooth Criminal" segment

+ Editorial department Year Film Director Role Notes1990 Flatliners Joel Schumacher Additional editorSecond collaboration with Joel Schumacher1991 Dying YoungThird collaboration with Joel Schumacher

+ Additional crew Year Film Director Role1961 Night TideCurtis HarringtonProduction assistant

Documentaries

+ Editor Year Film Director1973 WattstaxMel Stuart1974 That's Entertainment!Jack Haley Jr.1976 That's Entertainment, Part IIGene Kelly1977 Life Goes to War: Hollywood and the Home FrontJack Haley Jr.

+ Camera and electrical department Year Film Director Role1973 WattstaxMel StuartPhotography: Concert

Shorts

+ Cinematographer Year Film Director1974 Just One More TimeMichael J. Shapiro

TV documentaries

+ Editor Year Film Director 1965 The Way Out MenMel Stuart The Teenage RevolutionKent Mackenzie Pro Football: Mayhem on a Sunday AfternoonWilliam Friedkin In Search of ManEugene S. Jones 1966 The Thin Blue LineWilliam Friedkin Wall Street: Where the Money IsMel Stuart The World of Animals: It's a Dog's World The Making of a President: 1964Mel Stuart1967 A Nation of Immigrants1968 The World of Animals: The World of HorsesJoseph L. Scanlan1969 Hollywood: The Selznick YearsMarshall Flaum1970 The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau: Tragedy of the Red SalmonJacques Renoir1982 Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter Jack Haley Jr.1990 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic1993 Bob Hope: The First 90 YearsAllan Kartun

+ Camera and electrical department Year Film Director Role1965 The Incredible World of James BondJack Haley Jr.Cinematographer: Hollywood

+ Cinematographer Year Film Director 1965 Revolution in Our TimeDavid H. Vowell Pro Football: Mayhem on a Sunday AfternoonWilliam Friedkin 1968 The World of Animals: The World of HorsesJoseph L. Scanlan The World of Animals: Big Cats, Little CatsBud Wiser

TV series

+ Editor Year Title Notes1965 Men in Crisis1 episode1965−66 Time-Life Specials: The March of Time9 episodes1967 Untamed Frontier1 episode1967−69 National Geographic Specials4 episodes1970 The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau2 episodes1993 Key West1 episode1995−99 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys3 episodes2000 Xena: Warrior Princess1 episode

+ Editorial department Year Title Role Notes1963−64 Hollywood and the StarsAssistant editor6 episodes

+ Camera and electrical department Year Title Role Notes1974 ABC Late NightSpecial photography1 episode

+ Cinematographer Year Title Notes1964 Hollywood and the Stars6 episodes

+ Producer Year Title Credit Notes1993 Key WestAssociate producer12 episodes

TV specials

+ Editor Year Title Director 1967 With Love, SophiaMichael Pfleghar Movin' with NancyJack Haley Jr. 1968 Monte Carlo: C'est La RoseMichael Pfleghar The Beat of the BrassJack Haley Jr.

+ Camera and electrical department Year Film Director Role1965 The Incredible World of James BondJack Haley Jr.Cinematographer: Hollywood

References

External links