Sam O'Steen
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Biography
Filmography
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Biography
Arkansas-born and Burbank-raised Sam O'Steen began his career as an assistant editor in 1956 and, from the early 1960s on, cut several superbly crafted Hollywood productions. He garnered his first Oscar nomination for his initial collaboration with director Mike Nichols, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966). Over the next three decades, the pair enjoyed a long association that encompassed such groundbreaking films as "The Graduate" (1967) and "Carnal Knowledge" (1971) to more popular movies like "Silkwood" (1983) and "Working Girl" (1988). Among his other important credits are "Rosemary's Baby" (1968) and "Chinatown" (1974).
O'Steen made his directorial debut with the TV-movie "A Brand New Life" (ABC, 1973) which featured an Emmy-winning performance by lead Cloris Leachman. He earned an Emmy nod for his stylish direction of the romantic drama "Queen of the Stardust Ballroom" (CBS, 1975) before tackling the small screen sequel "Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby" (ABC, 1976). That same year, O'Steen made his sole foray into motion picture direction with "Sparkle," a genial if slightly slick look at the rise of a female black singer group (not unlike the Supremes). As a director, he also scored with the 1981 ABC drama "The Best Little Girl in the World," a disturbing look at a teenager struggling with anorexia nervosa.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Editing (Feature Film)
Life Events
1957
Began career as assistant to George Tomassini on "The Wrong Man"
1963
First film as full-fledged editor, "Youngblood Hawke"
1966
Earned first Academy Award nomination for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"; debut collaboration with Mike Nichols
1967
Edited "Cool Hand Luke"
1967
Second collaboration with Nichols, "The Graduate"
1968
Edited Roman Polanski's "Rosemary's Baby"
1969
Initial collaboration with Alan J Pakula, "The Sterile Cuckoo"
1973
Directorial debut with TV movie, "A Brand New Life"
1974
Received second Academy Award nomination for "Chinatown", directed by Polanski
1975
Earned an Emmy nomination for the TV-movie "Queen of the Stardust Ballroom"
1976
Sole feature film as director, "Sparkle"
1976
Directed the sequel, "Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby" (ABC)
1981
Helmed the ABC movie "The Best Little Girl in the World", a drama about anorxia nervosa starring Jennifer Jason Leigh
1983
Earned third Oscar nomination for Nichols' "Silkwood"
1986
Served as editor on Nichols' "Heartburn"
1988
Reteamed again with Nichols on "Working Girl"
1990
Served as editor on "Postcards From the Edge", helmed by Nichols
1992
Last collaboration with Alan J Pakula, "Consenting Adults"
1994
Final film with Nichols, "Wolf"
1999
Was editorial consultant on "Three Seasons"
1999
Final film as editor, "The White River Kid"
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