Don Zimmerman (June 15, 1944 – July 24, 2025) was an American film editor.The New York Times
His first job as lead editor was the film Coming Home, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award at the 51st Academy Awards.
Early life Zimmerman was born in Culver City, California, on June 15, 1944. He initially studied to become a veterinarian. He served in the Vietnam War, and later became a music editor. He moved into film editing after meeting director Hal Ashby, who was also an editor at the time.
Career Zimmerman began his career in 1969 as an apprentice editor in music and sound effects working for the Mirisch Co. on films such as The Hawaiians, Gaily, Gaily, Little Big Man, The Godfather, Where's Papa and Jonathan Livingston Seagull. He then became a picture assistant editor for director Hal Ashby on films such as The Landlord, Harold and Maude, Shampoo, and Being There. Zimmerman went on to work with director Hal Ashby on six films, including Coming Home, for which he received an Academy Award nomination.
In 1993, Zimmerman began working with director Tom Shadyac. Zimmerman went on to work with Shadyac on Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Nutty Professor, Patch Adams, and Liar Liar.
Personal life and death Zimmerman was married to Donna Zimmerman. The couple had five children, all of whom are in the film business: sons Dean, Danny and David are all film editors; Debi is a costumer; Dana works in post-production. Don died in Studio City of acute myeloid leukemia on July 24, 2025, at the age of 81.
Filmography Year FilmNotes 1978 Coming Home 1979 Being There 1980 A Change of Seasons 1982 Best Friends Rocky III Barbarosa 1983 Staying Alive 1984 Teachers 1985 Rocky IV My Man Adam 1986 Cobra 1987 Fatal Beauty Over the Top 1988 Everybody's All-American 1989 The Package 1990 Navy SEALs 1991 The Prince of Tides 1992 Diggstown Leap of Faith 1994 Ace Ventura: Pet Detective The Scout 1995 A Walk in the Clouds 1996 The Nutty Professor 1997 Liar Liar 1998 Half Baked Patch Adams 1999 Brokedown PalaceUncredited Galaxy Quest 2002 Dragonfly 2003 Just Married The Cat in the Hat 2004 Flight of the Phoenix 2005 Fun with Dick and Jane 2006 Night at the Museum 2008 Jumper 2009 Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian 2010 Marmaduke 2012 Men in Black 3 2013 Red 2 2020 Bill & Ted Face the Music
References
External links
Don Zimmerman at Rotten Tomatoes