Payton Koch (; born July 16, 1996) is an American film editor. He is best known for his work on the mystery-comedy drama series Only Murders in the Building (2022–2024) and the fantasy action-adventure series Avatar: The Last Airbender (2026), the former of which earned him nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and three ACE Eddie Awards. He previously served as an assistant editor under Ryan Murphy Productions, with credits for American Horror Story (2018–2021), The Politician (2020), Ratched (2020), and Impeachment: American Crime Story (2021).
Biography Payton Koch was born on July 16, 1996, in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, to a family involved in the film business. His father, Billy Koch, who is of Jewish Russian descent, is the founder and owner of the horse racing club Little Red Feather and previously worked in the film industry. His mother, Kathy Kaehler, is a celebrity personal trainer. He has a twin brother, Cooper Koch, who is an actor, and a younger brother, Walker, who is a musician. His grandfather is film producer Hawk Koch, and his great-grandfather was film producer and director Howard W. Koch, both of whom served as presidents of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. His great-granduncle was Charles Pincus, a California dentist known for inventing the dental veneer in 1928. Koch is also related to businessman and Democratic politician Alan Blinken as his great-uncle by marriage.
Koch attended Calabasas High School and later earned a bachelor's degree in film production from Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Koch is gay.
Selected filmography Editing credits
Film YearTitleContributionNotesRef.2018Salton SeaCo-editorFeature film2020The Boys in the BandSecond assistant editor2024So Much for SolidarityEditorShort film2025The Runner
Television series +YearTitleContributionNotesRef.2018American Horror Story: ApocalypsePost-production assistant10 episodes2020The PoliticianAssistant editor2 episodesRatched8 episodesPose-a-Thon for PrideEditorTV specialImpeachment: American Crime StoryAssistant editor3 episodes2021Home Before Dark4 episodesJust Beyond4 episodesAmerican Horror Story: Double FeatureEpisode: "The Future Perfect"2022–2024Only Murders in the Building2 episodesEditor11 episodes2023ShrinkingAssistant editorEpisode: "Closure"2026Avatar: The Last AirbenderEditor2 episodes
Acting credits YearTitleRoleNotesRef.2007FractureKid2016Till Death Do Us PartLoverShort film
Awards and nominations +YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2023BFE Cut Above AwardsBest Edited Series: ComedyOnly Murders in the Building: Season 2ACE Eddie AwardsBest Edited Single-Camera Comedy SeriesOnly Murders in the Building: "I Know Who Did It"2024Best Edited Single-Camera Comedy SeriesOnly Murders in the Building: "Sitzprobe"Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Picture Editing for a Single-Camera Comedy Series2025ACE Eddie AwardsBest Edited Single-Camera Comedy SeriesOnly Murders in the Building: "My Best Friend's Wedding"
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