Sally Menke, Tarantino’s longtime editor dies while hiking at 56

The world of film has lost a great figure today, though it may be one whose name you don’t recognize right off the bat. Sally Menke has been Quentin Tarantino’s editor all throughout his career, and has worked on everything from RESERVOIR DOGS to PULP FICTION to KILL BILL to INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS.

Today she was found dead after being reported missing while hiking in Griffith Park. Heat and weather conditions are said to have likely contributed to the 56 year old’s passing as temperatures have been over 110 degrees during the current heat wave in LA.

We’ll await a statement from Tarantino himself, but until then, here’s what Menke had to say about the non-glory of being an editor:

“Editors are the quiet heroes of movies and I like it that way. We have a very private relationship with our directors, mostly conducted in very dark rooms.”

“We don’t work at the studios. Quentin insists on renting little private houses in LA and converting them into edit suites for the duration,” she told Purple Revolver about their collaborations. “It’s very civilized and enabled me to work through both my pregnancies – yes, my babies had Tarantino movies played to them in the womb, but they seem to have turned out OK.”

Tarantino liked to have his actors say hi to Sally in the editing room from time to time on set. Here’s a compilation of “Hi Sallys” from INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, along with some words about Sally from Tarantino himself.