Walter Murch
Biography
Walter Scott Murch was born on July 12, 1943, in New York City, New York. He is an American film editor, director, writer, and sound designer. He is the son of Katharine, whose maiden name was Scott, and the Canadian-born painter Walter Tandy Murch, and the grandson of music teacher Louise Tandy Murch. His work includes THX 1138, Apocalypse Now, The Godfather films, American Graffiti, The Conversation, Ghost, and The English Patient. Murch achieved three Academy Award wins from nine nominations, which included six for picture editing and three for sound mixing. He was the first person to receive a credit as a sound designer for his work on Apocalypse Now, and he also served as the editor and re-recording mixer for Apocalypse Now Redux. In 1998, he was chosen by producer Rick Schmidlin as the editor for the restoration of Orson Welles's film Touch of Evil. He is also the author of a popular book on film editing.
Career overview
Walter Scott Murch is an American film editor, director, writer, and sound designer. Born on July 12, 1943, in New York City, New York, he is the son of Katharine and Canadian-born painter Walter Tandy Murch, and the grandson of music teacher Louise Tandy Murch.
Murch has worked on numerous notable films, including THX 1138, Apocalypse Now, The Godfather parts one, two, and three, American Graffiti, The Conversation, Ghost, and The English Patient. For his work on Apocalypse Now, he became the first person to receive a credit as a sound designer. He also served as the editor and re-recording mixer for Apocalypse Now Redux. In 1998, producer Rick Schmidlin chose Murch as the editor for the restoration of Orson Welles's film Touch of Evil.
Throughout his career, Murch has earned nine Academy Award nominations, consisting of six for picture editing and three for sound mixing, resulting in three Academy Award wins. In addition to his work in film production, Murch is the author of a popular book on film editing.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
84 titles- Vivien’s Wild Ride (2025) as Himself
- Megalopolis (2024) Thanks
- Her Name Was Moviola (2024) as Self
- Her Name Was Moviola (2024) Writer
- The Cinema Within (2024)
- Remembering Return to Oz (2021) as Self
- The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (2020) Editor
- Sight & Sound: The Cinema of Walter Murch (2020) as Himself
- Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound (2019) as Self
- Coup 53 (2019) as Self - Film Editor
- Coup 53 (2019) Writer
- Coup 53 (2019) Editor
- Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché (2018) as Self
- 78/52 (2017) as Self
- Tomorrowland (2015) Editor
- Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles (2014) as Self - Film and Sound Editor
- Particle Fever (2013) Editor
- Hemingway & Gellhorn (2012) Editor
- Side by Side (2012) as Self
- Don't Expect Too Much (2011) as Himself
- The Wolfman (2010) Editor
- Tetro (2009) Editor
- Tetro (2009) Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) Director
- The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn't (2008) as Self
- The Godfather: When the Shooting Stopped (2008) as Self
- Youth Without Youth (2007) Editor
- Youth Without Youth (2007) Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- Fog City Mavericks (2007) as Self
- Murch: Walter Murch on Editing (2007) as Himself
- Emotional History: The Making of 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' (2006) as Self
- Jarhead (2005) Editor
- George Lucas: Creating an Empire (2005) as Self
- The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (2004) as Self
- A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope (2004) as Self
- Artifact from the Future: The Making of 'THX 1138' (2004) as Self
- Cold Mountain (2003) Editor
- Cold Mountain (2003) Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) Editor
- The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) Editor
- The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- The Making of 'American Graffiti' (1998) as Self
- The Apostle (1997) Thanks
- The English Patient (1996) Editor
- The English Patient (1996) Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- First Knight (1995) Editor
- First Knight (1995) Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- Crumb (1995) Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- I Love Trouble (1994) Editor
- Romeo Is Bleeding (1993) Editor
- House of Cards (1993) Editor
- The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 (1992) Editor
- The Godfather Part III (1990) Editor
- The Godfather Part III (1990) Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- Ghost (1990) Editor
- Ghost (1990) Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- The Godfather Family: A Look Inside (1990) as Self
- Call from Space (1989) Editor
- The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988) Editor
- Captain EO (1986) Editor
- Return to Oz (1985) Director
- Return to Oz (1985) Screenplay
- Dragonslayer (1981) Sound Recordist
- Apocalypse Now (1979) Editor
- Apocalypse Now (1979) Sound Designer
- Apocalypse Now (1979) Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- The Black Stallion (1979) Screenplay
- Julia (1977) Editor
- The Godfather Part II (1974) Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- The Godfather Part II (1974) Sound Editor
- The Conversation (1974) Sound Designer
- The Conversation (1974) Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- American Graffiti (1973) Sound Editor
- American Graffiti (1973) Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- The Godfather (1972) Post Production Consulting
- THX 1138 (1971) Sound Editor
- THX 1138 (1971) Screenplay
- Bald: The Making of 'THX 1138' (1971) as Self
- Gimme Shelter (1970) Sound
- The Rain People (1969) Sound Editor
- Omnibus (1967) as Self
- The Emperor (1967) as Self
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Master Sessions with Walter Murch as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Walter Murch best known for?
Walter Murch is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Megalopolis (2024), Tomorrowland (2015), Hemingway & Gellhorn (2012), The Wolfman (2010).
When and where was Walter Murch born?
Walter Murch was born on July 12, 1943 in New York City, New York, USA.
How many credits does Walter Murch have?
Walter Murch has accumulated over 84 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1953 to 2025.
What is Walter Murch's background in cinema and television?
Walter Scott Murch was born on July 12, 1943, in New York City, New York. He is an American film editor, director, writer, and sound designer. He is the son of Katharine, whose maiden name was Scott, and the Canadian-born painter Walter Tandy Murch, and the grandson of music teacher Louise Tandy Murch. His work include...
Walter Murch by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Omnibus (1967) as Self — aged about 23
- The Emperor (1967) as Self — aged about 23
- The Oscars (1953) as Self — aged about 9
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