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Robert E. Swink; Veteran Film Editor

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Robert E. Swink, 82, award-winning film editor thrice nominated for Academy Awards. Born in Rocky Ford, Colo., Swink joined the editorial department of RKO Radio in 1936 and within five years worked his way into film editing. After working on training films as a member of the Army Signal Corps during World War II, he built his reputation at Paramount and other studios, primarily under director William Wyler. Swink earned Oscar nominations for Wyler’s “Roman Holiday,” starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in 1953, and “Funny Girl,” starring Barbra Streisand in 1968. Swink’s third nomination for film editing came with “The Boys From Brazil” in 1978. He also earned a career achievement award in 1993 from his colleagues in the American Cinema Editors. Other films edited by Swink, who retired in 1989, included “Papillon” with Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman in 1973, and “Rooster Cogburn” with John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn in 1975. He died Aug. 15 in Santa Maria, Calif.

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